Saturday 15 April 2017

Lion City lit notes: Singaporean writers shortlisted for international short story prize

Asian Books Blog is based in Singapore. Our regular column Lion City Lit explores in-depth what’s going on in the City-State, lit-wise. Lion City lit notes provide quick updates between columns. By Lucia Damacela

Short stories by Singaporean writers Jinny Koh and Damon Chua have been shortlisted for the 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Literary Prize. They are among the twenty-one stories that a panel of international judges selected from a total of about 6,000 entries submitted by writers from 49 Commonwealth countries.

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize, launched in 2012, aims to showcase emerging literary talents, particularly from countries with limited publishing infrastructure, and make their voices available to a wider international audience.

The Prize is one of the richest for an international short story contest open to unpublished writers. A total of five writers from five different Commonwealth regions (Canada and Europe, Asia, Caribbean, Pacific, and Africa) will be selected among the shortlisted. They will share a total prize money of GBP 15,000 (USD 18,800 approx.). The overall winner receives GBP 5,000 (USD 6,500 approx.), and the regional winners GBP 2,500 (USD 3,100 approx.).

This is not the first time Singaporean writers have been shortlisted. The works of Yu-Mei Balasingamchow and Sara Adam Ang were selected in 2014. Sara Adam Ang went on to become the Asia Region winner.


Asian Books Blogs congratulates Jinny Koh and Damon Chua and wishes them success in the next round of judging!