Epigram Books and Storytel launch new horror fiction prize
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Kooi Xiu Min
Home-grown publisher Epigram Books and audiobook platform Storytel have launched a new prize for horror stories.
The Storytel Epigram Horror Prize, which will split $10,000 among 11 winners, is open for submissions until May 30.
The award is for Singapore residents aged 18 and above. Participants must submit a short story manuscript of between 4,000 and 7,000 words in English in a horror genre - for example, ghost stories, dark fantasy and weird fiction. New original translations of non-English works are also eligible.
The first, second and third cash prizes are $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively, while the remaining eight winners will each get $500.
All winning entries will be published in an anthology by Epigram and featured in audiobooks on Storytel, which has 1.8 million subscribers worldwide.
Epigram founder Edmund Wee, 69, said: "Horror's a favourite genre among both authors and readers. Epigram wants to foster a writing nation."
The publisher also opened a pop-up bookstore at the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) in Tanjong Pagar Distripark on Tuesday.
It had previously operated the Huggs-Epigram Coffee Bookshop at the Urban Redevelopment Authority Centre in Maxwell Road with coffee chain Huggs, which closed - for the time being - in January.
The SAM pop-up will run from 11am to 6.30pm daily until Epigram opens a permanent space in the same location later this year.
Correction note: Epigram Books has clarified that the award is for Singapore residents aged 18 and above.
