Febuary 2003
GEARING UP
The Book Council is gearing up to serve you, the book community, in the
best way we can. We have lined up courses that will cater to your training
needs in order to enrich yourself and elevate the stature of the book
industry and literary arts in Singapore. From Storytelling to Editing
to Literature Appreciation to Creative Writing, we are constantly working
to bring the most relevant and useful courses to you. We are just not
all about serious training here at the Book Council though, as some special
events are in the pipeline that combine a whole lot of fun, entertainment
and socialising with invaluable enrichment, networking and education.
We are talking about the NBDCS 10-Day Literary Tour to Britain and the
NBDCS Annual Dinner which are in planning and we hope to unveil the confirmed
details to you soon so that you can book yourself a place!
COMING UP
COURSE IN BASIC EDITING
18 - 21 MARCH 2003
This course provides a step-by-step
introduction to the wide range of professional editing skills and techniques
required to edit books and journals. Hands-on and activity-based with
a combination of group and individual work, it will be suitable for new
editors with less than two years’ experience. Participants will
emerge with a strong understanding of editorial skills and a comprehensive
foundation for them to further their careers as professional editors.
Date: 18 – 21 March
2003
Time: 9am to 6pm
Duration: 4-day, 32-hour course
Venue: National Volunteer Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, #05-01
MND Complex Annex B
Fee: $590 nett per participant, includes one lunch and
two tea-breaks
Please visit our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to register or find out more details about this course.
LITERARY APPRECIATION
TALKS
JUNE 2003
In line with the book council’s mission of promoting literary appreciation,
these talks by Associate Professor Kirpal Singh aim to give students fresh
perspectives on their prescribed ‘O’ level literature texts.
While staying relevant to the need to excel in their literature papers,
we hope to open their eyes to the beauty of these texts.
Time: 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Fee per student per talk: $25.00
Date, Venue, Text
6 June 2003, Friday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Henry IV Part 1
7 June 2003, Saturday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Deep & Dangerous
13 June 2003, Friday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Twelfth Night
14 June 2003, Saturday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Touched with Fire
Please visit our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg
or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to register or find out more details about
these talks.
STORYTELLERS' COURSE
MAY 2003
The Storytellers' Course
is designed for those who work with children and youth and who wish to
expand their knowledge and skills in storytelling. However, it would also
be useful for anyone who would like to take their first steps in storytelling.
This 34-hour course will be conducted by a team of professionals, specially
selected for their expertise and experience. The course will include both
theory and practical hands-on experiences with a focus on Asian tales.
Participants will be required to tell a story to their course mates. Course
starts 5 May 2003.
Please visit our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) to register or find out more details about these talks..
SPECIAL EVENTS
10-DAY LITERARY TOUR TO BRITAIN
“Gateways to Literature Alive”
The council is planning to organise a 10-day literary tour to Britain, together with Language Arts Educational Services, as a key program in our drive to promote the love for and learning of literature. The tour would cover many famous British authors and feature expert literary guides, workshops, author talks, walking tours, plays and much more. If you interested in finding out more details or want to register your interest for this tour, please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
NBDCS ANNUAL DINNER
21 NOVEMBER 2003
“The Book Industry’s Night of Nights”
This event brings together writers, publishers, distributors, booksellers, illustrators, librarians and book lovers. We are planning to hold a grander and bigger event this time to give the book community members greater opportunity to network and develop their business and professional interest. This gala event will feature the celebrated local writer Catherine Lim who will be delivering this year's Distinguished Author Lecture. The Council is planning to invite a very prominent person to be the Guest of Honour to grace this prestigious occasion while a very engaging after-dinner entertainment is also on the cards.
The venue, pricing and timing details of the Annual Dinner will be confirmed and posted on our website soon. If you interested in finding out more details or want to register your interest for this dinner, please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
The dates and details of the above events are subject to change.The full details of all our events and programs would be gradually posted on our website in the coming months, so please keep checking our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg.
THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE THE BOOK BUSINESS
THE NEWBERY AND CALDECOTT MEDALS
Considered the highest honours given for children's literature, the Newbery and Caldecott Medals are often referred to as the Oscars for children's writing. Avi, author of “Crispin:The Cross of Lead,” and Eric Rohmann, illustrator and author of “My Friend Rabbit,” are the 2003 winners of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott medals, the most prestigious awards in children’s literature. For more information about these awards and other international literary awards, please visit http://www.literature-awards.com.
MOE BRIEFING ON KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM
Publishers and providers of resource materials are cordially invited to attend a briefing on MOE's kindergarten curriculum framework.
Date: 14 March 2003 (Friday)
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am or 2:00 pm – 4:00
pm
Venue: Ministry of Education (Grange Road Campus), Lecture
Theatre 2, Blk 1 Basement 1, Room 09, 51 Grange Road, Singapore 249564
To register, kindly fax registration form (found at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg or www1.moe.edu.sg/preschooleducation/) by 05 Mar 2003. For enquiries, please call: 6838 7332/ 6838 7321.
BOOK SPOTLIGHT
Douglas Chua in his latest thriller, Ransom, brings us to a Singapore in the not too distant future. The national soccer team has finally qualified for the World Cup Finals but all is not well in the prosperous city-state. Held ransom for US$100 billion dollars, a faceless terrorist threatens to poison the country's water supply. A string of other alarming events begin to take place and the authorities have to act quickly to avert disaster and tragedy. Singapore's answer to Jeffrey Archer takes us on a nail-biting trail of events set on very familiar grounds.
HERITAGE FESTIVAL
Literary Events: 16, 22 Mar 2003
The National Heritage Board will hold a festival that runs from 15 to
22 Mar 2003. The 16th and 22nd of March would feature literary events,
a poetry reading session and a public forum on Singapore identity in English
prose and poetry chaired by Kirpal Singh. For more details, please visit
http://www.heritagehub.com.sg.
WE ARE MOVING!
The Council would be moving from its present premises at the National Library to the Geylang East Community Library on 1st March 2003. Our new address and contact would be:
