June 2003
MAKING THE NEWS
Who said the book industry is hardly in the news! From Harry Potter distributor
Pansing Distribution expecting the latest book "The Order of the
Phoenix" to sell about 250,000 copies by Christmas to accomplished
local writer Catherine Lim earning more accolades, the industry is pulling
in the media coverage. Prominent personalities like Professor Tommy Koh
have also chipped in to raise the profile with book reviews published
in the press. The news that Singapore students ranked 15th in an international
reading skills test, just behind New Zealand and Scotland, augurs well
for the book industry in terms of seeing a bigger and more prolific nation
of readers in the future. While Singapore may still have some way to go
before it can match the book industries of some Western countries, through
self-promotion, public education and media prominence, it can slowly but
surely take the industry to greater heights. So let's keep making the
news! (For the right reasons of course!!)
READASIA
Readasia is a book club organised by NBDCS and library@orchard to promote
Asian literature. This is where you will meet like-minded people, fellow
book lovers and find a captive audience to share your thoughts and views
on the book you’ve read.
Date: 19 June 2003 (Thursday)
Time: 7 p.m
Venue: library@orchard, Programme Zone
Book: Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami
Registration and enquiries:
Do drop us an email if you would like to attend the book club. This will
give us a feel about the expected turn out.
Email us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Log onto http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/bookclub.htm
for more details about the bookclub.
COMING UP!
STARTING RIGHT: READING AND LEARNING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
TALK BY DR NG SEOK
MOI
NBDCS and Longman Singapore are organizing a talk to help children to
read and learn from print resources. Do join us in this talk since it
is never too early to motivate your child to read!
Date : July 5, 2003 (Saturday)
Venue : Bukit Merah Library (Auditorium)
Time : 2.00pm to 3.30pm
Admission Fee : $10
(GST included)
(Includes light refreshments, materials and a goodie bag worth $20)
Enquiries/ Booking : Please call Josephine at 68488 293/ 290 or email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
READERS AND WRITERS,
A HANDS-ON WORKSHOP
8 - 9 September 2003
The new English Language syllabus requires students to use language for
activities like social interaction, literary expression and information
gathering and disseminating. In order to be able to carry out all these
tasks effectively, students have to read and write extensively. In view
of the above, this workshop aims to disseminate techniques on reading
and writing to teachers.
Dates:
for Primary School teachers: 8 September 03
for Secondary School teachers: 9 September 03
Time: 9am to 4pm, with one hour lunch break in between
Venue: National Volunteer Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, #05-01 MND Complex Annex
B
Fee: $150 nett per participant, includes one lunch
To apply visit our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/handson.htm or contact NBDCS, Tel: 68488290, e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
COURSE IN BASIC EDITING
27-30 October 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: 27th – 30th October 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
THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE THE BOOK BUSINESS
JUST LAUNCHED!
Flame Of The Forest Publishing and Yeoh Siew Hoon launched the writer’s "Around Asia In 1 Hr" on June 13 at Paddyfields Thai Restaurant located in the Copperdome Anchorpoint. It was an informal affair to celebrate the launch of Siew Hoon's book. It also provided a perfect opportunity to meet the folks from the travel industry in Singapore. Please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), if you are interested in the book.
LAUNCHING!
Pustaka Nasional (PN) would like to preannounce the launch of PN new English book series, "Contemporary Islamic Scholar series". There will be several books from this series that will be launched by PN during the upcoming September book fair. It is hoped that this will be a start of a series to publish books in English by scholars in this region and those who were residing in SEA previously, for the international market. Please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details.
ILLUSTRATOR WANTED!
Children's writer David Seow, who has published several books, is looking for an illustrator for his next set of children's books. Interested, please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
THE HATCHET MAN OF
SINGAPORE
by J. B. Jeyaretnam
The 77-year-old Singapore opposition leader JB Jeyaretnam is an irrepressible
man. Knock him down, and he is likely to spring up again, even if he reappears
somewhat bruised from the experience. Made bankrupt by defamation suits,
he lost his parliamentary seat and even the leadership of his party, the
Workers Party. Still, he harbours hope to return to politics one day.
In this book, he records his recent tussle with the People's Action Party.
For inquiries and orders, e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or visit http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/.
WORLD BOOK FAIR 2003
This Fair has been postponed and will now run from 25 June (Wednesday) to 3 July (Thursday) 2003, Suntec City. Please log onto http://www.bookfair.com.sg/ for more details.
MALAYSIA: ISLAM ,
SOCIETY AND POLITICS
edited by Virginia Hooker and Norani Othman (ISEAS)
This collection of essays has been prepared as a tribute to Clive S. Kessler,
Professor of Sociology at the University of New South Wales for over twenty
years and a member of staff of the London School of Economics and Political
Science, University of London, and the Barnard College, Columbia University,
New York. Written
by colleagues and graduate students, the essays are
divided into three sections: Islam, Society and Politics. They focus on
Professor Kessler's analyses of Malaysia. Each essay draws on aspects
of his published research, taking his insights as points of departure
for new studies. For further details and to order, visit http://bookshop.iseas.edu.sg/bookmarks/BM240/index.html
AUSTRALIAN BOOK FAIR
2003
19 - 20 JUNE
Recognised as the major English-rights fair in the Asia Pacific, the Australian
Book Fair is the highlight of the Aussie publishing calendar. A trade-only
event, the Fair runs over two days and focuses on new releases, business-to-business
trading and awards celebrating Australian achievement. Please log on to
http://www.publishers.asn.au for more information.
THE ARTHUR C CLARKE AWARD
The Arthur C Clarke Award is given to the best science fiction novel whose British first edition was published during the previous calendar year. The prize consists of an inscribed plaque and a cash prize from a grant donated by Arthur C Clarke. A jury, whose membership varies from year to year, chooses the winner. The Science Fiction Foundation, the British Science Fiction Association and the International Science Policy Foundation administer the Award. Each organization provides two jurors. This year’s award goes to Christopher Priest for The Separation. Please log onto http://www.literature-awards.com for more details.
