Ethos Books

01/09/2024

It's the one-year anniversary of "The Singapore I Recognise" by !

One year ago, we wrapped up the Dakota Dreams campaign and premiered a documentary which asked, "What is The Singapore I Recognise?"

On 1 September, after casting our votes in the Presidential Election, we gathered to celebrate the launch of Kirsten’s book, moderated by . Were you there?

Singapore, a nation often showcased as a model of success and stability, is also a place of contradictions, complexities, and untold stories. Kirsten has played a crucial role in uncovering these layers, revealing a side of Singapore that many may not have encountered.

The Singapore I Recognise has ignited meaningful conversations and reflections. Readers have found in its pages a nuanced, humane, and deeply personal exploration of what it means to call Singapore home.

We at Ethos are proud to be the home for this collection of essays—and no, we did not get POFMAed in the process.

As we celebrate this one-year anniversary, we honour not just the book but also the ongoing journey of questioning, learning, and broadening our understanding of what Singapore truly is—and dreaming of what it can be.

31/08/2024

Thank you to everyone for joining us at the inaugural edition of Ethos Nights, where we launched womb song by Esther Vincent Xueming

Your presence made the evening truly special as we explored the depths of sound and verse in a sonic womb. Deep appreciation goes out to for hosting and preparing blue pea tea made with fresh flowers and lemons from his family garden.

Thanks also to and for reading a selection of poems from the collection and sharing their thoughts. Arin was instrumental in bringing in this manuscript — it truly takes a village to birth a book!

We look forward to welcoming you to the next edition of Ethos Nights. womb song is now available for purchase at your favourite bookstores. You may also order it on the Ethos webstore.

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22/08/2024

The Neverness Trio's performance at the concourse last night was a mesmerising journey through the golden era of Malay rock.

With their soulful renditions, Idrus Khan, & brought life to songs like Bas No. 13 by M. Nasir, I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley & The Wailers, and Joget Si Pinang Muda by P. Ramlee, echoing the cultural tapestry of Singapore in the 1970s.

Each song evoked some of the themes explored in .ahmad's upcoming novel, Neverness. Set against the backdrop of the now-lost village of Engku Aman, the novel delves into the intricate stories of love, loss, and cultural transformation within a community facing rapid change.

Neverness will launch on 21st September 2024, offering readers an evocative portrayal of life in a kampong near Geylang Serai. The book invites readers to reflect on a world that, though gone, continues to echo in the lives of those who remember it. Stay tuned!

This Red Dot August event is a collaboration between , .official and

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20/08/2024

Ethos Nights is where Ethos creatives take their work into uncharted and untexted mediums. The inaugural edition will be a "sonic womb," plumbing the sounds of womb song, the new poetry collection by eco poet Esther Vincent Xueming.

The first edition of Ethos Nights will focus on sound and song: listeners and readers, join us for the launch of Esther Vincent Xueming’s womb song. On this evening, Aliwal Multipurpose Hall transforms into a “sonic womb”—where space and poetry merge into sound.

📅 Launch Date/Time: 31st August 2024, 7pm
📍 Venue: Multi-purpose Hall @ Aliwal Arts Centre. 28 Aliwal St, Singapore 199918

14/08/2024

Thank you to everyone who joined us this evening at for "In The Language of Orchids" featuring poet , who read from her collection The Orchid Folios.

Next Wednesday, join us at 6.45pm for a soulful performance by The Neverness Trio, which will bring us music inspired by Fairoz Ahmad’s upcoming debut novel, Neverness.

While at the Esplanade Concourse, don't forget to check out the Sing Lit Cloud, which prints short excerpts of local literary works.

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13/08/2024

“Now you are gone and for a while my womb lost its voice and forgot how to sing. / What is a song but a daughter’s love transcending time and space? / I am learning to listen.”

When her beloved dog Ealga dies, Esther Vincent Xueming finds herself in a world that has suddenly fallen silent. womb song is her poetic journey through landscapes both real and imagined—from a temple in Bangkok to the depths of her subconscious, from the Kinabatangan River to the uncharted space of her dreams. As she navigates grief, Esther delves deep into the meaning of motherhood, exploring the bonds between humans and the non-human lives we cherish.

This collection is a must-read for those drawn to spirituality, self-discovery, and the profound connections that transcend species.

🗓 Launch Date: 31st August 2024, 7pm

Join us for a transformative evening—a sonic experience where poetry, sound, and space converge in a unique setting. Details to come, but trust us, you won’t want to miss this. Step into the “sonic womb” and let the words of womb song resonate in your heart and spirit.

For more details and to register, please use the link in our bio!

Cover design: Natasha Hassan

01/08/2024

This August, join us at for Red Dot August in celebration of the things that make us uniquely Singapore.

Join editor as she explores the hybridity at the roots of our national identity. The Orchid Folios (Ethos Books, 2020) is a novel-in-poems narrated by a florist in the depths of grief. It was shortlisted for the 2022 Singapore Literature Prize.

Event details:
📅 Wednesday 21 Aug 2024, 6.45pm & 7.45pm
⏰ 30mins
📍 Esplanade Concourse

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Ethos Books is pleased to partner with .official to present The Neverness Trio featuring Idrus Khan, Abdul Shahari, and Khidir Surattee as they perform music inspired by Fairoz Ahmad's debut novel Neverness.

Neverness is Fairoz Ahmad's debut novel, set to be released by Ethos Books on 21st September 2024. This evocative coming-of-age historical narrative vividly portrays life in Engku Aman, a kampong near Geylang Serai, a locale with scant formal historical documentation.

Featuring music by iconic artists and homegrown hits that have become ingrained in popular imagination and cinema, the songs in Neverness offer a portal into the sights and sounds of Singapore in the 1970s. Retro has never been so current:

🎶 Bas No. 13 by M. Nasir (1981) / I Shot the Sheriff by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1973)
🎶 Kamelia by Sweet Charity (1979)
🎶 Joget Si Pinang Muda by P. Ramlee, from the movie Anakku Sazali (1956)
🎶 Dost Dost Na Raha Pyar Pyar Na Raha by Mukesh, from the movie Sangam (1964)

Event details:
📅 Wednesday 21 Aug 2024, 6.45pm & 7.45pm
⏰ 30mins
📍 Esplanade Concourse

24/07/2024

We are thrilled that four of our titles were recognised this evening at the Singapore Book Awards 2024 organised by .sg

- catskull (Book of the Year, Best Literary Work)
- Nine Yard Sarees (Finalist, Best Literary Work)
- Not Without Us (Best Non-Fiction Title)
- A Walk With My Pig (Best Cover Design)

"We are honoured by the recognition that the judges have given to our titles. This is a testament to the creativity and dedication of our authors, collaborators, and contributors. We deeply appreciate your partnership and thank you for entrusting Ethos with your stories," said Ng Kah Gay, publisher at Ethos Books.

Chosen from 142 submissions, there were 49 titles and 17 publishers nominated.

's catskull won the prestigious Book of the Year award, selected from the 12 categories. Yan is presently in Chicago to further his studies, and the awards were received on his behalf by our editor Cassandra Yeap and his mother, Meena Mylvaganam.

and 's design for A Walk With My Pig by the late Mervin Mirapuri won Best Cover. Originally published under the imprint, the title has been acquired and will be reissued by Ethos Books.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists, including those who are abroad and couldn't join us this evening!

23/07/2024

Originality comes also from the singularity of one's journey.

— author of 17A Keong Saik Road — and the Tunas sisters who founded come together to share the stories behind their unique Singapore creations, and how these found their way to Keong Saik.

Join us for a delightful afternoon conversation ideal for those interested in culture and making things:
• Crafting a creative journey – the impulse to create
• Origin stories – independence and autonomy
• The entrepreneurial heart – conviction, resilience

For more details and to register, visit the link in our bio! (A S$3 deposit is chargeable but will be refunded upon attendance)

11/07/2024

Ethos Books will be at the Singapore Independent Media Fair 2024! Save the date:

📅 20 July 2024
🕐 1-7pm
📍 Golden Village x The Projector at Cineleisure (8 Grange Road, 5th Floor)

Discover over 20 independent media outlets, publishers, podcasters, advocacy groups, and art organisations. Don’t miss the exciting speaker events featuring leaders in news, advocacy, and comedy.

This 2nd Independent Media Fair is co-organized by and .media, founding members of .singapore, the Network of Independent Media for Better Understanding and Support.

Purchase an all-access pass (full-priced ticket only) before July 20 and get a free drink. More details at the link in our bio.

02/07/2024

Last Friday, our team was at the Authors' Dialogue 2024 held at . The event provided literature students with a unique opportunity to meet writers featured in the anthology "How We Live Now," our fourth school title.

During the dialogue, students had the chance to hear from authors Patrick Sagaram, Jessica Tan, and . They shared their experiences as writers and perspectives on their respective stories, "Child’s Play," "Letters," and "The Thing." The event concluded with a signing and book sale.

The Authors' Dialogue not only enhanced students' understanding of the text but also allowed them to apply these insights in their work. We believe that sessions like these foster a deeper connection with the material and deepen students' understanding and appreciation of Singapore Literature and local literary works.

We are grateful to Bedok Green Secondary for being a gracious host, and the teachers-in-charge, Nurhidayah Razali and Abdul Rashid Khairunnisa, for their hard work in making this event a success.

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20/06/2024

Longtime Ethos collaborator Marc Nair is relocating, and the community is gathering to bid him farewell!

Join us at WEAVE: A Multidisciplinary Playground which presents an array of acts, including musical performances, spoken word pieces and art.

A range of artists who have worked with Marc Nair over the years will present, in a variety of forms, a ‘weave’ that draws from, is adapted or inspired by Marc’s diverse body of work.

DETAILS
📆 Date: 6 July 2024
🕒 Time: 7pm to 11pm, doors open at 6pm
📍 Location: Aliwal Arts Centre, Multipurpose Hall

TICKETS: https://peatix.com/event/3966105

20/06/2024

This morning, our publisher .gay and marketing lead visited the Youth Model ASEAN Experience (YMAX) held at Pasir Ris Secondary School. Kah Gay spoke to delegates and "the press" about news values and the importance of good journalism in nonfiction storytelling.

The event provided a platform for young minds to engage with titles like "The Singapore I Recognise" by citizen journalist , "Air-Conditioned Nation" by (on the politics of media control) and "This Is What Inequality Looks Like" by .

delegates engaged in a lively discussion about values such as objectivity and public interest, and went so far as to interrogate the elusive nature of truth itself. Their nuanced views and awareness of global issues were truly impressive.

In today's increasingly polarised world, the event served as a reminder of the importance of open dialogue and honest confrontation with differing viewpoints — also central to our work as publishers. When the marketplace of ideas flourishes, humanity does too.

Our team presented participants with free copies of "Picking off new shoots will not stop the spring: Witness poems and essays from Burma/Myanmar (1988-2021)," edited by Ko Ko Thett and Brian Haman, which is also free to download on the Ethos webstore.

Many copies of the book still had contributor names washi taped on, a sobering reminder of the activists and intellectuals who never received the completed anthology because they had to put down their pens to fight for freedom in Myanmar. Since publication, some of them have paid the ultimate price.

The importance of knowledge sharing and free expression can not be understated, especially in addressing commons issues such as the climate crisis. Events like YMAX, though small, also play a crucial role in building bridges of friendship and mutual understanding. As we witness conflict around the world, these young people give us hope of a better age.

10/06/2024

Ethos Books supports the freedom to love! This Pride Month, we’ve curated a selection of five rainbow reads for you. From now until the end of June, 20% of the proceeds from webstore sales of these titles will be donated to :

📘 Non-fiction: We Are Not the Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore
📕 Poetry: Gaze Back & Intruder
📗 Novel: Pulse
📙 Short Stories: In This Desert There Were Seeds

Did you know that the LGBTQ+ community was not mentioned even once in the 180-page Forward SG report? Post-repeal, many policies, laws, and institutions in Singapore continue to overlook or actively exclude LGBTQ+ people and families.

In “We Are Not The Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore" edited by and Margaret Thomas, .remy.faso shares about the constitutional challenges to Section 377A, and reflects on the long journey to repeal and what's next for the movement.

Attend the 16th edition of on June 29th from 3.30pm till late at Hong Lim Park. If you are free and able, consider volunteering or donating to Pink Dot. Together, let us build a truly inclusive Singapore where no one is left behind.

05/06/2024

We are pleased that three Ethos titles are finalists in the literary and non-fiction categories at the Singapore Book Awards 2024.

"A Walk With My Pig" by sister imprint Pagesetters, featuring illustrations by Anngee Neo, is a finalist in the cover design category.

Congratulations to all our writers and contributors! 👏🏼

26/05/2024

It was a weekend of poetry at at as we launched 's debut collection "Patient History", a whimsical exploration of illness, pop culture, and fairytales.

Visitors on enjoyed readings by Tricia on Saturday, followed by signings and poetry consultations with .gay and , who dispensed poems with the power to heal.

We loved meeting everyone and hearing your patient history. Thank you for dropping by!

Missed the event? Watch out for more programmes in the coming months as we enter a summer of poetry.

Patient History is now available at your favorite bookstores, including and .

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14/05/2024

We're kicking of a summer of poetry with 's debut collection Patient History, a whimsical exploration of illness, pop culture, and fairytales.

“Patient history” is a medical term describing the method by which doctors gather information about a patient’s past and present conditions. Yet, how much of a patient’s history do doctors really know, and how much agency do we have in determining our own histories?

Tricia Tan won first place in the poetry category at the Writer's Centre Literary Awards 2024. The citation, read by Victoria Chang , reads: "The poems in Patient History navigate a mother's illness through lush imagery and aquarium mind... the cataloguing of beautiful images acts as question marks to an uncertain mind, and the uncertainty amidst illness."

Join us at at for a launch event and poetry clinic. Meet the poet Tricia Tan, a young physician who believes in the capacity of words to heal. Listen to selected poems from her collection.

EVENT DETAILS:

25 May 2024 (Saturday)
2.00 - 2.30pm: Launch of Patient History
2.30 - 5.30pm: Poetry Clinic Day 1 - attending doctor(s): Mok Zining (Ethos editor); Ng Kah Gay (Ethos publisher)

26 May 2024 (Sunday)
2.30 - 5.30pm: Poetry Clinic Day 2 - attending doctor(s): Kah Gay

Pre-order your copy of Patient History from our webstore. Each purchase is also a ticket to a poetry consultation with .gay or .

Pick up your pre-ordered copy of Patient History as well as the queue number for your consultation from the Ethos folks at Epigram Bookshop on 25 or 26 May. More details on our website!

Cover illustration: Tiffany Lovage

09/05/2024

Missed the launch of "We Are Not The Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore" edited by Constance Singam and Margaret Thomas?

Watch a full recording of the session on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/MUJd0Qq0czg

Missed the launch of We Are Not The Enemy? Watch a recording of the panel discussion and Q&A!"We Are Not The Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore" ex...

08/05/2024

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting creative writing workshops for Sec 1-3 students at in collaboration with .

During the workshops, we explored a diverse range of literary works by authors such as Flannery O'Connor, Raymond Carver, Tammy Ho, and Alfian Sa'at.

We were truly inspired by the creativity and talent displayed by the students in their writing assignments. We encourage them to continue honing their skills—they are the future of Singlit!

For more information or enquiries regarding our school programs, please get in touch with us at [email protected]

02/05/2024

The mercury has been rising recently, but that (along with a cordoned-off shelter) didn't deter civil society advocates young and old from gathering in solidarity yesterday at the Labour Day Rally organised by .

The event shed light on the challenges faced by workers. Beneath the veneer of 'crazy-rich' Singapore, workers face dispossession, precarity, and disposability. From heat stress to unsafe transportation, overwork, injury, abuse, and even premature death, activists highlighted the urgent need to prioritise people and the planet over profit.

Their message — "Satu Hati! Satu Jiwa!" or one heart, one soul — resonated with echoes of Steinbeck's Tom Joad: "A fella ain't got a soul of his own, just a little piece of a big soul, the one big soul that belongs to everybody."

Learn more about Singapore civil society in "We Are Not The Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore" by and Margaret Thomas, along with the free .sg handbook.

Discover other titles focusing on labour issues on our webstore, including "On Sundays, We Play," "Theatres of Memory," "Riot," and "Me Migrant".

30/04/2024

🌈 Dive into the vibrant world of Singlit at *SCAPE on May 11th and 12th! 📚

Join us at the Carboot Market for a curated literary experience, featuring fiction, non-fiction, poetry, photo books, and free giveaways!

There will be other booths from GetGoers, showcasing unique goods, vintage treasures, and fabulous finds guaranteed to dazzle. Guests arriving in a GetGo will enjoy 2-hour complimentary parking.

Date: May 11th - 12th
Time: 10am - 5pm
Location: *SCAPE Carpark, Level 1

Come for the vibes, leave with something nice! See you there!

24/04/2024

Congratulations to poet Tricia Tan () on winning first place in the poetry category at the Writer's Centre Literary Awards 2024 for a selection of poems from her upcoming book "Patient History" (Ethos Books, 2024).

The citation, read by Victoria Chang, reads: "The poems in Patient History navigate a mother's illness through lush imagery and aquarium mind. The poems are also unafraid to refract illness and memory through different forms... in Patient History, the cataloguing of beautiful images acts as question marks to an uncertain mind, and the uncertainty amidst illness."

Kudos to all the other writers and creatives, including ex-Ethos intern () for "Ass Poetica" and "Chilli Padi Girl in a Chilli Padi World," and for "Lichens, Like Le****ns, Are An Ecological Event." Audrey Odang (), also an ex-Ethos intern, snagged a win in the comics category for "To Kill A Bear."

Keep on writing!

15/04/2024

Last Saturday, we convened at to explore the 'hows' and 'whys' of activism. , , and , shared insights from their essays in "We Are Not the Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore," and sparked enlightening discussions.

Missed out on the conversations? Mark your calendars:

▪︎ Join the .sg book club featuring and .abdullah at on April 28, 2024 (Sunday) and May 11, 2024 (Saturday). Learn more at capesingapore.com/bookclub.

▪︎ Stand in solidarity with workers at the Labour Day Rally organised by on May 1st. Come together to amplify your voice and honour the invaluable contributions of workers to our society.

08/04/2024

Activism is not a dirty word.

Lee Kuan Yew, the late Founding Prime Minister of Singapore, once said: "My students are quite a rambunctious and spirited lot and I think they ought to be. Otherwise, I think there’s very little future left for Singapore … the young must be idealistic, the young must believe that the world should be more just…”

In that spirit, join us this Saturday at for a discussion on Youth Activism!

🕒 3-5pm
🗓️ April 13th, 2024 (Saturday)
📍 Orange & Teal, Rochester Mall

We're thrilled to have from .sg, , and from share insights from their essays in "We Are Not the Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore".

All three have been vigorous contributors to Singapore society, drawing on their respective expertise in legal practice, journalism, and community organising. They will discuss the 'why' and 'how' of youth activism.

Sign ups are not required. See you there!

06/04/2024

Thank you to and his wife Linda for graciously hosting Saturday Conversations at .

Today we had academics and .abdullah, both contributors to "We Are Not the Enemy: The Practice of Advocacy in Singapore," with us for a panel discussion.

Edited by and Margaret Thomas, the book was No. 3 on the weekly bestsellers list (March 30, 2024).

During the event, Walid and Kok Hoe delved into the strategies and challenges of community building, political participation, and advocacy. The session ended with a Q&A and book signing.

Mark your calendars for next week's edition of Saturday Conversations if you're keen on Singaporean political participation and exploring meaningful causes!

02/04/2024

This Saturday, join us for good food and enriching conversation at , Rochester Mall.

Join academics .abdullah and , both contributors to "We Are Not the Enemy," ranked No. 3 on the weekly bestsellers list (March 30, 2024).

Walid and Kok Hoe will discuss "The Community and Culture I Want to Build" on April 6th, 2024, and they'll share key insights from the book as they discuss active citizenry and political participation.

🕒 Time: 3-5pm
🗓️ Date: April 6th, 2024 (Saturday)
📍 Venue: Orange & Teal, Rochester Mall

For the next two Saturdays, from 3pm to 5pm, Orange & Teal (Rochester Mall) will host conversations with Singaporeans who have written for this thought-provoking book.

Join us at Saturday Conversations if you're curious about political participation in Singapore and eager to explore the causes that Singaporeans care about!

Speakers:

Walid is an academic and political scientist. He is the host of Teh Tarik With Walid, an online show where he hosts politicians and political influencers, engaging them in a dialogue. He researches on Southeast Asian Politics, especially the relationships between religion and the state. He is the author of Islam in A Secular State: Muslim Activism in Singapore, published by Amsterdam University Press in 2021. He has also published many articles in internationally peer-reviewed journals.

Kok Hoe is Senior Research Fellow and Head of the Case Insights Unit at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He also founded .sg at LKYSPP in 2020, a research programme dedicated to analysing how public policies shape opportunities for participation. He received his PhD in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), where he was a UK Commonwealth Scholar and won the Titmuss Prize. His research is concerned with income security, minimum income standards, housing policy and homelessness. He led the first nationwide street count of homelessness in Singapore and is co-editor of the book They told us to move: Dakota—Cassia (Ethos Books, 2019), which examines the impact of relocation on a social housing

27/03/2024

This evening, we gathered at the Swedish ambassador's residence to celebrate Theophi Kwek, Ethos poet and the youngest writer to win the Cikada Prize.

The event commenced with a panel moderated by Ambassador Anders Sjöberg featuring Theophilus Kwek, Dr Ann Ang and Alvin Pang discussing "Poetry as Dialogue: Voices past and present". It was followed by a prize presentation ceremony and poetry reading.

Did you know that Alvin Pang's "What Gives Us Our Names" (Math Paper Press, 2010) was translated into Swedish? May the rich literary links between Singapore and Sweden continue to flourish.

Congratulations, Theo!

19/03/2024

Congratulations to on 25 years as a published poet!

To mark this milestone, Felix is launching his latest book, "Dream a Granted Sky" at 's Foreword 2024. The event promises a spellbinding fusion of art and song.

Composer Phoon Yu will enchant audiences with a musical interpretation of Felix's poetry, crafting a dreamscape of short lyrical arias and piano interludes. Following the performance, there will be a book signing session.

With a repertoire of 28 published works spanning various genres, including the bestselling "Singapore Siu Dai Series" (Ethos Books, 2014-2016), Felix's latest book is published under Ethos' sister imprint , and features enchanting illustrations by Rukmunal Hakim.

📅 March 30, 2024, 7 & 8 pm
📍 Esplanade Concourse
🎟️ Free Admission

More details at the link in our bio.

19/03/2024

Contribute to the development of the literary scene!

Join for a series of paid focus group discussions commissioned by . The team is looking to hear from authors, poets, editors, publishers, and more.

Sign up now at https://bit.ly/LiteraryArtsSurvey