The Amara Hotel ballroom is not where literary glamour usually lives. On this January evening, there are no red carpets or flashing cameras, just round tables, polite applause, and the low hum of people who care deeply about books. Editors, writers, publishers, teachers, and industry figures fill the room. It feels, fittingly, like what Edmund Wee later calls “the book ecosystem”. “It is quiet, unglamorous … Continue reading Books: Ratna Damayanti Taha’s debut novel ‘Mind the Gap’ awarded 2026 Epigram Books Fiction Prize

Despite a shrinking local publishing scene, Epigram Books is doubling down on children’s literature and distinctive non-fiction in the first half of 2026, unveiling nine new titles that span picture books, middle-grade adventures, history, memoir and food culture. Speaking at a media engagement, Epigram founder Edmund Wee framed the new lineup against what he described as a sobering reality for Singapore publishing. With several presses … Continue reading Books: Epigram Books reveals lineup of children’s books and strong local voices in first half of 2026