Experience Singapore Literature

Singaporeans Abroad Writing Workshop
Saturday, 19 March, 11.00 am – 12.30 pm
Visitors’ Briefing Room, Level 1, National Library Board

For the avid traveller, why not turn your interesting travel experiences into exciting fictional stories? Writing about your travels is a great way to capture the experience and places you have been to and to share them with others. It entices readers to want to visit the places too!

Josephine Chia, author of seven published books in Singapore and the UK, will share her writing skills and how she creates stories out of her travel experiences. Her book Isn’t Singapore Somewhere in China, Luv? is a collection of fictional stories of Singaporeans and their experiences abroad. Based on this book, gain insights on some of the stories and how they were weaved together as well as the use of fictional characters in the places Josephine visited.

Bring along snapshots or collectibles from one of your most memorable holidays and we’ll show you how to transform them into a fictional story suitable for publication.

Please bring along writing materials! Due to limited spaces for this hands-on workshop, please register only if you can really make it here or access http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg, ‘Singapore’.

About the Book
Isn’t Singapore somewhere in China, luv? is a collection of short stories
about Singaporeans who are abroad. The stories are not just about places
but also about the people who are travelling, in search of adventure and
emotional fulfilment. Characteristics of the majority of Singaporeans are
worked into the characters, their love of Singaporean food, their sense of
belonging in Singapore and their hardworking attributes.In the stories, these
characters are put into situations that are not their usual fare.

About the Author
Josephine Chia writes both fiction and non-fiction and has published seven
books. Her first literary break was when she was one of the winners of UK’s
Ian St. James Awards in 1992 for her short story, 'Tropical Fever', which
was subsequently published in an anthology by Harper Collins. Since then,
Josephine has won several other literary prizes and is a member of UK’s
Society of Authors and UK Society of Women Writers & Journalists. She
lives in West Sussex, England. 

Find out more at www.josephinechia.com.

Choi! Touchwood!
Saturday, 26 February, 9.00 am – 11.30 am
Information Counter, Level 1, National Library Building

Have you ever wondered why there are bat motifs in a Chinese temple? Or why is it that cactus is rare in a Chinese home? Join us for a walk through Singapore’s Chinatown – a journey into the Chinese traditions, superstitions, myths and taboos.

Based on the book Choi! Touchwood, this tour takes you through landmarks like Thian Hock Keng Temple, Smith Street, Ang Siang Hill and Sago Lane.

Based on their years of research and conceptualisation of Choi! Touchwood, designers of the book will reveal and share fun facts in the world of Chinese superstition at the heart of Singapore’s Chinatown. Explore how the book covered the contrasts of a modern society and traditional beliefs and remind you about your childhood days when traditions, myths and taboos were a big part of your lives. Bear in mind though that this is not a heritage trail! So come armed with your own stories and beliefs to share with the group.

For this tour, we bring you on the first part of the journey covered in the book and leave you to explore the rest on your own!

Check out www.choitouchwood.com for more information. This programme is jointly presented by National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS) and the National Library Singapore.

As places are limited, registration is required at http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg, “Singapore”. Or you can click here.

A Stroll Through Old Singapore
Saturday, 11 December, 9.00 am – 11.30 am
Meeting Point: Information Counter, Level 1, National Library Building

Join us for a relaxing stroll this December as we unwind and relive moments of old Singapore in a walking tour.

Based on the book A Stroll Through Old Singapore by Pugalenthii, the writer will bring you on a walking tour around the Padang. Chance upon interesting discoveries about places you thought you knew enough about as the writer reveals to you interesting facts about these places found in his book.

We will begin our journey from the middle of the Padang and make several stops, among some, Queen Elizabeth Walk, The Victoria Memorial Hall and the Lim Bo Seng Memorial. What stories do these places hold? What stories or memories do you have of them?

As places are limited, please register at here at http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg, ‘Singapore’. Open to 14 years and above.

As this is an outdoor walking tour, please be in comfortable attire and footwear. The tour ends at the last stop around the Padang and participants will disperse from this location.