This was under embargo for months, but I’m thrilled to finally share the news — OG won the Country Award for the prestigious Chommanard International Women’s Literary Award!
I feel so grateful for the attention and deep, careful reading OG has received, close to a year on from pub. It feels especially wonderful to be a part of this incredible list of authors. The Chommanard International Women’s Literary Award was established to honor and promote outstanding female literary talent across Southeast Asia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China — the only one of its kind. Awards like these create discoverability, carve out space for underrepresented voices in a crowded publishing landscape, and is a huge step towards a meaningful plurality of distinct, crucial stories from all walks of life in Asia. Im super thrilled to have had the chance to introduce OG to Thai readers, and for readers everywhere to meet the work of my fellow authors. 🥹♥️
The full shortlist + Country Award winners:
📚 The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei (Singapore Country Award Winner)
📚The House on Calle Sombra by @margaortigas (Philippines Country Award Winner)
📚The Age of Goodbyes by Li Zi Shu (Malaysia) (trans. YZ chin)
📚Chinatown by Doan Anh Thuân (Vietnam)
📚 Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat by Veeraporn Nitiprapha (Thailand)
📚 Mountains more Ancient by Isna Marifa (Indonesia)
📚 The Moutains Sing by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai (Vietnam)
📚 The Sea Speaks His Name by Leila S. Chudori (Indonesia)
📚 Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi (Taiwan) (Trans. Lin King)
📚 Tongueless by Lau Yee Wa (Hong Kong, Grand Prize Winner) (Trans. Jennifer Feeley)
& I also got to spend time with:
📚 Cigarette Girl by @gadiskretek (Indonesia) (Previous Chommanard Book Prize winner)
📚The Stalker by Anchan (Thailand) (Chommanard Lifetime Award Winner)
We spent a full 9 days in Bangkok for the award ceremony + Thai media tour, ate lots of great food, hydrated a ton, and talked books every day. A dream!
x