24 Oct 2009, 11:00 am
Meet the Author: Wena Poon

Wena Poon made a strong impact on Singapore’s literary scene with her first book, Lions in Winter (2007), which was longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award and shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize. Find out more about the themes and ideas that lurk within her Biophilia Omnibus, comprising the first four novels of her science fiction adventure series.

Event end: 12pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 11:30 am
Like a Woman Scorned

Featuring: Maree Dawes

And whose fault is it when all hell breaks loose? Let Australian writer Maree Dawes (who wrote the short story I Am So Sweet and Truthful and Once I Was Betrayed and a poetry collection which explores the lives of Picasso’s mistresses) take you through the subliminally explosive nature of women. Draw inspiration from her own fascination of interplays between people, their environment and words.

Supported by Tactile Books

Event end: 12.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 12:00 pm
Meet the Author: John Boyne

Moderator: Phan Ming Yen

Irish novelist John Boyne, who won much acclaim for his bestseller, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2006), has received numerous international literary awards in the course of his career. He will focus on his latest novel, The House of Special Purpose (2009), where readers get to visit St Petersburg in the early 20th century, and touch on the use of historical setting prevalent in most of his books.

Supported by the Embassy of Ireland

Event end: 1pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Meet the Author: LAT

Moderator: Lim Cheng Tju

Mohd Nor Bin Khalid is familiar to his fans as Lat, the popular Malaysian cartoonist whose earthy humour has brought on smiles and touched many hearts. He will share his inspirations and experiences as a published cartoonist with more than 20 books to his name, as well as his work as the editorial cartoonist for Malaysia’s New Straits Times newspaper.

Supported by G&B Comics

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
An Alphabet Zoo Phonemic Adventure with Rainbow Bear by Julia Gabriel

Meet Rainbow Bear and his friends from the Alphabet Zoo. In this lively interactive presentation, teachers from Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning and Chiltern House will use puppets to bring the book's characters to life, introducing you to the fun of learning Standard English sounds through an engaging combination of text, music and images.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Listen to This

Featuring: Madeleine Lee, Ng Yi-Sheng, David Leo
Moderator: Eleanor Wong

Cutting beneath Singapore’s sceptic veneer, Madeleine Lee, Ng Yi-Sheng and David Leo lyrically weave the nation’s essences into poetry. These poets are politically aware, transnational and cosmopolitan, frequently presenting their intensely focused, self-questioning and highly individualised perspectives of Singaporean life, society and culture via their collections. Listen in and find out how Singapore has inspired and challenged them.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 1:00 pm
Outside Looking In: Imagining Lives

Featuring: Miguel Syjuco and Wena Poon
Moderator: Stephen McCarty

On writing about the “Other”, how does one transcend selfhood and accurately portray stories from the eyes of other characters, whose cultures and life experiences are completely different? In this panel, Filipino writer Miguel Syjuco and Singapore’s Wena Poon chat about the experience of re-imagining, recreating and reconstructing lives, and breathing life into characters such that they become believable individuals instead of two-dimensional caricatures.

Event end: 2pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 1:30 pm
Meet the Author: Mark Waid

Moderator: Terence Chua

Fans of comics and graphic novels will be excited to meet Mark Waid, a comic book writer and editor who has produced best-selling titles like Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright. He will speak about his current post as editor-in-chief of independent comic book company BOOM! Studios, and share what he is working on at the moment.

Supported by G&B Comics and the Embassy of the United States of America

Event end: 2.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 1:30 pm
Cultural Diplomacy: Seeking New Readers through Translation

Featuring: Qiu Xiaolong, Leung Ping-kwan
Moderator: Chua Chee Lay
This panel will be held in Mandarin

Translation is the key that opens doors into different worlds, cultures, histories and characters. Join two literary greats – one from China and one from Hong Kong – as they discuss the importance of translation and how translation facilitates learning, cultural exchange and understanding. Qiu Xiaolong has translated T.S. Eliot poems, while Prof Leung has seen three volumes of his poetry translated to German, one to French and is a effectively multilingual.

Event end: 2.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 1:30 pm
Meet the Author: O Thiam Chin

O Thiam Chin is a young upstart in the Singapore literary scene, who will be launching his second collection of short stories, Never Been Better, at SWF 2009. He will discuss his writing process and offer tips on writing short stories, as well as reflect on the challenges he faces in getting published.

Event end: 2.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 2:00 pm
UnderCovers: New Australian Writing

Featuring: Maree Dawes, Chris Pash, Kate McCaffrey, Omar Musa
Moderator: Dawn Farnham

Australia enjoys close ties with Singapore as a result of movement, migration, education and geographical proximity. This year, SWF is proud to present Australia as a country focus. This session showcases four of Australia's unique voices in literature. Touching on topics like the anti-whaling movement, writing for young adults and crafting poetry, this panel is sure to provide a stirring insight into Australia.

Event end: 3pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 2:00 pm
Writing Story and Song Seminar: Writing the Story

In this second part of the 4 hour seminar organised by Musical Theatre Limited, you will learn about writing stories that capture the emotional depth of the musical – from handling plot, characters and conflict to the process of rewriting. The session, complete with hands-on exercises, will be conducted by Screenwriters Association of Singapore's vice president, Chet Woon.

Sign up by emailing audrey.lee@musicaltheatrelimited.org
For more information, go to www.musicaltheatrelimited.org

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 2:30 pm
Meet the Author: Leung Ping-kwan

Moderator: Chua Chee Lay
This panel will be held in Mandarin

Hong Kong author Leung Ping-kwan teaches comparative literature and cinema at Lingnan University in Hong Kong. He will talk about his writings which cut across the genres of poetry and fiction, and read from his books, of which the latest titles are Shifting Borders (poetry) and Postcolonial Affairs of Food and the Heart (fiction).

Event end: 3.30pm

梁秉钧
主持人： 蔡志礼
香港作家梁秉钧现任于香港岭南大学中文系比较文学讲座教授。在见面会上他将分享他横跨诗歌及小说的写作心得，同时也将朗读他最新著作如，《变化的边界》（诗集）和《后殖民食物与爱情》（小说）里的一些篇章。

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 3:00 pm
Comics – A Timeless Narrative

Featuring: Lat, Mark Waid, Sonny Liew
Moderator: Terence Chua

From young to old, everybody loves a good comic! Join American comic writer Mark Waid (whose notable works include The Flash, Captain America and Superman), Malaysian-born Singapore-based comic artist Sonny Liew and beloved Malaysian comic artist Lat in a panel that reflects on the challenges of drafting a good narrative and on writing comics from an American or Asian angle.

Event end: 4pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 3:00 pm
Meet the Author: Anwar Ridhwan

Moderator: Saeda Buang
This session will be held in Malay

Out of Anwar Ridhwan’s many books, which have been translated into 15 languages, Tales of Ogonshoto (published in Malay in 2001 and translated into English in 2004) is widely considered to be his most acclaimed novel. Find out what inspires the all-rounded Malaysian author, and how he manages to be equally at ease with poetry as he is with fiction and drama.

Event end: 4pm

Dari kebanyakan buku-buku Anwar Ridhwan yang telah diterjemahkan ke dalam 15 bahasa, Tales of Ogonshoto (diterbitkan pada tahun 2001 dalam Bahasa Melayu dan diterjemahkan kedalam Bahasa Inggeris pada tahun 2004) telah diiktirafkan sebagai novelnya yang terbaik.
Apakah sumber inspirasi didalam kerjaya beliau sebagai penulis dan bagaimana beliau menjadi seorang penulis yang pakar didalam bidang puisi dan juga cereka/drama.

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 3:30 pm
Meet the Author: Qiu Xiaolong

Get acquainted with Qiu Xiaolong, who found fame with his popular series of novels involving the character of Inspector Chen Cao of the Shanghai Police Department. The US-based Chinese author will speak about the inspiration behind his series and the sixth and latest Inspector Chen title called The Mao Case (2009).

Event end: 4.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 4:00 pm
A Global Perspective on Literature

Featuring: Leung Ping-kwan, Chua Chee Lay
Moderator: Koh Hock Kiat
This session will be held in Mandarin

If literature were a bridge, where would it bring us? Whom would it acquaint us with and how would it unify us? Join Ping-Kwan and Chua Chee Lay as they illustrate how their literary creations have helped to open up new worlds for them.

Event ends: 5pm

心眼望去
嘉宾：梁秉鈞（也斯）、蔡志礼
主持人：许福吉
来与梁秉鈞和蔡志礼一同畅谈如何运用文学来建一个跨文化领域的桥梁，并将世人视为一体

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 4:00 pm
Meet the Author: Baha Zain

Moderator: Yazid Hussein
This session will be held in Malay

Malaysian writer and SEA Write Award winner, Baha Zain, will share insights into his writings, which include over 10 books of poems and essays, often touching on cultural issues and social changes. Aside from reading and sharing his works, he will also field questions from the audience about his books and process of writing.

Event end: 5pm

Penulis dari Malaysia dan penerima anugerah SEA Write Award, Baha Zain, akan berkongsi pengalaman dan wawasan beliau mengenai penulisannya yang termasuk 10 buah buku-buku puisi dan esei yang menyentuh isu-isu budaya dan perubahan sosial. Selain daripada membaca dan berkongsi tentang beberapa karyanya, beliau juga akan menjawab soalan-soalan yang akan dikemukakan oleh para hadirin mengenai karya-karya beliau dan juga prosess penulisan beliau.

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 5:00 pm
Meet the Author: KS Maniam

Moderator: Rajeev S Patke

From across the causeway comes KS Maniam, an award-winning Malaysian author who has been writing from a young age. Be enchanted by his interesting stories, which have been staged, collected in noteworthy anthologies and presented in novels like The Return (1981), In A Far Country (1993) and Between Lives (2003).

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 5:30 pm
Literary Talent in the Musical World

Featuring: Jiu Jian, Danny Yeo
Moderator: Lin Wei Dong
This session will be held in Mandarin

Lyricists and songwriters turned literary book authors? Join musical talents Danny Yeo and Jiu Jian in this session and learn how pop culture and literary arts really aren't that disparate. They will also touch on how different satisfaction is derived from their various creations.

Event end: 6.30pm

音乐界的文艺才子
嘉宾：杨君伟、玖健
主持人：林为栋
节目将透过音乐人玖健和媒体达人杨君伟的眼睛来探讨流行文化及文艺创作的种种相似处，也告诉你各种创作所带来的乐趣及满足感。

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 6:30 pm
Meet the Author: Hyoung-Su Park

This session will be held in Korean with English translation

In this session, you get to meet Korean writer Hyoung-Su Park, who will talk about his two novels – Things to Know Before Growing a Rabbit (2003) and Fiction of Midnight (2006) – and what he is currently working on. He will also share about why he has an affinity with characters living on the fringes of society.
Supported by Arts Council Korea

Event end: 7.30pm

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 6:30 pm
Kurnia (Gift): Launch of Creative Works by Isa Kamari

This session will be held in both English and Malay

Join Cultural Medallion recipient Isa Kamari as he launches new works – Rawa (a novel in Malay), Pintu (collection of theatre scripts in Malay) and Kurnia (album of songs and music videos based on poetry) – as well as Intercession (English translation of Tawassul) and Nadra (English translation of Atas Nama Cinta). Expect performance by the band Sirrfillsirr, screening of music videos, and poet-editors Alvin Pang and Aaron Lee discussing Isa's new translated works.

Event end: 9.30pm

Kurnia: Pelancaran Hasil Kreativiti Oleh Isa Kamari
Mari bersama-sama penerima Pingat Kebudayaan Isa Kamari untuk melancarkan hasil karya terbarunya - Rawa (novel dalam Bahasa Melayu) dan Kurnia (album muzik dan video muzik berdasarkan puisi) - juga Intercession (terjemahan Tawassul dalam Bahasa Inggeris) dan Nadra (berdasarkan Atas Nama Cinta), ini Juga Sesi injuga akan mempersembahkan band Sirrfillsirr, tayangan video-video muzik, dan penyajak Alvin Pang dan Aaron Lee akan membincangkan karya-karya terjemahan baru Isa.

Back to top

24 Oct 2009, 7:30 pm
Meet the Author: Shamini Flint

Moderator: Phan Ming Yen

Let Shamini Flint describe the rocky road in getting her works in print and also how her Inspector Singh series of novels was picked up by a major international publishing house. She will recount how she gave up practicing law to be a stay-at-home mum and writer, and touch on whether her past vocation helps in fuelling ideas for her crime stories.

Event end 8.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 11:00 am
The Proper Care of Foxes by Wena Poon

Wena Poon will perform a story from her new book, which celebrates the rhythms of the cross-border, culturally-fluent Internet Age. She will be joined by her publisher Hoe Fang Fong and editor Alvin Pang to not only go behind the scenes of the book's conceptualisation and publication, but also discuss the evolving concept of “Singapore fiction” and its role in international markets.

Event end: 12pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 11:30 am
Meet the Author: Miguel Syjuco

Moderator: Stephen McCarty

Find out more about Miguel Syjuco’s debut novel, Ilustrado, which won both the Man Asian Literary Prize and the Philippines’ Palanca Award in 2008. The author will also recount how he had risen from his humble beginnings, where he earned a living as a medical guinea pig and movie extra, to become a journalist and a successful writer.

Event end: 12.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 12:00 pm
Chronicles: The Best of Malaysian Writing

Featuring: Baha Zain, Anwar Ridhwan
Moderator: Mohd Pitchay Gani
This session will be held in Malay

As neighbouring countries, Singapore and Malaysia share an intimate and inseparable relationship through history, space, culture, family, language and thought. SWF is proud to present Malaysia as a country focus this year, two renowned brilliant writers from across the Causeway in this session. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen to them as they discuss their works, ideas and influences.

Event end: 1pm

Karya Penulisan Yang Terbaik Dari Malaysia
Menampilkan: Baha Zain, Anwar Ridhwan
Moderator: Mohd Pitchay Gani

Sebagai negara berjiran, Singapura dan Malaysia berkongsi hubungan yang intim dan tidak dapat dipisahkan melalui sejarah, segi kebudayaan, kekeluargaan, bahasa dan pemikiran. SWF dengan bangganya mempersembahkan Malaysia sebagai negara fokus tahun ini. Dengan gabungan dua penulis hebat dari seberang tambak dalam sesi ini, para hadirin akan berpeluang untuk mendengar penulis Malaysia terkenal membincangkan karya, idea dan pengaruh didalam hasil karyaan mereka.

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 12:00 pm
Meet the Author: Dai Sijie

Moderator: Lim Jen Erh
This session will be held in Mandarin

Dai Sijie is best known to Singapore audiences as the writer-director of the 2002 film, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, which stars Zhou Xun and Liu Ye, and is based on his semi-autobiographical debut novel of the same name. Aside from discussing his published works, he will also touch on what it is like to be a Chinese writer living in Paris and writing in French.

Event end: 1pm

戴思杰
主持人：林仁余
一提起戴思杰，新加坡对于他的印象永远都离不开2002年由周迅和刘烨所主演的《巴尔扎克与小裁缝》。电影是改编于同名的戴思杰处女佳作。除了与观众探讨他的作品，戴思杰也会分享身为中国作家的他在法国生活和以法文来写作的感想。

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 12:00 pm
Reconciling Ironies

Featuring: Catherine Lim

Irony – the discrepancy between what was said and what was meant, between what is meant and what others understood of it, between what was expected and what actually happened. The truth, ironically, hides behind these little discrepancies and it is the writer’s art to be able to convey them clearly, yet subtly at the same time. In this session, Catherine Lim (the author of Little Ironies) will explain this art to aspiring writers.

Event end: 1pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Mystery Investigators-Five and the Case of the Missing Golden Bird Mask by Rhaimie Wahap and Rizal Wahap

When a priceless artefact goes missing from a museum, five best friends discover that their new classmate from Hawaii turns out to be the unusual suspect. Children between the ages of nine and 13, or adults with the love for sequential art, are welcome to join author Rhaimie Wahap and illustrator Rizal Wahap as they chat about their debut graphic novel introducing the Mystery Investigators-Five.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Writing during a Global Recession: Understanding Economics, Business, and How They Affect Your Chances of Seeing Your Book in Print

Featuring: Wena Poon

Wena Poon, author of Lions in Winter and The Proper Care of Foxes, will help you to understand the fundamentals driving the publishing industry today. She will discuss what can go wrong with agents and publishers, as well as how writers and artists can take charge of their works, explore alternative ways to get works in print and propel Singapore into the forefront of the international literary scene.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 1:00 pm
Shifting the Self: Exiled x3

Featuring: Wong Phui Nam, KS Maniam
Moderator: Rajeev S Patke 

How many ways can one feel displaced and separated from one’s home country? For Wong Phui Nam and KS Maniam, their sense of alienation did not come just from race and mother tongue, but also from their choice to go against familial and national culture in expressing themselves in English. Join the festival in conversation with the two Malaysian writers to find out what it was like working with language against tradition. 

Event end: 2pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 1:30 pm
Writing for the Masses

Featuring: Lee Huay Leng, Ng Wai Choy, You Jin
Moderator: Ting Kheng Siong
This session will be held in Mandarin

Chinese journalists, Lee Huay Leng, You Jin and Ng Wai Choy will take part in this discussion that explores ways to write engaging articles from reportage and interviews. They will speak about the difficulties faced in the course of their work.

Event end: 2.30pm

为大众创作
嘉宾：李慧玲、吴韦材, 尤今
主持人：郑景祥
如何以最生动有趣，又符合真实状况来写实报导？在做人物采访和为广大创作时，记者们又会遇到什么难题、用什么方法来克服呢？让知名记者李慧琳 吴韦材及尤今 一一为你解答。

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 1:30 pm
Poetic Formulas

Featuring: Omar Musa

Some people say poetry is the music of the written word. Omar Musa, poet and rapper, takes it a step further by adding performance, rhythm and beat to his poems. Omar will also share with the audience about using poetry as a way of self-expression and provide tips on turning written words into wonderful musical compositions. 

Event end: 2.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 2:30 pm
Change: Female Voices in Contemporary Malay Writing

Featuring: Wan Jumaiah Mohd Jubri, Norulashikin Jamain, Noridah Kamari
Moderator: Rasiah Halil
Session will be held in Malay

What are the pertinent issues faced by female Muslim writers? Female voices are in the spotlight as these three Singaporean writers talk about the challenges and issues they face in a contemporary and cosmopolitan Singapore. Be a part of this exciting and insightful discussion, where you will learn from these writers of Singapore's literary heritage, aspirations and how one seeks and finds a distinctive voice.

Event end: 3.30pm

Perubahan: Suara Wanita dalam Penulisan Melayu Kontemporari
Menampilkan: Wan Jumaiah Mohd Jubri, Norulashikin Jamain, Noridah Kamari
Moderator: Rasiah Halil

Apakah di antara isu-isu yang dihadapi oleh penulis-penulis muslimah hari ini? Suara-suara wanita bakal menjadi tumpuan ketika ketiga-tiga penulis Singapura ini berbicara tentang cabaran dan masalah yang dihadapi mereka di negara kosmopolitan Singapura. Perbincangan yang menarik dan penuh wawasan ini mengupas apakah warisan kesusasteraan dan aspirasi yang ingin kita tinggalkan.

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 3:00 pm
Meet the Author: Chris Pash

Find out more about Australian Chris Pash’s experiences as a cadet reporter for an Albany newspaper in the 1970s. Nuggets of recollection can be found in his 2008 book, The Last Whale. He will also talk about his next book, which is a biographical look at the life of Greenpeace founder, Bob Hunter.

Event end: 4pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 3:30 pm
Old School Shoutouts

Featuring: Chandran Nair, Robert Yeo, Wong Phui Nam, KS Maniam

Come for this informative session and let these time-tested poets and authors talk about how their generation has helped shape the literature of Singapore and Malaysia in the late 1960s and 1970s. These established writers will share their views on how their works are still greatly relevant in today's context.

Event end: 4.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 4:00 pm
Tales from Two Cities

Featuring: Courttia Newland, Daren Shiau
Moderator: Alvin Pang

Courttia Newland is a master at highlighting multicultural aspects of the urban environment and infusing this into his writings. Courttia will be joined by Daren Shiau, a Singaporean novelist and a poet, whose book Heartland explored the idea of Singaporeans’ sense of rootedness and rootlessness.  Courttia and Daren will be sharing their thoughts and insights in being writers in a multicultural world and how this has developed their individual creative writing style.

In collaboration with British Council

Event end: 5pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 4:30 pm
The Case Books – Investigating Culture and Crime in Fiction

Featuring: Qiu Xiaolong, Shamini Flint
Moderator: Phan Ming Yen

Inspector Chen from Shanghai versus Singapore's very own Inspector Singh from this corner of the world! Sleuth your way into the minds of renowned crime novelists, Qiu Xiaolong and Shamini Flint. Discover how cosmopolitan Shanghai and Singapore help fuel their inspiration to culturally encapsulate their adrenalin-inducing crime stories.

Event end: 5.30pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 5:00 pm
Let’s Play! – Spotlight on Singapore Theatre

Featuring: Jean Tay, Ovidia Yu, Eleanor Wong

Singapore theatre has come a long way and been affirmed as one of the most exciting and groundbreaking in Asia. Playwrights are essential and crucial to this development. How far have we come and what is the future of Singapore theatre? We meet three of Singapore’s most original and talented voices in playwriting, who will share their thoughts, inspirations, frustrations and hopes.

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 5:30 pm
Meet the Author: Pauline Parry

It may sound easy: invite the guests, good food and then have great fun. But doing it well and making it memorable and unforgettable is another matter. So, how does one do it?

Find out more about parties and how to create an experience that lingers in the memory from one of the leading experts in the field today – Pauline Parry, author of  FOOD FUN LOVE Party Styles and an authority in the field having served as Past President of ISES Los Angeles and also currently serving on the Board of Directors for the International Caterers Association and Founding Member and Director of Education for WIPA (Wedding Industry Professional Association).

Pauline, who is also founder of the award winning Good Gracious! Events will also share with all the importance and significance of documenting and writing about one’s experiences in this field.

Back to top

25 Oct 2009, 6:30 pm
Five Little Pills… And Then There Were None: A Journey from Manic Depression to Recovery by Choo Kah Ying

Witness a real-life example of human resilience, where adversity becomes lessons of love and courage. Choo Kah Ying will talk about her book, which depicts her struggle with the roller-coaster ups and down of manic-depression. At this talk featuring a slide show, a film clip and a Q&A session, you'll be inspired by her triumph over her condition through raising her autistic son.

Event end: 7.30pm

Back to top

26 Oct 2009, 7:30 pm
Inspector Singh Investigates: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul by Shamini Flint

Come celebrate the launch of the new Inspector Singh book by author Shamini Flint. You just might discover why Daily Telegraph (United Kingdom) has described Inspector Singh as “a crime series hero like no other”. In this thrilling second book of the series, the Inspector is sent to Bali to help with anti-terrorism efforts, after a bomb blast has been set off on the island. 

Event end: 8.30pm

Back to top

27 Oct 2009, 6:30 pm
Literary Pioneer Series: An Evening with Edwin Thumboo

Every society has its pioneers. Without Singapore's literary pioneers laying the foundations, Singapore literature would not be where it is today. Following a tradition started in 2007, SWF takes pride in focusing on SWF 2009 Literary Pioneer, Emeritus Professor Edwin Thumboo. Aside from exploring his works through the years with Jonathan Webster and Thiru Kandiah, there will be heartwarming moments aplenty as friends and family join the man himself in this evening of poetic melodies and anecdotes.

Event end: 9.30pm

Back to top

29 Oct 2009, 3:00 pm
Finding your Inner Voice

According to Captain Elmo Jayawardena, who was shortlisted for the 2008 Singapore Literature Prize, writing is natural to one’s own language and expression. In this workshop, the social worker, pilot and prize-winning writer will instruct you on how to convert the story in your head to one on paper, while being true to your unique style.

Workshop end: 5pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

29 Oct 2009, 5:30 pm
Writing Historical Fiction

Award-winning writer Manreet Sodhi Someshwar (novels, Earning the Laundry Stripes and The Long Walk Home) will share insights on how to use factual historical backdrops to create fiction. This workshop focuses on how to write historical fiction: researching historical facts, while preserving the integrity of the subject.

Workshop end: 7.30pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

29 Oct 2009, 6:00 pm
The Flea Market – Where All Memories Come with a Price by Joyce Gan

In The Flea Market, author Joyce Gan describes how a conflicted young woman fulfils aspirations of writing a novel, only to embark on a journey through ideals, misgivings and past hurts. She will share with the audience how the process of writing has been a challenging ride through some of her own adventures and memories.

Event end: 7pm

Back to top

29 Oct 2009, 8:00 pm
Big Ideas from a Small Press: A Success Story

Blaft Publications is a new independent publishing house based in Chennai, India. Their releases include translations of Indian-language pulp fiction, folk tales and experimental literature, as well as Indian English writing, contemporary art, and more recently, a graphic novel. Its founder Rakesh Khanna and fashion designer/theatre artist Kaveri Lalchand will talk about Blaft’s success.

Event end: 9pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

30 Oct 2009, 2:00 pm
Crafting Anthologies

Ever wondered about how to arrange assorted pieces to form a memorable anthology? Bangladeshi writer Ahmede Hussain will explain how to put together a strong collection by creating a theme, finding a hook and letting the voices weave harmony. Ahmede has edited The New Anthem, an anthology of fiction from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Event end: 4pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

30 Oct 2009, 4:30 pm
Creating Credible Characters

A brand consultant, travel writer, columnist and author of three books (including the 2003 novel, Halfway Up the Mountain), Kiran Khalap has three passions: writing, rock climbing and spiritual evolution. In this workshop, you can learn how to infuse life into characters and create characters that matter.

Event end: 6.30pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

30 Oct 2009, 4:30 pm
Travel Writing

This workshop’s instructor, Fiona Caulfield, is a true citizen of the world. Born in Australia, she has lived in United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, and is now a resident in India. As a well-known travel writer, she has written city guides and contributed to magazines like Vogue, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel & Leisure and SilverKris.

Event end: 6.30pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

30 Oct 2009, 6:00 pm
Launch of Tumasik: Contemporary Writing from Singapore

Co-published with the Iowa Writing Program, University of Iowa, the anthology Tumasik features the works of Singapore’s finest writers hailing from the four official languages of English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Edited by poet Alvin Pang, the anthology includes Singaporean writers such as Anuar Othman, Madeleine Lee, Quah Sy Ren, Johar Buang, Toh Hsien Min, Kirpal Singh, Verena Tay, MK Narayanan, Latha and Wong Yoon Wah.

Event end: 7.30pm

Back to top

30 Oct 2009, 7:30 pm
Boom by Jean Tay

Let Singapore playwright Jean Tay offer you an inside look into the writing of Boom, a play that cleverly weaves two parallel tales about a topic close to Singaporean hearts – land, or rather the scarcity of it. Staged by the Singapore Repertory Theatre in 2008, this bittersweet play was nominated for Best Original Script at The Straits Times' Life! Theatre Awards, and later chosen to be a GCE 'O' and 'N' level text in 2009.

Event end: 8.30pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 9:30 am
Plotting Away…

The plot is the spine of a story. Author of works like juvenile fiction The Hidden Continent and novels Sniper and The Homecoming, Shashi Warrier researches deeply and spends a great deal of time creating a strong plot before writing the rest of the novel. Learn this essential first step of storytelling from the pro.

Event end: 11.30am

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 10:30 am
Fictional Look at History

Featuring: Yan Lianke, Lai Yong Taw
Moderator: Koh Hock Kiat
This session will be held in Mandarin

How does one uncover past history using the literary angle? And what research does such an endeavour require? Yan Lianke and Lai Yong Taw will explore the inspirations and touching stories uncovered in the tedious but necessary process of looking at history through literature.

Event end: 11.30am

用文笔透视历史
嘉宾：阎连科、赖涌涛（流军）
主持人：许福吉

这次的讲座将由阎连科和赖涌涛（笔名：流军）利用文学的角度来研究历史上所发生的事件。在其中所需要做的参考又有哪一些，所遇到的人、事、物又如何的一再启发你们呢？

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 11:00 am
Meet the Author: Hyejin Kim

In this interactive session, Hyejin Kim will share her experiences as a writer who straddles two languages – Korean and English – and the challenges of writing for different audiences. An education consultant and doctorate holder in global affairs currently living in Singapore, she has written two books in Korean and one English book called Jia, which gives a glimpse of North Korea through the eyes of a female refugee.

Event end: 12pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 11:00 am
Meet the Author: Ma Jian

This session will be held in Mandarin

Moderator: Tan Chee Lay

A one-on-one session with Ma Jian where we explore his body of works over the years, the banning of Stick Your Tongue Out in China and subsequent translation efforts.

Event end: 12pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 11:00 am
Singapore: A Biography by Mark Ravinder Frost & Yu-Mei Balasingamchow

Finding the Singapore Story
One of the co-authors of Singapore: A Biography will introduce the book and discuss how it evolved behind the scenes. How did the stories surface, from sources as disparate as ancient Ming and Malay chronicles, eyewitness accounts, oral histories and even radio and television broadcasts? How did they come together in a coherent narrative - what went in and what was left out? And what kind of story of Singapore (dare we say Singapore story?) emerged at the end of it?

Event end: 12pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 11:30 am
Meet the Author: Perihan Magden

Moderator: Leong Liew Geok

Get up-close with Perihan Magden, a prominent and controversial Turkish writer who has been described by compatriot and Nobel Prize winner, Orhan Pamuk, as “one of the most inventive and outspoken writers of our time.” Aside from discussing her latest novel, Escape (2007), she will talk about her wildly successful novel, Two Girls (2002), which was translated into 13 languages and adapted into an award-winning film.

Event end: 12.30pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 12:00 pm
Meet the Author: Taichi Yamada

Moderator: Ken Takiguchi
This event will be held in Japanese with English translation

Here’s a rare opportunity to come face-to-face with one of Japan’s most respected writers. Aside from being a playwright and an illustrious screenplay writer for television and film, Taichi Yamada is an award-winning author of several novels, the latest of which to be translated into English is I Haven’t Dreamed of Flying for a While (2008).

Event end: 1pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 12:00 pm
Film and Writing

This workshop reinforces the notion that a good film begins with a good story. Two greats from Indian cinema – award-winning actress Sarika (who acted in the film Parzania) and writer-director Sudhir Mishra (Dharavi and Chameli) – come together to take you through the inception of a Bollywood film.

Event end: 2pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Our Roots

Featuring: Ma Jian, Duo Duo, Yan Lianke
This session will be held in Mandarin

Have you ever experienced the displacing sense of rootlessness? Join three of China's best literary artists, Duo Duo, Ma Jian and Yan Lianke, as they recollect their mixed emotions when leaving home and share their thoughts on revisiting their homeland and villages.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Sudden in Youth: New and Selected Poems 1998 – 2009 by Felix Cheong

Expect inventive wordplay that cuts through the skin of language in Singapore poet Felix Cheong's new book, which brings together his best poems from the past decade as well as his recent writings. Whether assuming the voice of serial killers or strippers, or musing on love or God, he offers an insight as equally provocative as evocative.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 12:30 pm
Meet the Author: Miguel Ángel Mendo

Moderator: Gwee Li Sui

Meet Spanish writer Miguel Ángel Mendo, who has published more than 20 children’s literature titles and twice received the Lazarillo Prize, the most prestigious prize in Spanish literature for young people. He will speak about writing his novels for adults – The Incomplete Light and The Infinite Geyser – and how he adjusts his language and style to suit readers of different age groups.

Event end: 1.30pm

Supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 1:00 pm
Freedom Interrupted

Featuring: Naldo Rei, Mohammed Hanif
Moderator: Deepika Shetty

Naldo Rei’s book, Resistance: A Childhood Fighting for East Timor, is a personal account of growing up amid East Timor's clandestine resistance movement, while Mohammed Hanif’s satirical A Case of Exploding Mangoes is similarly wrapped up in political instability. These two writers will engage in a discussion on freedom and liberty. 

Event end: 2pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 1:30 pm
Meet the Author: Yan Lianke

Moderator: Wong Meng Voon
This session will be held in Mandarin

Fans of Chinese literature should not miss this intimate session with respected Chinese novelist Yan Lianke, who will discuss a range of issues raised in his many novels that include The Sunlit Years, The Joy of Living and the latest, Elegy and Academe. The recipient of the Lu Xun and Lao She literature awards, he has had his works translated into over 10 languages and published in over 20 countries.

Event end: 2.30pm

阎连科
主持人：黄孟文
是阎连科的粉丝们就一定不能错过这个难逢的聚会。著名中国作家阎连科将在见面会上大胆的讨论他作品如《日光流年》、《受活》和《风雅颂》里许多争论性的问题。阎连科曾是鲁迅文学奖及老舍文学奖的得奖者，其作品被译为多种语言也曾在20多个国家出版。

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 2:00 pm
Point of View: New Singapore Writing

Featuring: Cyril Wong, Felix Cheong, Yong Shu Hoong, O Thiam Chin
Moderator: Gwee Li Sui

Point of View examines the latest writings by some of Singapore’s young and talented scribes. Join Young Artist Award winner Felix Cheong, Singapore Literature Prize winners Cyril Wong and Yong Shu Hoong, and up-and-coming writer O Thiam Chin, as they share about their new works and the challenges of writing in Singapore.

Event end: 3pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 2:30 pm
Meet the Author: Duo Duo

Moderator: Tan Chee Lay
This session will be held in Mandarin

Fans of Chinese poetry should not miss this golden opportunity to pose probing questions to Duo Duo, an established poet associated with the eminent “Misty” school of modern Chinese poetry. He will offer insights into his writing styles, as well as impressions of his homeland in the past and present.

Event end: 3.30pm

多多
主持人：陈志锐
热爱诗歌的朋友们绝对不能错过这千载难逢的机会给诗人多多提些探针性的问题。多多是中国现代诗坛的朦胧诗人代表之一。他将与我们分享他的写作风格，并讨论他对过去和现在的中国的感想。

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 2:30 pm
From Book to Film

This informative session addresses the increasing collaboration between publishing and films. Aside from actress Sarika and writer-director Sudhir Mishra, you will also hear from Sunil Doshi, director of production house Handmade Films, and Sidhartha M. Jain, the co-founder behind Bollywood's newest film company, Irock Media, which has acquired the film rights of various novels.

Event end: 3.30pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 3:00 pm
Meet the Author: Chart Korbjitti

Moderator: Tang Fu Kuen
This event will be held in Thai with English Translation

Two-time winner of the SEA Write Award, Thai writer Chart Korbjitti has published short stories, movie scripts, novellas and novels, which have been widely translated into other languages. He will share with the audience how he brings his ideas into the final form of a book, and discuss his works like the novels, The Judgement (1981), which was made into a 1994 film, and Mad Dogs & Co (1988).

Event end: 4pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 3:30 pm
Heart of Darkness

Featuring: Hyejin Kim, Naldo Rei

Fictional and real-life characters found in the compelling books of Hyejin Kim and Naldo Rei have to struggle and cope with personal turmoil brought about by war and geopolitics. Forced across borders, they fought internal and external battles against their political circumstances in search of freedom, happiness and answers. In their discussion, the two writers warn of the dangers of taking one’s freedom and liberty for granted.

Event end: 4.30pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 4:00 pm
Migration and Displacement: New Indian Writing

Featuring: Rajat Das, Neel Chowdhury, Manreet Sodhi Someshwar
Moderator: Meira Chand

In the golden age of Indian writing, a new generation of writers are making waves internationally, spilling out of the Subcontinent, as well as emerging from outside the borders. Rajat Das, Neel Chowdhury and Manreet Sodhi Someshwar all have novels set in their ancestral hometowns – does living away from India help them gain a better perspective in their geographical narrative? Come for this panel and find out.

Event end: 5pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 4:30 pm
Who Killed Amanda Palmer

Tickets required for entry.
Available at The Arts House Box Office from 26 Sept (Sat), 11am, on a first-come-first-serve basis. Limited to ONE pair per person. Limited seats available.

Featuring: Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman
Moderator: Terence Chua

Amanda Palmer is a performer most noted for being the lead singer, pianist and lyricist/composer of American music duo, The Dresden Dolls, whose musical style she described as “Brechtian punk cabaret”. English author Neil Gaiman accompanies her in a reading of several extracts from their new photo book, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, a macabre collection of Amanda in death poses with texts written by Neil.

Event end: 5.30pm

This will be followed by an autography signing at 6pm outdoors.

Supported by G&B Comics

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 5:00 pm
Award-Winning Writers from Singapore

Featuring: Ng Yi-Sheng, Chia Hwee Pheng, Yeng Pway Ngon, Mohd Latiff Bin Mohd, Latha
Moderator: Kirpal Singh

Singapore’s multi-language and multi-cultural landscape is reflected best in its varied and colourful literary scene. Join Singapore Literature Prize winners and Cultural Medallion award winners as they discuss their roles as writers, their literary adventures in the four official languages of English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, and their hopes for literature in Singapore.

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 5:00 pm
Bunny Finds The Right Stuff by Emily Lim

Award-winning author Emily Lim’s fourth picture book is inspired by her personal quest after being diagnosed with Spasmodic Dysphonia, a rare voice disorder. Like her character of a toy rabbit who isn't happy with the way he is, she went down many “rabbit holes” of her own, before discovering her completeness through spirituality.

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 5:30 pm
Chaos

Featuring: Elmo Jayawardena, Ahmede Hussain, Mohammad Hanif, Shashi Warrier

Chaos. In the Indian Subcontinent, we live in the midst of it. We wake up to noise. We are surrounded by chaos on a physical, personal, social, environmental and political level. It is everywhere, everyday, and there’s no escaping it. This panel, which includes Elmo Jayawardena, Ahmede Hussain, Mohammad Hanif and Shashi Warrier, will ask the question: How does a writer find balance in this juxtaposition of chaos and silence to craft fine writing?

Event end: 6.30pm

To register for places, email your name and contact details to info@bookcouncil.sg.
For more information, go to www.bookcouncil.sg.

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 6:00 pm
Meet the Author: John Ajvide Lindqvist

Moderator: Stephanie Yap

Fans of the spine-tingling Swedish vampire flick, Let the Right One In (2008), will delight in meeting John Ajvide Lindqvist, the man behind the novel from which the horror movie was adapted from. At this atmospheric session which falls on Halloween night, find out more about the crafting of his imaginative novels and how he adapts his own stories for the big screen.

Event end: 7pm

Supported by the Embassy of Sweden

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 6:00 pm
The Creative Writing Experience

Featuring: Alvin Pang, Suchen Christine Lim

This October, 15 Singaporean writers are taking part in a week-long creative writing camp on Pulau Ubin, based on the renowned Arvon retreats in the United Kingdom and organised by Catalyst Central, a not-for-profit arts initiative directed by Alvin Pang and Fong Hoe Fang. Some of the participants and tutors will share their camp experiences and discuss the value of structured writing residencies in sharpening writing skills. You can also find out about how you can participate in future creative writing residencies!

Event end: 7pm

In collaboration with British Council and Catalyst Central

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 6:30 pm
Joint launch of Georgette’s Mooncakes & The Beaded Slippers (Adeline Foo and Lee Kowling), and Guai Wu the Chinese Elf (Adeline Foo and Christine Lim Simpson)

Join author Adeline Foo and illustrators, Lee Kowling and Christine Lim Simpson, for the launch of two children’s titles with an Asian focus. You can get acquainted with Guai Wu, a boy who is shunned because he looks different, and discover a magical tale retracing the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival – all while enjoying local delicacies and Chinese tea, accompanied by erhu music.

Event end: 7.30pm

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 7:00 pm
Meet the Author: Patrick Forsyth

Patrick Forsyth, a respected management consultant, trainer and writer who has authored almost 100 books, will talk about how an author can don a “marketing hat” and take personal initiatives to promote his writing. This how-to session offers practical guidance on everything from sales and public relations possibilities to giving talks (like this!) or collaborating with book shops. Learn how to boost your profile and sell more, more profitably.

Event end: 8pm

Supported by Pansing

Back to top

31 Oct 2009, 7:00 pm
Speak Your Mind: Female Tamil Writers

Featuring:  Latha, Jayanthi Sankar
Moderator: Chitra Sankaran
This session will be held in Tamil and English

Women often find themselves juggling between many different roles in their lives – wife, daughter, lover, mother and friend. What defines the woman and how do women reclaim their identities amid their various roles? Join two outspoken female Tamil writers in this exciting session as they discuss the role and nature of female writers and characters in contemporary Tamil literature.

Event end: 8pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 11:00 am
Joint launch ofThe Tessellated Path and Different Voices: The Singaporean/Malaysian Novel

The Tessellated Path, set against the backdrop of Singapore’s struggle for independence, explores the notion of predestination. The protagonist Lisa sets off for a life beyond her comfort zone, only to confront betrayal, homosexuality, wife-battering, murder and suicide. Rosaly Puthucheary, an English literature doctorate holder who has previously published poetry collections, will also launch Different Voices: The Singaporean/Malaysian Novel. This second book focuses on the challenges that a novelist faces in the literary representation of a multilingual environment.

Event end: 12pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 11:30 am
Meet the Author: Giddens

This session will be held in Mandarin.
Moderator: Anna Lim

Be charmed by prolific Taiwanese author Giddens as he shares original works that span different fiction genres – from romance to horror – and which include titles like Those Girls We Chased and Poetry of the Day After. He will discuss how he effectively blends literary and pop-culture elements on his path to become one of the most successful writers in his country.

Event end: 12.30pm

九把刀
主持人： 林安娜
来感受台湾最耀眼的新生代作家-九把刀的魅力！他将与大家一起分享他风格极之多样化、写作题材广阔的写作心得。其作品包括了《那些年，我们一起追的女孩》及《后青春期的诗》。同时他会分享他如何将文学与流行文化这两个元素结合在一起，以致成为台湾最热门的作家之一。

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 12:00 pm
Wong Yoon Wah

This session will be held in Mandarin.

Join award-winning poet and Cultural Medallion recipient, Wong Yoon Wah, in this hands-on session, as he guides you through the keys of writing good poetry – from how to get started to what to look out for.

Event end: 1pm

王润华
让新加坡文化奖得主王润华引导你如何下笔写一首好诗和在写诗时所必须注意的要素。

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 12:00 pm
Place and Memory – Travelling through Israel and Singapore

Featuring: Ronny Someck, Edwin Thumboo

Meet two literary giants, Ronny Someck and Edwin Thumboo, and travel with them through place and memory in the context of Israel and Singapore. Both are gifted, illustrious and award-winning poets, with a keen and clarifying insight on people, history, identity and social issues. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to sit back and listen to two of the world’s most original talents in poetry.

Event end: 1pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 12:00 pm
Meet the Author: Mohammed Hanif

Moderator: Deepika Shetty

Longlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize, Mohammed Hanif’s A Case of Exploding Mangoes is a darkly satirical novel based on a real-life event – a mysterious plane crash that killed Pakistan’s former president, General Zia, in 1988. Let the Pakistani author shed light on how he came up with the idea for his first book and what he is currently working on.

Event end: 1pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 12:30 pm
Bit Rate Creations

Featuring: Giddens, Wee Tian Beng
Moderator: Chua Chim Kang
This session will be held in Mandarin

This discussion will delve into the worlds of movies, animation, music videos, online web games and web portals. Is this literary evolution and how does it draw in new audiences?

Event end: 1.30pm

多媒著作
嘉宾：九把刀、黄展鸣
主持人：蔡深江

这场讨论会将带观众进入一个视频世界，以电影、动漫、网络、音乐作为主题，深入了解多媒体的魅力所在和探讨它是如何重新点燃一股文学热潮。

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 12:30 pm
Our Local Superhero

Featuring: Troy Chin
Moderator: Gwee Li Sui

Calling all comics devotees and fans! You’re in for a treat, as we take a look at the creative works of emerging Singaporean comic artist Troy Chin. Living and working in Singapore, Troy will share his experiences in conceptualising his comics and getting them into print.

Event end: 1.30pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 1:00 pm
Perihan Magden

Successful Turkish writer, Perihan Magden, has several acclaimed novels in her name, including Two Girls (2002) and Escape (2007). In this enlightening session, she will guide you through the process of how one gets started on writing a novel or a short story, and offer practical tips on what writing pitfalls to watch out for.

Event end: 2pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 1:00 pm
SEA Write Award Winners

Featuring: Chart Korbjitti, Rama Kannabiran and Wong Yoon Wah

Moderator: Kirpal Singh

The Southeast Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Award) has been presented annually to poets and writers in the Southeast Asian region since 1979. Three award winners will gather to scrutinise the literary landscape of Thailand and Singapore. Join Chart Korbjitti (winner for Thailand in 1982 and 1994), Rama Kannabiran (Singapore, 1990) and Wong Yoon Wah (Singapore, 1984) as they ponder upon the challenges that writers face in this region.

Event end: 2pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 1:00 pm
The Controversy of Diversity

Featuring: Lily Yulianti Farid, Isa Kamari
Moderator: Sandra Thibodeaux

Cultural and ethnic issues are prevalent in Isa Kamari’s works as well as the writings of Lily Yulianti Farid. Delve into these issues in a panel that discusses how progressiveness can be retained in the narrative, while the writer is penning down these concerns that are so historically inherent.

Dr. Sandra Thibodeaux is participating in the Singapore Writers Festival courtesy of NT Writers' Centre.

Event end: 2pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 1:30 pm
Bright Young Stars: First Words

SWF is proud to present Singapore's young talented writers. Come meet and listen to the young writers from the Creative Arts Programme as they read and share their literary creations with you.

Event end: 2.30pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 2:00 pm
Meet the Author: Naldo Rei

Moderator: Deepika Shetty

Be spellbound by the tumultuous life of Naldo Rei, the East Timorese author of the memoir, Resistance: A Childhood Fighting for East Timor. A writer who has worked as a journalist and media officer, he was an infant when he and his family fled to the jungles as Indonesian troops annexed East Timor as one of its provinces in 1975.

Event end: 3pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 2:00 pm
Meet the Author: Neil Gaiman on Graphic Novels and Fantasy

Tickets required for entry.
Available at The Arts House Box Office from 26 Sept (Sat), 11am, on a first-come-first-serve basis. Limited to ONE pair per person. Limited seats available.

Moderator: Lim Cheng Tju

English author Neil Gaiman has achieved worldwide fame for coming up with The Sandman comic series and graphic novels like Violent Cases (1987) and Signal to Noise (1992). In his novel, American Gods (2001), he blends Americana, fantasy and modern mythology for a captivating read. At this session, he will share some of his experiences and inspirations behind his many graphic novels and writings in the fantasy genre.

Event end: 3pm

This will be followed by autograph signing outdoors.

Supported by G&B Comics

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 3:00 pm
Evolution: The Curious Case of Books

Featuring: Thangavel Palamalai, Appala Narasiah, Meira Chand, Robert Yeo
Moderator: Ng Yi-Sheng

How do books affect or change our lives? What is this medium that moves and transforms? Does it have any place in our visually saturated and fast moving world? Join four of our top writers from India and Singapore as they share their favourite books and debate on the contemporary role of books and literature.

Event end: 4pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 3:30 pm
The Poetry Path

Featuring: Duo Duo, Wong Yoon Wah
Moderator: Tan Chee Lay
This session will be held in Mandarin

Every pathway is formed by a web of interconnected routes and directions. Some are fraught with struggles and turmoil, while others are a little smoother and more scenic. Trek with two poetic greats, Duo Duo and Prof Wong Yoon Wah, as they retrace some of their steps and ponder their present roles as academics who are helping to nurture the next generation of literary artists.

Event end: 4.30pm

诗路
嘉宾：多多、王润华
主持人：陈志锐
讲座将探讨两位诗人开始写诗的启发点、过程及当中的挣扎。如今，两位诗人都成了学者，培育下一代的作家及诗人，对此路程又有何感想？

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 4:00 pm
Meet the Author: Thangavel Palamalai

Moderator: Naa Aandeappan
This session will be held in Tamil

Meet Thangavel Palamalai, who boasts many publications to his credit – from essays to poetry and songs. He will touch on topics like translation between different languages and switching between writing genres, and also share about his most recent works.

Event end: 5pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 4:00 pm
Meet the Author: Ronny Someck

Moderator: Robert Yeo

Meet award-winning Israeli poet, Ronny Someck, who has published 10 books of poems in his native country, including his latest volume, Algeria (2009). He will share original Hebrew versions as well as English translations of his poems – both new and from his translated collection, The Fire Stays in Red (2002). 

Event end: 5pm

Supported by the Embassy of Israel

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 5:00 pm
Meet the Author: Appala Narasiah

Moderator: Arun Mahihznan
This session will held in Tamil

Appala Narasiah is no stranger to awards and accolades. The three-time winner of State Awards for short story collection and historical writings will share his writing experiences, in particular, how place, people and events inspire the writing of his new book, Kambodia Ninaivugal.

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 5:00 pm
Dissecting the Merlion

The Merlion is a many-splendoured thing, alternatively praised and parodied. From its birth as a uniquely Singaporean tourism symbol to its reputation for endless literary exposition since its lyrical lionisation by Edwin Thumboo, the completely made-up creature has earned much currency. How it has come to take on the baggage of a nascent nation is a compelling phenomenon. Dissecting the Merlion brings together eight writers from different backgrounds and generations for a fun, no-holds-barred debate to expound on the topic: the Merlion has been maligned.

Writers include Alfian Sa’at, Desmond Kon, Leong Liew Geok, Ng Yi-Sheng, Alvin Pang, Adrian Tan, Teng Qian Xi and Ovidia Yu. The moderator-host is Eleanor Wong. Also to be launched at the event is a poetry anthology inspired by the Merlion across the four national languages. 

Event end: 7pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 5:00 pm
Quest of Love by Suki Tong

Love, as author Suki Tong would attest, is a universal language whose effect and influence range from heart-pounding first love to the stability of a love that sticks with us throughout the years. This book is a collection of reflections, stories, snippets and drawings on love from people of all ages and walks of life.

Event end: 6pm

Back to top

01 Nov 2009, 6:30 pm
Doors by Raffles Institution Writers’ Guild and Writers Programme

At the launch of this thematic anthology, you can sample poems and fiction written by Raffles Institution students, who offer different perspectives on the theme of “Doors”. A joint project by the Raffles Institution Writers’ Guild and Writers Programme, this book offers talented students a chance to get published and embark on their own creative writing journey.

Event end: 7.30

Back to top