Brief Bio: Teacher, curriculum specialist, beachcomber and currently writer-in-residence in Moniack Mhor, Scotland.

Publications

Novels

• A Bit of Earth (Times Books International, Singapore, 2000)
• Fistful Of Colours (Awarded the inaugural Singapore Literature Prize, 1992; pub. SNP International, Singapore, 1993; new edition 2003)
• Gift From The Gods (Graham Brash, Singapore, 1990)
• Ricebowl (Times International, Singapore, 1984; new edition 2002)

Plays

• The Amah: A Portrait in Black & White, co-authored with Ooi, Ophelia, in Le Blond, Max (ed.), Prize Winning Plays Vol. 1 NUS-SHELL Short Plays, National University of Singapore, 1986.

Short Stories

• Ah Nah – An Interpretation in Westerly Vol 48 Nov 2003, Westerly Centre, University of Western Australia.
• Retired Rebel in Silverfish New Writing 3: An Anthology of stories from Malaysia, Singapore & Beyond pub. Silverfish, Kuala Lumpur, 2003.
• Tragedy of My Third Eye in Mukherjee, Dipita et al. (ed.), The Merlion & Hibiscus, Penguin India, 2002.
• Clash of the Clans in World Literature Today Vol. 74 No. 2, University of Oklahoma, Spring 2000.
• Two Brothers in Yamada, Teri Shafter (ed.), Virtual Lotus: Modern Fiction of Southeast Asia, University of Michigan, 2000
• Bandong in Leong, Liew Geok (ed.), More Than Half The Sky: Creative Writings by Thirty Singaporean Women, Times Books International Singapore, 1998

Non-fiction
• Hua Song: Celebration of the Overseas Chinese (forthcoming publication by SNP Singapore)

LITERARY AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

• Singapore Literature Prize, 1992(Inaugural), for Fistful of Colours, 1992
• Merit Prize for children’s story, Valley of Golden Showers, Ministry of Education, 1980.
• Merit Prize, National University of Singapore- SHELL Short Play Competition, 1986
• Fulbright Fellowship to attend International Writing Workshop, University of Iowa, 1996
• International Writer-in-Residence, University of Iowa, Spring 2000
• Writer-in-residence, NICA Centre, Yangon, Myanmar, Sept 2003
• Writer-in-residence, University of Western Australia, Oct-Dec 2003
• Writer-in-residence, Moniack Mohr, Scotland, Dec 2004 – June 2005

Literary Activities

• Symposium on the Representation of Malays & Malay Culture in Singaporean-Malaysian Literature in English, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 15-17 June 2004
• Kuala Lumpur Literary Festival, July-August 2004
• Keynote Speaker, Creative Arts Programme for Gifted Students (Ministry of Education and National University of Singapore) 2004
• New Zealand Post Writers’ Festival, 2004
• Mentor, Creative Arts Programme for Gifted Students (Ministry of Education and National University of Singapore) 2002 – 2003
• Member of Assessors Panel on NAC Arts Education Programmes in Schools, 2002.
• Singapore Writers’ Festival (NAC), 1999, 2001.
• Panel judge of Young Artist and Cultural Award (NAC), 2000.
• Mentor to adult writers, MentorAccess Programme, National Arts Council of Singapore, 1999 –2001.
• Judge, Commonwealth Literature Prize (Asia-Pacific Region), 1999.
• Mentor, Creative Arts Program for Gifted Students, National University of Singapore, 1997

Included in
• International Authors and Writers Who’s Who 2001/2002
• Routledge Encyclopaedia of Postcolonial Literature 2002

Readings and Talks
• New Zealand Post Writers’ Festival, 2004
• Kuala Lumpur Literary Festival, July-August 2004
• University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, Oct 2004
• Tom Collins’ House Writers’ Centre, Perth, Australia
• National University of Singapore, 2002
• Singapore Writers’ Festival, 2001;
• Keynote Panelist at the 9th International Conference of Asia Pacific Confederation for Arts Education, University of Iowa and Vermont College 2000;
• The Substation Singapore, 1999,
• Singapore Museum of Modern Art, 1999;
• Centre for the Arts, NUS, 1998;
• National Library of Singapore, 1997, 1998;
• Prairie Lights, Iowa City and the University of Iowa 1996;
Professional Publications Papers
• The English Language Syllabus (Primary)1991:A Curriculum Writer’s Response – paper presented at the Singapore Symposium, RELC, 1995 and published in “The Implementation of the English Language Curriculum in Singapore”  pub. RELC 1995.
• Planning A Writing Programme for Interaction, Thinking & Creativity, paper presented at the Singapore Symposium, RELC, 1998 and published in “Teaching Writing: Expectations and Realities” pub. RELC, 1998.
• The English Language Syllabus 2001:Change and Continuity, an article published in TELL (Teaching English Language and Literature)  Vol 16 No 2 Nov 2000.
• Grammar in the English Language Curriculum in Singapore, a paper presented at the 36th RELC International Seminar 2001, Singapore.
• Reading in Singapore, a chapter on literacy and reading in PIRLS 2001 Encyclopedia published by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and the International Study Center, Boston College, 2002.
• Developments in the English Language Syllabuses in Singapore, a paper published in a special issue of the Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Vol 22, No 2 Dec 2002.
• Developments in the English Language Syllabuses in Singapore, published in “English Language Teaching in East Asia Today” edited by Ho Wah Kam and Ruth Wong, and scheduled for publication at the 13th International Congress of AILA (Association de Linguistique Appliquee) 16-22 Dec 2002.
Children’s Books
• PETS (Primary English Thematic Series) for Primary Schools: Ministry of Education, 1991
• 11 Big Books for Young Children such as Granny, When My Baby Sister Came Home, Grandpa, Woo Won Ton, The Biggest Hongbao in the Whole Wide World, Roti Prata and Ants in a Hurry 1990
The Ministry of Education, Hong Kong, adopted the Big Book, When My Baby Sister Came Home, for use in schools.