By The Book: Epigram Books reveals judging panel for the 2023 Epigram Books Fiction Prize

Epigram Books has announced the judging panel for the 2023 Epigram Books Fiction Prize (EBFP). The panel comprises Meira Chand, Carissa Foo, Peter Schoppert, Michelle Yeoh, and is chaired by Edmund Wee.

Meira Chand is the author of nine novels including A Different Sky, which was a “Book of the Month choice” by UK bookshop chain, Waterstones, and was on Oprah Winfrey’s recommended reading list. She is a board member of the National Arts Council.

Carissa Foo is a lecturer in literature and writing at Yale-NUS college. She is also the author of two novels, If It Were Up to Mrs Dada and What We Learned from Driving in Winter.

Peter Schoppert is the publishing director of NUS Press. He is the past president of the Singapore Book Publishers Association, and is currently a member of the Research Committee of the National Gallery of Singapore.

Michelle Yeoh is Malaysia’s internationally acclaimed actress of over 50 films, and producer. She most recently starred in “Everything, Everywhere All at Once” for which she has received critical acclaim.

The panel is chaired by Edmund Wee, publisher of Epigram Books. “We are very honoured and humbled that Meira, Carissa, Peter, and Michelle have accepted the invitation to be judges for the 2023 Fiction Prize and I believe that each of us brings a different perspective to the panel,” says Edmund.

This is the 8th edition of the prize which has awarded eight winners and published over 30 novels, with some going on to be shortlisted and win the Singapore Literature Prize.

The competition was initially for Singapore citizens and permanent residents but has been opened to writers in Southeast Asia since 2019. The winner of the 2023 EBFP will receive SGD$25,000 as well as a publishing agreement. The three shortlisted entries will each get SGD$5,000 and a publishing contract.

The winners and finalists will be published in the later half of 2023. Submissions have been opened since February 2022 and will close on 1 August 2022. More information available here