Singapore Writers Festival by Marianne Tan

2013

INDEX INTRODUCTION 1 - 2

SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL

VENUE MAP 21 PROGRAMME 18 - 20

HIGHLIGHTS

SINGAPORE WRITERS FESTIVAL

The annual Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) features the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major literary talents. One of Asiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier literary events

2 2 0 1 3 one of the few in the world that is multi-lingual (focused on the official languages of Singapore: English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil)

SWF 2013 THEME 2

INTRODUCTION T

he Singapore Writers Festival is one of Asia’s premier literary events. Inaugurated in 1986, the festival serves a dual function of promoting new and emerging Singaporean and Asian writing to an international audience, as well as presenting the world’s major literary talents to Singaporeans alike. SWF have delighted book lovers by featuring literary luminaries such as Singapore writers,Shamini Flint, Alvin Pang, Suchen Christine Lim, You Jin, as well as international writers such as Steven

Levitt, Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Bi Feiyu, Andrew Motion and Marc Smith. To date, it remains one of the few literary festivals in the world that is multilingual, celebrating works in Singapore’s official languages – English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. SWF’s 2013 theme portrays a deeper and realistic meaning of infinity, Continuity. Like a motion picture, continuity brings about a scenario, giving

action and life to each significant scene in a book as words which were carefully crafted by the writer comes alive, bringing a whole new meaning of words and continuity of a book’s life. The writers featured in this year’s SWF will take spin on their own meaning of Continuity through their thoughts and their words.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Vision is perhaps our greatest strength... It has kept us alive to the power and continuity of thought through the centuries, it makes us peer into the future and lends shape to the unknown.â&#x20AC;?

My 1000 Days Ordeal “...Continuing with my reading, I finally came across words that completely touched my soul. When I read Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy road and thy staff they comfort me”, I felt a jolt in my heart, familiar. “Walk through the valley of death, wasn’t that me? Had my emotions not spiraled down towards the brink of suicide? How could a person in such a situation not be afraid? But the Bible continued to say: “I will fear no evil: for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”.

This was a positive development and was beneficial to my regaining mental health. Although the common saying is that, “men do not cry easily”, after having experienced immense suffering, shedding copious tears is a very important process of relief. Without this, it is impossible to release the pressure buried deep in one’s heart...” - Extracted from Ching Cheong’s book, My 1000 Days Ordeal: A Patriot’s Torture. Translated by Goh Sui Noi & Ho Cheeng Cheeng

At this point, tears welled up in my eyes and fell as form a spring. I was not sure why I was moved to tears by the Psalm, was it because the words described exactly my mental situation when I wanted to kill myself? This bout of tears changed me. From the viewpoint of psychology, the tears meant that what was pent-up within me since I was arrested was finally released.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Han, did you know people can get sold into slavery for money?â&#x20AC;? 6

The Bondmaid

“...“Very thin. She is all skin and bone.” She asked the mother, “Does your child have worms?” Thirty-five years ago, she herself had been brought in as an unkempt, pot-bellied child in much need of de-lousing and de-worming. The mother replied with nervous effusiveness, “Oh no, the child is very healthy. No worm at all,” adding, “She has never been ill. Only a running nose now and again.” She was thankful that the nose had stopped dribbling. “Very small for her age,” said the matriarch and gestured for a closer look. She liked to lift up a child’s thin arm and encircle it with forefinger and thumb to demonstrate the thinness. But the child refused to move, clinging tightly to the mother. “Scabs on her legs,” said Choyin in continuing depreciation of the child’s worth, to strengthen the buyer’s position. The mother was visibly upset. She was depending on a successful completion of the transaction; if it failed, she would be at her wits’ end. So she began, once again, to reassure them of the child’s good health and obedient behavior. The matriarch once more turned to Choyin and said something. The head bondmaid went to a near by table, picked up a red envelope and handed it to the mother... ... For the sake of your family, you will continue your life set out in the House of Wu...” - Extracted from Catherine Lim’s book, The Bondmaid.

Meet the greet Catherine Lim as she shares her book writing experience during this SWF 2013 author session.

SINGAPORE WRITERS

CATHERINE LIM

CYRIL WONG

Well-known and outspoken Singaporean author with 20 titles to her credit; from short stories to novels, reflective prose and poetry, and satirical pieces. Her works deal with Asian culture, womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issues, and Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culture, history and politics.

A prolific poet and author, Cryil has published several poetry collections, most recently Satori Blues (2011), and wrote a collection of short stories. His award winning book, Tilting Our Plates to Catch the Light, has received many outstanding awards and reviews.

Catherine has won national and regional book prizes and was conferred an honorary doctorate of literature by Murdoch University and was made a Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Information.

Anthologies featuring his work include Language for a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from the Middle East, Asia and Beyond (2008) and Chinese Erotic Poems (2007). He founded international poetry journal online, Softblow, and is a creative writing mentor under the Creative Arts Programme and the Mentor Access Project.

SUCHEN CHRISTINE LIM

FELIX CHEONG

One of Singapore’s most talented and distinguished writers, Christine has won inaugural Singapore Literature prize in 1992 with her third novel, Fistful Of Colours. Her most ambitious and complex fourth novel to date, A Bit Of Earth, was shortlisted for the Singapore Literature Prize in 2004. She had started writing only in her 30s.

Prolific writer Felix Cheong is the author of eight books, four collections of poetry and, most recently, a collection of short stories, Vanishing Point. He has been invited to writers’ festivals all over the world, from Edinburgh to West Cork, from Austin to Sydney, where he reads his wide-range of works.

Her first story, The Valley of Golden Showers, written for children, won a prize in 1980 in a national writing competition. Other works include, 11 children’s books, several short stories published in Singapore and international journals and anthologies, and a non-fiction work, Stories Of The Chinese Overseas, published in 2005.

Felix received the National Arts Council’s Young Artist Award in 2000 and was nominated for the Singapore Literature Prize in 2004. Felix Cheong currently lectures at various tertiary institutions across Singapore through writing workshops.

SINGAPORE WRITERS

WONG HONG MOK

CHING CHEONG

A self-taught and self-made musician, Wong Hong Mok is a singer-songwriter known for an edgy sound that is bold and raw, and a maverick style unique in Singapore, earning him the moniker ‘The Wild Man’. In the tradition of songwriters, Hong Mok is also an accomplished writer. He writes a column for Lianhe Zaobao and published his first book, The Dream of the Wild Man.

A veteran journalist, Ching Cheong has analysed and commented extensively on Chinese politics for The Straits Times and periodicals in China. His unflinching views did not find favour with the Chinese authorities, who in 2005 imprisoned him on false charges. His book My 1,000-day Ordeal: A Spiritual Journey tells how he weathered the most severe storm in his life.

黄宏墨是新加坡土生土长、自学成功的音乐人。他的曲风豪迈坦荡，独树一帜，是岛国罕见的原创音乐作家。他不但集写词、作曲和弹唱于一身，而且也是一个擅长用文字表达内心感情的写作人，今年出版了第一本个人音乐散文集《野人的梦》。他目前是《联合早报》的专栏作家。

程翔为资深记者，曾任《海峡时报》首席驻华特派员并派驻中港台两岸三地多个城市，聚焦大中华政治新闻，见解精辟、笔触尖锐。2005年因政治评论涉嫌间谍罪在北京被判入狱五年。现为《海峡时报》特约评论员。程翔刚出版个人著作《千日无悔》，为自己人生这一段最严峻的风暴留下印记。

SHARON ISMAIL

VEERAPPAN LETCHIMEE

Sharon Ismail is an educator and television personality whose illustrated children’s book What Sallamah Didn’t Know is now a primary school English text. The book was based on what was once a family secret: her Chinese mother was adopted as a baby by an Indian father and a Malay mother.

Veerappan Letchimee is a Tamil teacher who has been writing Tamil short stories and radio plays for many years. She was featured regularly in Tamil Murasu and Tamil Malar, with her short story ‘Niraigal’ chosen as one of only 13 stories to be translated into all of Singapore’s official languages as part of a National Library Board project to promote reading.

Sharon Ismail merupakan seorang pendidik dan personaliti televisyen. Buku kanak-kanak berilustrasinya, What Sallamah Didn’t Know (Apa Yang Tidak Diketahui Sallamah) kini menjadi buku teks Inggeris di sekolah rendah. Buku tersebut berdasarkan sebuah rahsia keluarga.

தமிழ் மொழி ஆசிரியராக பணிபுரிகிறலெட் இதுவரை பல கட்டுரைகள், சிறுகதைகள், சிறுவர்மேடை, சமூக நாடகங்கள், தொடர் நாடகங்கள் என நூற்றுக்கு மேற்பட்டபடை ்புகளைப் படைத்துள்ளார். நாளிதழ்கள், வானொலி, ல் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளன.

Autopilot engaged.

I left for work. It’s a swelteringly hot day already. The bad sun had been burning since before my traitorously absent phone woke me. The steering wheel was burning hot to the touch when I sat down. I think I heard Emily shift over behind my driver’s seat to get out of the glare. But I got to work. Submitted the report.

Attended the morning meeting. It’s not until I took a quick coffee break and reached for my phone that the illusion shattered. I did a mental restep. I remembered the dying battery. I remembered putting it on to charge. I remembered leaving it there. My phone was on the counter. Autopilot disengaged. Again, therein lies the danger. Until you have that moment, the moment you reach for your phone and shatter the illusion, that part of the brain is still in routine mode. It has no reason to question

the facts of the routine; that’s why it’s a routine. Attrition of repetition. It’s not as if anyone could say ‘why didn’t you remember your phone? Didn’t it occur to you? How could you forget? You must be negligent’; this is to miss the point. My brain was telling me the routine was completed as normal, despite the fact that it wasn’t. It wasn’t that I forgot my phone. According to my brain, according to the continuous routine, my phone was in my bag. Why would I think to question it? Why would I check? Why would I suddenly remember, out of nowhere, that my phone was on the counter? My brain was wired into the routine and the routine was that my phone was in my bag. The day continued to bake. The morning haze gave way to the relentless fever heat of the afternoon. Tarmac bubbled. The direct beams of heat threatened to crack the pavement. People swapped coffees for iced smoothies. Jackets

discarded, sleeves rolled up, ties loosened, brows mopped. The parks slowly filled with sunbathers and BBQ’s. Window frames threatened to warp. The thermometer continued to swell. Thank fuck the offices were air conditioned. But, as ever, the furnace of the day gave way to a cooler evening. Another day, another dollar. Still cursing myself for forgetting my phone, I drove home. The days heat had baked the inside of the car, releasing a horrible smell from somewhere. When I arrived on the driveway, the stones crunching comfortingly under my tyres, my wife greeted me at the door.“Where’s Emily?” As if the phone wasn’t bad enough. After everything I’d left Emily at the fucking nursery after all. I immediately sped back to the nursery. I got to the door and started practising my excuses, wondering vainly if I could charm my way out of a late fee. I saw a piece of paper stuck to the door. “Due to vandalism overnight, please use side door. Today only.” Overnight? What? The door was fine this morni-. I froze. My knees shook.

Vandals. A change in the routine. My phone was on the counter. I hadn’t been here this morning. My phone was on the counter. I’d driven past because I was drinking my coffee. I’d not dropped off Emily. My phone was on the counter. She’d moved her seat. I hadn’t seen her in the mirror. My phone was on the counter. She’d fallen asleep out of the bad sun. She didn’t speak when I drove past her nursery. My phone was on the counter. She’d changed the routine. My phone was on the counter. She’d changed the routine and I’d forgotten to drop her off. My phone was on the counter. 9 hours. That car. That baking sun. No air. No water. No power. No help. That heat. A steering wheel too hot to touch. That smell. I walked to the car door. Numb. Shock. I opened the door. My phone was on the counter and my daughter was dead. Autopilot disengaged.

- Extracted from Neil Gaimen’ collection of short stories, Autopilot. Meet and greet the author this SWF 2013 as he takes you into his world of literary works as words take form and comes alive.

GLOBAL WRITERS

ALISON LESTER

VICTORIA GLENDINNING

Alison Jean Lester comes from a family of writers. Her first book of fiction, a short story collection entitled Locked out: Stories far from Home, was published by Monsoon Books in 2006. She recently completed a novel, and is waiting as patiently as she can for an agent in New York to find the time to read.

A serial biographer, Victoria Glendinning, is said to have sworn after each one never to write another. The result is nine erudite and sensitive biographies, including those of Edith Sitwell, Vita Sackville-West, Anthony Trollope and Leonard Woolf.

When sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not writing, she runs her own communication coaching business, helping people improve their business relationships.

Victoria has also written three novels, notably Electricity. She lives in the countryside in Somerset, England, with her third husband, with whom she travels in Southeast Asia â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and a cat. She loves gardening, cooking, and talking to friends and four grown-up sons

NEIL GAIMAN

BRIAN CASTRO

Neil Gaiman is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book.

Born in Hong Kong of Portuguese, Chinese and English parentage, Brian Castro is a global citizen in every sense of the term. He was educated in Sydney, after which he worked in France, Hong Kong and Australia, where he is now rooted. His dense, imaginative writing has garnered him a host of awards. Brian received The Australian/Vogel literary award for his first novel Birds of Passage (1983),

He has won numerous awards, including Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, Newbery Medal, and Carnegie Medal. He is the first author to win both the Newbery and the Carnegie medals for the same work, The Graveyard Book (2008).

The Age Fiction Prize for Double-Wolf (1991) and the Victorian Premierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Literary Award for After China (1992). His work has been translated into Chinese, French and German and his most recent novel was 2009â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Bath Fugues, which garnered him acclaimed recognition

REQIUEM. where shall I lie when I die if there be no rolling plain or the slope of a hill where I shall wake (yes, wake) to a bird’s trill or the sound of rain falling gently on the mound where I shall be wrapped warm in evening glow gazing at stars retelling stories i used to know a plot to call home where during qing ming I await visits from friends (maybe not) and kin listening to their happy voices, their laughter no more the tears that came between us they knowing I’ve always been there me proud to be a part of their past alas, to be lodged in a hole in a wall in some storage hall the years reduced in a jar, a fistful of dust

is there an afterlife? is there hope of dying a second death?

- Extracted from Singaporean poet & writer David Leo’s book, Ubin Dreaming (You’ve Been Dreaming). His works and books are being featured at the SWF event hall. 16

KAYA TOAST Orchard Road is impressive but not quite as persuasive that’s not his cup of Singapore – he wants to come home to kaya toast the sandwiched sweetness of the humble roti the aroma of brewing kopi spilled into china and two eggs boiling in a kong that’s how he’d always belong where the familial familiarity of his father’s house follows, though he strays he shall return to not where the bright lights die each night, caving into a hollowness but where a candle will burn of the master’s wisdom his values, humility the simplicity of affection kaya toast waiting always waiting

- Extracted from Singaporean poet & writer David Leo’s book, Ubin Dreaming (You’ve Been Dreaming)

PROGRAMME SCHEDULE OPENING CEREMONY 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm

THE UKULELE GIRLS

Venue: Festival Pavillion, Campus Green

7:00 pm - 7:30 pm Venue: Festival Pavillion, Campus Green

The official launch of the Singapore Writers Festival, Paul Tan (SWF Director) & committee talk about this year’s theme.

The Ukulele Girls, Kaylin & Tian cover songs from an eccelctic mix of genres, for SWF they will be treating audiences to

RARE BOOK COLLECTION “CONTUNITY” TOUR 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm (The first tour takes place 1-1.45pm, and second tour takes place 4.15-5pm. 25 slots available per tour)

their catchy tunes, with funny, heartfelt lyrics and soothing harmonies.

BOOKS AND BEER 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Venue: Switch (NTUC Trade Union House)

The Rare Books Tour will feature a selection of historically significant materials from different time periods and communities, and focus on the SWF 2012 theme “Origins”, to offer insights

into the origins of the language and culture of the people in Singapore and the region. The Tour offers a rare opportunity at close range, materials housed in the National Library’s Rare Materials.

Books and Beer bring their travelling book swap to the festival, so come down to Switch for some reading, recycling, rehydrating and regaling. The rules of the book* swap are simple.

Participants are allowed to bring up to 10 pre-loved books, and ideally take home the same number of books they came with.

BOOK SIGNING EVENT SCHEDULES

FELIX CHEONG

BRIAN CASTRO

SYLVIA TAN

Venue: SWITCH, NTUC Building 04 Nov - 06 Nov 2: 00 pm - 3:30 pm 18

04/11/2013 Author of eight books, four collections of poetry. His most recent book of short stories, Vanishing Point, will be sold during the event.

05/11/2013 He received The Australian/Vogel literary award for his novel Birds of Passage (1983). Meet and greet with a short Q&A session.

06/11/2013 Singaporean food writer, newspaper and website columnist. She is the author of eight cookbooks, including best seller Singapore Heritage Food.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS OF SWF 2013 (more info available on the event day) CATHERINE LIM

NEIL GAIMAN

Eat Your Words with Catherine Lim 3 Nov 2013 | 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

NEIL GAIMAN 6 Nov 2013 | 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Chamber, The Art House, Old Parliament Lane

Marina Mahathir in Conversation with Catherine 4 Nov 2013 | 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Catherine has contributed greatly to Singapore literary scene, her works talks about Asian culture, women’s issues, and Singapore’s history and

politics. Get up and close with the author in a deeper and personal level as she dwells into the heart and soul of words and current culture.

Know for his science fiction and fantasy genres, Neil is also an expert in the field of children’s literature, having written Coraline (2002) and The

Graveyard Book (2008). Find out his different mindset when positioning his stories for teens.

VICTORIA GLENDINNING

CHING CHEONG 程翔

Who Killed Amanda Palmer 6 Nov 2013 | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm | Chamber, The Art House, Old Parliament Lane

5 Nov 2013 | 2:30pm - 3:30 pm | Exhibition Gallery 2 Basement, National Museum of Singapore

Victoria Glendinning reads several extracts from her new book, Who Killed Amanda Palmer, a macabre collection of short

他曾被指控为台湾进行间谍活动，一夜之间失去了自由，被囚禁了1020天。《海峡时报》高级记者程翔回顾

stories that would entice any reader into a world that could only explained through her thoughtfully crafted work.

他由被捕到获释的整个过程。一个人，真的能完全摆脱过去而坦然无悔吗？

CRITICALLY SPEAKING

CYRIL WONG

Featuring: Sharon Ismail, Cyril Wong, Wong Hong Mok | The Ixora Room | 7 November 2013 | 6:00 pm

Gender Bender – Love in the Age of Sexual Confusion | 6 November 2013 | 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Reviewers and critics have the power to shape tastes and build audiences. But is their role all-important or over-estimated, this

Love and desire are usually not as straight as they might seem. From The Panji Tales to Shakespeare’s comedies,

panel asks. And, without the critic’s opinions and analyses, will only popular works rule the day?

the happy-ever-after often comes after some gender confusion and same-sex attraction. 19

OTHER YEARLY EVENTS KEY TO HER HEART

UTTER, A PLAY (19 JUNE)

By Ai Yu | 10 March | 8:00pm Translated from Chinese by Jeremy Tiang

Haze Daze, re-imagined from Haze Day by Jeffrey Lim | 19 June | 6:00pm- 8:30pm

Liew Kwee Lan (Ai Yu) was a scriptwriter and story planner at MediaCorp in Singapore for over 22 years, during which time she wrote more than 60 television drama series with a team of writers. Her book-reading event will excite and encourage many locals to express themselves through playwright.

What happens to a society of pragmatic Singaporeans when it falls under the spell of a magical, soporific haze? “Haze Day” introduces a new chaos to the parallel lives of Evan, Fathul, Nallini and Hwee Leng as they unravel in a blanket of narcotic smoke.

POETRY OF SONG 唱所欲言

WRITING FASHION

8 July | 7:00pm - 9:00pm | SWITCH

31 Aug | 4:30pm - 6:00pm | Seminar Room 3-2, School of Information Systems

Unlock your inner fashionista and get a glimpse of the life of a fashion journalist. This hands-on workshop, conducted by industry veteran and Elle editor-in-chief Sharon Lim, shows you how to create impactful headlines and powerful copy, and reveals the tricks of the glamour trade.

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU - WRITING A FIRST NOVEL

THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV – CREATING A DRAMA SERIES

20 Aug | 11:30am - 2:00pm | Seminar Room 3-3, School of Information Systems

22 Sep | 12:30pm - 3:00pm | Seminar Room 3-2, School of Information Systems

This master class by top Australian novelist Brian Castro looks at the pitfalls of trying to get published – what you should, as well as should NOT, try to do. Tips on how to save a lot of time and anxiety, as well as plenty of food for thought and provocation, promise to help new writers get a good start.

TV and film veteran Thean-jeen shares his experience in conceptualising and writing award-winning Singapore shows like The Pupil. Tap on this invaluable knowledge to find out how to create a TV drama, and enjoy the chance to come up with your own series idea and pitch it to the class.

DIRECTIONS TO THE ARTS HOUSE BY CHARTERED BUS

HERE!

Alight at bus stop in front of Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall. Walk behind to The Arts House. Note: Private buses may not wait at the bus stop. Only pick-ups and drop-offs allowed.

BY PUBLIC BUS Bus stop in front of the Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall: 75, 100, 107, 130, 131, 167 Bus stop in front of The Fullerton Hotel: 10, 57, 70, 75, 100, 107, 128, 130, 131, 162, 167, 196

BY MRT

BY TAXI

BY CAR

Raffles Place station – take Exit H. Walk to The Fullerton Hotel, then cross Cavenagh Bridge.

City Hall station – take Exit B. Walk along North Bridge Road in the direction of (new) Supreme Court Building.

Alight at the taxi stand along Empress Place, by the side of the Asian Civilisations Museum. Walk to The Arts House.

Park at Parliament House, The Adelphi, or Funan DigitaLife Mall. Walk to The Arts House.

TICKETING HOTLINE: (65) 6332 6919

SWF EMAIL INFO: nac_swf@nac.gov.sg

Walk past the Asian Civilisations Museum to The Arts House.

Turn left at Parliament Place and continue to The Arts House.

FOR MORE INFO: http://www.singaporewritersfestival.com