How I Won The Hedwig Anuar Children’s Book Award

This is what I did after I won the Hedwig Children’s Book Award:

• I had a good night’s sleep.
• I posted about my win on social media and received a lot of congratulatory notes.
• I had celebratory lunch that included fries and nuggets, because I love my fries and nuggets.

I mean, I don’t know what to say. I’m still me. I didn’t expect to win. I thought they would give it to a book with more local flavour, since Dragonhearted is all about Chinese myths and legends. The most Singaporean part of it was the part about eating yusheng as an appetiser at a Chinese reunion dinner, which is common among all Chinese people here during Lunar New Year. I had to tell myself that it was unlikely that it would win, and that to be nominated (well, I did ask my publisher to send in the nomination) was an honour. I had totally forgotten about the prize money, and it was a good thing I had forgotten about it, too, because building castles in the air when it came to doing what I would like to do with it would be unproductive. You know the saying about counting all your chickens before they hatched? You get the idea.

So I decided to enjoy myself. It didn’t mean I wasn’t nervous, though. I’m going to skip the part arriving with one of my best friends, Vanessa, and admiring the book displays. I’m going to skip the part about the food because I wasn’t that hungry. I was still nervous, after all. I’m going to skip to the part where everyone had to gather around the stage and where I met David Seow, who told me that he had enjoyed my book. I thanked him and told myself not to put too much stock into what he had said because it was enough for me that people out there enjoyed the book and had come and told me so. Soon, speeches were made, and they announced the winner.

Holy Jade Emperor–(I can’t swear in this blog because children’s book writers have to set good examples, sigh)–but it was me. I remember cupping my mouth and the emcee as well as the prize giver looking for me. I was there! I was just too short even in my heels. I had to toss my belongings to Ness and then grab my speech from my make-up pouch, which was a Teachers’ Day gift. Then I awkwardly staggered to the stage in my heels. I gave a speech. It was wild. It was crazy. It made some people laugh. I’m glad that they listened, even if it was longer than the allotted time (sorry!). Then, I was guided to get my prize, which was this very heavy and transparent glass trophy. After which, I got off stage, reeling. When all the pomp and award-giving  was over, I received so many hugs from Ness, my editor Daphne, Kai Chai, and so many other people congratulated me. I was so overwhelmed, but in a good way.

Again, I cannot thank all the people who have supported me on my journey enough. You all know who you are. I spent the rest of the evening in a daze and not quite certain that I had really won the award and the prize money. I also couldn’t get over how it was a unanimous decision from everyone at the panel. Unanimous! It’s kind of like a debate verdict.

If you have read this entry about to this point and want to know how to write an award-winning book, I have no answers. I think my answer will only lead to more questions. I only write about what I care about, and I hope it’s to the best of my ability. If it doesn’t work, my friends and editor tell me so and I revise.

But I do know that I have my own way and my own style that is unlike others. I know that everyone has a voice and there will be people who will respond to it. As Nietzsche said, “You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, the only way, it does not exist.”

The sentiment is true and that is what I have to offer.