Epigram Books Blog

This time last year, our bags were packed and we were ready to go into the wild blue yonder for our the year-end hols. Of course, we can't go abroad this year (boohoo!). However, that doesn't mean we can't do a little bit of #armchairtravel through the magical portal of books (yay!)

Ah, 2020. We'll probably look back and wonder how we managed to make it through such a year! But you know what? We found that sometimes, when you're feeling in the dumps, it really does help to look at the bright side...

We're happy to announce the six finalists for the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize (EBFP). This time, the shortlist includes a lawyer, a lecturer, a retiree, and three authors. They are (in alphabetical order)... Wesley Leon Aroozoo, 36 (Singapore). Wesley...

Bertha Henson is a current Associate Professor of Practice at the Communications and New Media Department in the Faculty of Arts and Science in the National University of Singapore. Her career as a journalist with Singapore Press Holdings before that...

Author Vivian Teo sure has been hustling this year! After the publication of the first book in her debut middle grade series, My BFF Is an Alien, in March earlier this year, she's back with its sequel, My BFF Is an Alien:...

Born to Thai and American parents, Sunisa Manning spent most of her childhood in Bangkok before her move to California, USA. Graduating from Brown University, she has had her works published in Prairie Schooner, Mekong Review and The Rumpus, as well as other literary sites. She has also been honoured with residencies at Hedgebrook and Hambidge and was awarded fellowships at San Jose State and the San Francisco Writer's Grotto.

Her debut novel, A Good True Thai, was selected as a finalist at the 2020 Epigram Books Fiction Prize. A tale of three friends caught up in the political upheaval in Thailand during the 1970s, the story has been lauded by some as "a narrative that speaks so profoundly to the condition of Thailand" (Jess Row, award-winning author of Your Face in Mine) and "authentic and engaging" (Prabda Yoon, filmmaker and award-winning author of The Sad Part Was). 

Enjoy a sneak peek into the creation of A Good True Thai, as author Sunisa shares her experiences and what she hopes readers can take away from it.

Have loads of fun with the kids at home—and introduce them to the wonderful world of reading. Here are some fresh titles we know you'll want to add to your children's library. The Kung Fu Force and the Tower of DoomThey’re small....

If you're a Singaporean who grew up in the 1990s, then you most probably would recognise Robin Leong as the famous actor who has starred in countless of local television shows, including cop drama, Triple Nine, and kung fu thriller, The Challenge.
Now, he has carved a successful career as the founder of Ch'i Life Studio, which conducts martial arts classes for children and parents. His passion for teaching martial arts to the young ones naturally led him to start writing children's books.
His debut book, The Kung Fu Force and the Tower of Doom, is his labour of love. Here, he shares his inspiration and hopes he has for his new book.

Samantha Han is an undergraduate at the National Institute of Education (NIE), where she's studying to become a teacher. She is also the author of The Womps: Pinto's Pinky Promises, her debut children's book series featuring a fun bunch of four furry friends–Pinto, So-ya, Kofi, and Chick Bee.
While brainstorming for a new book series, Samantha asked herself: How can we instill values and lessons in our young ones while making it enjoyable for them? Here, she spills the beans on how she began her writing journey.