Experience Singapore Literature

‘Finding New Villains for Tween Novels’ with Felix Cheong
Saturday, 29 August, 4.30 – 6.00 pm
Multipurpose Room, B1, Central Lending Library

Bored with Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys’ mysteries? Award-winning Singapore writer Felix Cheong has the answer for a new generation of tween readers. In his two detective novels set in Singapore, The Call from Crying Houseand the sequel, The Woman in the Last Carriage,he gets down and dirty with new villains – terrorists. Find out more about the novels as Felix shares his experience of writing the stories and reads extracts from the novels.

The Call from Crying Houseis an adventure mystery set in familiar places around Singapore and an English Literature text in secondary schools. The sequel, Woman in the Last Carriage, was published in 2007. More about Felix Cheong can be found at http://felixcheong.com.

Due to limited places for each session, please register! Registration can be made via http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg at ‘Experience Singapore Literature’.

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The Diary of Amos Lee: From author to publisher to distributor to consumers
Saturday, 5 September, 3.00 – 4.30 pm
Multipurpose Room, B1, Central Lending Library

Is there a formula to writing books that children will love? Find out more from its creation to its consumption. We’ll hear from Adeline Foo, author of The Diary of Amos Lee, which was on The Straits Times’s Top 10 Bestsellers List from July to August! We will also hear from Edmund Wee, a publisher from Epigram, who will highlight three books that had won the First Time Writers & Illustrators Publishing Initiative in 2006 (awarded by The Book Council and Media Development Authority) to find out about the considerations publishers make in publishing children’s titles that will sell.

Next, Johnson Lee, Director of Marketasia, will share how marketing for a children’s title begins and how a book distributor can build branding for an author. What about programmes that encourage kids to read? What more can be done to get kids excited on reading local books? Well, find that out from a librarian!

Whether you are an aspiring children’s author or parents keen to understand the publishing process of children’s titles, join us! Due to limited seats, please register via http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg and surf on to ‘Experience Singapore Literature’.

Adeline Foo is a mother of three and a published children’s book author with 13 books. She has worked 15 years in corporate public relations and advertising, the last seven years were spent in public service. These days, she works from home, writing and preparing for speaking engagements. Beginning September, she begins her life as a graduate student of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Asia, expanding her writing skills from print to film. For more information on the author and her books, please refer to www.amoslee.com.sg

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*For 16 years and above
Experience Singapore Literature: “Voices”
Saturday, 12 September, 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Multipurpose Room, Central Public Library

“I always believe that one writes or creates an art work when one is disturbed and has something to say. Who is in need of voice than those who live in the margins of society” — Alvin Tan, The Necessary Stage

If you have always written stories about love, life and friendship, why not try something from a different Singaporean perspective? We draw inspiration from the environment, surroundings and events around us. In this episode, be inspired by stories from people living on the fringe.

With guidance from Alvin Tan (The Necessary Stage), Poet Ng Yi-Sheng and Writer Tan Teck Howe, explore how you can create works to express your thoughts and voices of the voiceless in society. In this hands-on session, explore ways to write a piece of drama, poetry or short story.

This episode opens participants to the invaluable need for research (whether it be in the form of interviews, literature research or fieldwork) for creative composition. Due to limited places for each session, please register via http://golibrary.nlb.gov.sg at ‘Experience Singapore Literature’.