First-time author wins with “Medusa” story

SINGAPORE, 24 NOVEMBER 2016— Epigram Books is pleased to announce the winner of this year’s Epigram Books Fiction Prize—research associate Nuraliah Norasid.

The first-time author was unveiled by the publisher and CEO of Epigram Books, Edmund Wee this evening at an Award Ceremony and Gala Dinner held at Pan Pacific Hotel. The $25,000 first prize is Singapore’s richest literary award and comes with a publishing contract.

Her manuscript, The Gatekeeper, tells the story of a ten-year-old gorgon girl named Ria, who petrifies an entire village of innocents with her gaze. Together with her sister, she flees the jungle of Manticura to the underground city of Nelroote, where society’s marginalised members live. Years later, the subterranean habitat is threatened when Ria, now the gatekeeper, befriends a man from the outside.

The three other finalists, author O Thiam Chin (Fox Fire Girl), architect Tham Cheng-E (Surrogate Protocol)  and author/translator Jeremy Tiang (State of Emergency) will each receive $5,000 for their submissions.

All four manuscripts will be published by Epigram Books next year. Wee said, “These stories will power the imagination for generations to come, and we hope the authors never stop telling them.”

This year’s competition drew 52 entries. The judges were Prof Philip Holden, Department of English Language and Literature in the National University of Singapore, Constance Singam,  civil society activist and former president of the women’s rights group AWARE, Haresh Sharma, resident playwright, The Necessary Stage and Wee.

At the gala dinner, Wee also announced that Epigram Books had started publishing in London “so that we can bring the wealth of Singaporean literature to the world.” The first UK title is expected in May 2017.

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