Epigram Books Blog

Starting next Monday (18 March), authors and artists will be heading to the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop for what we call our "author/artist-in-attendance" programme. One of the reasons we are doing this is because we want to look for new ways to introduce and engage the audience with the world of SingLit. Which is why, apart from publishing and promoting local literature, we also intend to turn part of the bookshop into a working space for authors and illustrators. After all, authors and illustrators should have an alternative conducive space to hone their craft, don't they? Furthermore, as we are fans of literature, it’s something that we believe other fans would love – I mean, imagine being able to go to a bookshop where you get to meet authors or illustrators every time ... 

The March school holidays will soon be here. Whether you're planning to stay in Singapore or head overseas for a quick holiday – you'll do well to bring some entertainment for the young 'uns. Allow us, then, to recommend the ultimate mobile entertainment: books!
Why? Well, they're portable, they don't need to be recharged, and they don't need connectivity to entertain (see, we're helping you save on mobile data charges).
Not sure where to start? Fret not! Here are some quality titles by Singapore authors that will beat any school’s reading list. Er, just don’t tell the teachers we said that!

Maybe it's the Bicentennial, or the fact that the annual Singapore Heritage Festival will soon be upon us once again, but lately, we've been thinking of the past. And what better to learn about the past than through the pages of books (yes, even those history texts from school).
Of course, history is seen from a certain point of view –  and thanks to the authors, we can have many different viewpoints of our own. With that in mind, we came up with a selection of books that cast a light on Singapore's heritage and history, through the pages of novels and memoirs, with each capturing life in the Lion City – from their own point of view. 

A few years ago, when author Maureen Yeo was teaching in a secondary school, she had a conversation about animal conservation with her students. To her surprise, the students did not know about Singapore wildlife. It was thanks to that discussion that the seeds for the book, The Great Singapore Poo Sale and Other Beastly Business, were planted. Maureen got On The Scene With Eugene on 938Now to talk animals, animals and more animals. Here are the transcript and recording of that interview. 

We had a nice surprise when we opened out Inbox today to find this pic sent by Ning Cai. In case you missed it, last week, Ning, who authored the book, Misdirection (Book #1 in our new Savant Trilogy) said goodbye to Singapore and jetted off to Edinburgh, where she will be spending a year studying for her Masters in Creative Writing. Ning agreed to keep us updated about her time in the UK every so often – and that's what An Author Abroad is all about.

Dato' Dr M Shanmughalingam, or M Shan, is a very well-known figure in Malaysia. The alumnus of Harvard and Oxford has also made a name for himself as an author of quirky short stories. His latest book, Marriage and Mutton Curry, is the first time his works have been collected into a compilation. He spoke with Eugene Loh of radio station 938Now about Marriage and Mutton Curry. Here are the transcript and recording of that conversation ... 

What would you do if you discovered that your grandfather had a secret identity? Or if you are tasked to bring home the corpse of your estranged brother from Phuket? Or if you had to dig into your friend's privacy as part of your job? These questions are answered in Jennani Durai's debut collection of short stories, Regrettable Things That Happened Yesterday, 

Mother’s Day is only a couple of weeks away (on 13 May) but what can you get mum that will say “Happy Mother’s Day” like no other? Well, at Epigram Books, we’ll help you say “I love you, Mum” with these book ideas that are suitable for new mums as well as mums who have had years of experience.