Singapore Writers Festival -- 111 wordsmiths and counting

I'm a huge fan of Neil Gaiman -- British author, multi-award-winning graphic novelist and, according to publications such as the Columia Daily Spectator and The Star.com, a 'rock star' of the literary world. So when I heard that he would be headlining this year's Singapore Writers Festival, I felt like Lewis Hamilton after the Singapore Grand Prix.

Gaiman's popularity is so massive that festival organizers have moved one of his meet-the-author sessions from The Arts House to Victoria Theatre, making 700 more tickets available. The Victoria Theatre gig will be held on Nov. 1 at 2pm, while the two other back-to-back sessions will be held on Oct. 31 beginning 3pm.

Here are some other writers you can expect to see at the Singapore Writers Festival 2009.

Born in Ireland in 1971, Boyne is the author of seven novels, including his latest, "The House of Special Purpose." His 2006 international bestseller, "The Boy in Striped Pyjamas," is a heart-wrenching WWII tale. Voted the Penguin Orange Readers’ Group Book of the Year in 2009, it sold more than 5 million copies worldwide and was made into a Miramax feature film.

Meet the Author: John Boyne
Oct. 24, noon, Blue Room @ the Arts House

One of the pioneers of Singaporean poetry, Thumboo edited some of the earliest anthologies of English literature from Singapore and Malaysia, giving local writers a collective forum of expression. He has authored five volumes of poetry, most recently "Still Travelling" (2008). He is the unofficial poet laureate of Singapore.

Literary Pioneer Series: An Evening with Edwin Thumboo
Oct. 27, 6:30-9:30pm, The Arts House Chamber

Liew is a Malaysian-born comic artist/illustrator based in Singapore best known for his work on the Vertigo comic "My Faith in Frankie."

Comics – A Timeless Narrative
Oct. 24, 3pm, The Arts House Chamber

Lindqvist was a magician and stand-up comedian before becoming a horror writer. He has published three novels and one collection of short stories.

Meet the Author: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Oct. 31, 6pm, Blue Room @ The Arts House

getting there

Singapore Writers Festival
Oct. 24 to Nov. 1
Various venues and programs
Tickets via Arts House Box Office
tel. +65 6332 6919
www.singaporewritersfestival.com