Grand Prize Winner: BUNGEE CORD HAIR

About The story

Based on the author’s true story, twelve-year old Ying, an aspiring writer, moves to Hong Kong from China but experiences many difficulties. Trying to blend in with the society, she loses her identity. When she wins a writing contest, she realizes that she has a special talent and finds herself.

About the Author

Ching Yeung Russell (YC) is a multicultural children’s book author in the United States. Her latest Book, Tofu Quilt, has received many honors, as well as being nominated for the Red Dot Children’s Book Award of 2011 in Singapore and the Sakura Medal of Japan (2011-2012). She was born in China and later moved to Hong Kong. She graduated from Hong Kong Baptist College in Chinese Literature. She worked as a teacher and a freelance writer.

1^st Runner-up: NOT IN THE STARS

About The story

Mui is a poor tribal girl harbouring a dark family secret. Justin Leng has looks and wealth. But he is trapped in his past. Mui helps Justin, and in doing so, she is freed from her past as well.

About the Author

My dream is to write stories that entertain people and make them happy. If they learn something from my stories to help them in their lives, I will be very satisfied. While I dream, I care for my three children and write freelance non-fiction articles for books, magazines and websites. I am also part of a creative writing group. Previously, I worked as a journalist in Singapore Press Holdings and as editor of a family magazine.

2^nd Runner-up: HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

About The story

Ten-year-old Jen and her cousins accidentally dislodge a chinese puzzle hidden in an old chinese sofa. The cousins find themselves in a treasure hunt that takes them through pre-independent Singapore as they hunt down clues and break codes and ciphers to solve the mystery of the puzzle.

About the Author

Su-Lin was the presenter of the CDIS television series, “The Word Shop”, a free-lance editor for the Institute of South East Asian Studies, a legal officer in the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, a partner in a law firm, author of a cook book, ‘The Overseas Student’s Survival Cookbook’, in-house counsel in an international bank and a risk manager in a brand company. ‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ is her first venture into fiction.