Eddie Tay's The Mental Life of Cities wins Singapore Literature Prize

Congratulations to Cha's Reviews Editor Eddie Tay! His bilingual poetry collection, The Mental Life of Cities (Chameleon Press) is named a winner of the 2012 Singapore Literature Prize! 

The 2012 Singapore Literature Prize recognises and honours Singaporean fiction books in each of the four languages - English, Mandarin Malay, and Tamil. Eddie's poetry collection is the winner in the English category and he takes home SGD10,000 and a commissioned ceramic pot. You can read the writeup from The Straits Times here.

Four poems from the collection were first published in Cha. They are "Night Thoughts", "Country", "White Pages" and "Cities". 

"Night Thoughts", "Country" and "White Pages" were further discussed on the journal's critique column, A Cup of Fine Tea.

Once again, congratulations to our dear Eddie! We look forward to reading more poetry from you!


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New updates on 4 Cha contributors: Nicholas Wong, Fiona Sze-Lorrain, Wendy Xu and W. F. Lantry

Nicholas Wong

Nicholas Wong has a new poem in The Pinch. The piece, "Meditations on How to Break up with my Sick Boyfriend", is the poem of the month on the site. Another poem by Nick is forthcoming in the Fall 2012 print issue.  

|| See Nicholas Wong's Cha's profile here.

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Fiona Sze-Lorrain and Wendy Xu

A new issue of Drunken Boat is out! Read Fiona Sze-Lorrain's translation of Yang Jian's poems "Winter Day" and "Ancient Mansion" and Wendy Xu's "Ruptured Heart Theory" in the issue.

|| Fiona Sze-Lorrain's poetry was published in Issue 12 of Cha and her book Water The Moon is reviewed in the same issue.
|| Wendy Xu's poetry was published in Issue #16 of Cha. 

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W. F. Lantry

Congratulations to W.F. Lantry! He has won The Linnet's Wings inaugural prize for poetry, in audio with the poem "Ocotillo Wells", from his chapbook Journey to the Interior. Learn more about The Linnet's Wings and the prize here.

|| Read W.F. Lantry's Cha profile.

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New updates on 5 Cha contributors: Marc Vincenz, Mani Rao, Eleanor Goodman, Grace V. S. Chin and Rumjhum Biswas

Marc Vincenz, Mani Rao and Eleanor Goodman

The April 2012 issue of Asymptote is now available and you can read Marc Vincenz's Mani Rao's and Eleanor Goodman's work in it.

|| Read Marc Vincenz's Cha profile. 

|| Mani Rao's poetry was published in Issue #1 of Cha.

|| Eleanor Goodman's poetry and translation were published in Issue 14 of Cha.

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Grace V. S. Chin

In the Spotlight: Bruneian Plays in English, an anthology edited by Grace V. S. Chin, is now published! Learn more about the book here.

|| Grace V. S. Chin's poetry was published in Issue #4 and Issue #5 of Cha. Her poem "Clotheslines" was discussed on A Cup of Fine Tea. 

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Rumjhum Biswas

 Congratulations to Rumjhum Biswas! Her short story "The Well" has been named the winner of Anam Cara Short Fiction Competition. The judge Vanessa Gebbie has the following to say about Rumjhum's work: "I thought the interpretation of the theme was great - slightly off-centre, unexpected and original. So many congratulations to the writer". Rumjhum has won a place on Vanessa Gebbie's short fiction retreat. Learn more about the competition and other winning stories here. 

|| See Rumjhum Biswas's Cha profile. 

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New updates on 4 Cha contributors: Kit Kelen, Nicolette Wong, Kristine Ong Muslim and W.F. Lantry

Kit Kelen

Four poems by Kit Kelen, "poetry of the bitter end", "ancestor worship" (first published in China Years), "on immortality" and "not waving but drowning", are now published in Jacket Magazine. Kelen's work belongs to Jacket's "Fifty-one contemporary poets from Australia" series.  

Christopher (Kit) Kelen's poetry was published in issue #1 of Cha. 

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Nicolette Wong

Nicolette Wong's short fiction "The Bathroom" (p. v) is included in the April 2012 issue of Short, Fast and Deadly.

Nicolette Wong's short stories were published in Issue #1 and Issue #6 of Cha.   

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Kristine Ong Muslim

 In the new issue of mixer, which is devoted to stories about 'women and the problems they confront in a culture bent on defining and controlling them', you can find Kristine Ong Muslim's ekphrastic prose poem "The Village of Mermaids". 

Kristine Ong Muslim's poetry was published in issue #9 of Cha and her poem "Preface to a Pornographer's Dirty Book" is discussed here.

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W.F. Lantry

Congratulations to W.F. Lantry! He has won the 2012 LaNelle Daniel Prize in Poetry for "Restoration", a metaphysical love poem, written in rhymed pentameter. More information about the Prize here.

Read W.F. Lantry's Cha profile.   

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Kaitlin Solimine wins The International Literature Award

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Congratulations to Cha contributor Kaitlin Solimine! She is the winner of DISQUIET 2012's International Literature Award. The award honours the best submission of work by a North American writer that 'broadens the landscape of American literature outside of the borders of North America.' Kaitlin's "American Nurse" is the winning entry and it will be published in Guernica. She will also receive airfare, accommodations, and a full tuition waiver to attend DISQUIET 2012 in Lisbon. More information here.
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Kaitlin Solimine's fiction was published in Issue #14 of Cha.
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W.F. Lantry wins the 2012 Potomac Review Prize for Poetry

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Congratulations to W.F. Lantry! His poem "Mendelssohn" has been named the winner of the 2012 Potomac Review Prize for Poetry. and will be published in their Issue #52. Learn more about the prize here.

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Read W.F. Lantry's Cha profile  
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Kavita Jindal wins Foyles's Haruki Murakami Short Story Competition

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Congratulations to Cha contributor Kavita Jindal. She is named winner of the Haruki Murakami Short Story Competition, organised by London's Foyles in association with Murakami's publisher, Harvill Secker.

Haruki Murakami selected one line from his latest novel 1Q84 ('Carrying a single bag, the young man is travelling alone at his whim with no particular destination in mind.'), which entrants used to begin a short story (no more than 1500 words). Liz Foley, who is Murakami's publisher at Harvill Secker, acted as the judge.

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You can learn more about the competition and read Kavita's story here.
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Kavita Jindal's poetry was published in Issue #1 of Cha.
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Yip Wai Shan wins the first prize in SCMP Portraits of Women Competition

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Congratulations to Cha contributor Yip Wai Shan! Her photograph entitled "Girlfriends, please don't pee on my bed" won the first prize in SCMP (South China Morning Post) Portraits of Women Competition. All the winning photographs are now on display in the Festival Walk, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (from 21st to 30th October 2011). They will also be featured in SCMP.

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 See Yip Wai Shan's Cha profile. 
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Cha contributors win Best Short Writing in the World 2011

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Congratulations to Robert Masterson. His poignant poem "The Distance Between These Things" wins Fleeting Magazine’s Best Short Writing in the World 2011. Robert will receive a year’s subscription to Stack, a personalised monthly selection of the best independent magazines from the UK, Europe and America.

Marc Vincenz wins third place with his social critique poem "While Facing the Urinal" and he will receive three months' subscription to Stack.

Vineet Kaul and Alistair Noon were finalists.

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Fleeting publishes short fiction and poetry that is daring, erudite, amusing and infectious. They are accepting open submissions now.
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• Robert Masterson's poetry will be featured in the fourth anniversary issue of Cha, due out in November 2011.
• Marc Vincenz's poetry was published in Issue 10 of Cha.
• Vineet Kaul's poetry was published in Issue #13 of Cha.
• Alistair Noon's poetry and creative non-fiction were published in issue #2 of Cha. His poem "The Expat Partner: An Email" is discussed here.

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Ouyang Yu wins NSW Premier's Literary Award

Congratulations to Cha contributor Ouyang Yu, whose book The English Class is a 2011 New South Wales Premier's Literary Award winner ($20,000).

Ouyang's poem "Bad English" was published in Issue # 4 of Cha and discussed on A Cup of Fine Tea. There will be a review of The English Class in the forthcoming China Issue, due out in July.

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W. F. Lantry's poem wins the Hackney National Award for Poetry 2011

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Congratulations to W.F. Lantry! His poem "Redwood Wave" has won the Hackney National Literary Award for Poetry 2011. We are very happy for you, Bill!

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W.F. Lantry's poetry was published in Issue #12 of Cha.

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Alison Wong Wins New Zealand Post Book Award for Fiction

Congratulations to Cha contributor Alison Wong! Her novel As the Earth Turns Silver has won the New Zealand Post Book Award for Fiction 2010. Cha published a review of As The Earth Turns Silver in November 2009.

Alison's poem "There's Always Things to Come Back to the Kitchen For", first published in her collection Cup, was featured in the first anniversary issue of Cha. You can read an analysis of the poem on A Cup of Fine Tea.

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Alison Wong's poem "There’s Always Things to Come Back to the Kitchen for" was published in issue #5 of Cha and analysed here.

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Anna Yin Honoured at the MARTY Awards

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Congratulations to Cha contributor Anna Yin, who was awarded the Emerging Literary Arts Award at the MARTY Awards. Read more here.

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Anna Yin's poem "Raspberries", published in the November 2009 issue of Cha, was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Read "A cup of fine tea: Anna Yin's "Raspberries" here.

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Prashani Rambukwella wins the Gratiaen Prize 2009

SEE HERE FOR SOME ARTCILES ON PRASHANI AND MYTHIL'S SECRET.

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We are very delighted to announce that Cha contributor and our friend Prashani Rambukwella (pictured above), author of Mythil's Secret, was awarded The Gratiaen Prize for Creative Writing in English (2009) on Saturday 8th May, 2010 at a ceremony in Sri Lanka.

In her speech, Prashani says, "Didn't think that a children’s book could ever win the Gratiaen. Thank you very much to the judges. I hope this encourages more of us to write for our children. I'll tell you what I found most surprising about writing a book. When I started eight years ago on Mythil's Secret I thought writing a book and getting it published would be a solitary journey. But I was so wrong. First of all the reading you do as a child and the influences of your childhood really play a huge role, at least it did for me and you will see those influences in Mythil's Secrets." (qtd. from Sri Lanka's Daily Mail)

The Gratiaen Prize was instituted by Michael Ondaatje, a joint-winner of the Booker Prize in 1992 for his novel The English Patient. The award is given annually to the best work of literary writing in English by a resident Sri Lankan. This year, the judges are Vijita Fernando, Asoka de Zoysa and Rohan Ponniah.

Cha had the opportunity to publish an excerpt from Prashani's Mythil's Secret in Issue #8 of the journal. Read it here. A review of the book is forthcoming in the May/June 2010 Issue of Cha as well.

Congratulations, Prashani! We are very happy for you!

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Martin Alexander wins the International Grand Prix for Poetry

Good news! Cha contributor Martin Alexander attended the Orient-Occident Festival in Romania earlier this year; and was awarded the International Grand Prix for Poetry with his poem "Smashing Up the Grand Piano", first published in issue #3 of Cha: An Asian Literary Journal. You can watch a video of Martin reading the poem here (he is an excellent reader). Congratulations, Martin! The poem is discussed here by Cha staff.

Martin Alexander's poetry has been previously published in issue #3 of Cha.

Luisa Igloria wins 2009 Sandeen Prize

Luisa Igloria is the winner of the University of Notre Dame's 2009 Sandeen Prize for her collection of poetry, Juan Luna's Revolver.

The Sandeen Prize, which began in 1996, is awarded biannually to an author who has already published at least one volume of poetry. The winner receives a thousand dollars and publication by the University of Notre Dame Press. Read more here.

Luisa A Igloria's poetry has been published in issue #2 of Cha.

Blair Reeve Wins Poetry Prize

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Blaire Reeve's poem "Of Jazzologists & Horologists" won first place in the written section of the Book Habit Poetry Competition. Cha is the first literary journal to publish this poem, forthcoming in issue#6 of the journal. Reeve's other poem "Periplaneta Maldiviana" will also be published in our forthcoming issue.

Blaire Reeve's poetry was published in issue# 6 of Cha.

Agnes Lam Wins an International Poetry Prize

Agnes Lam's poem "Vanilla in the Stars" wins one of the Special Mention awards in the 24th Nosside International Poetry Prize. Lam is the first Chinese to win in this competition. The Nosside International Poetry Prize is a global poetry contest for unpublished works, multilingual and multimedia. Entries can be written in any language and submitted in the form of written poetry, video poetry or musical poetry.

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Anges Lam's poetry was published in issue #2 of Cha.

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