Special Editions and Objects of Desire: The Merch-ification of Books
PanelAlexander Chua, Ang Jin Yong, David Tay Ang Shun, YZ (@Wordwanderlust) | Moderator: Lauren Ho
Festival Pass| Festival Talk Pass
T-shirts and tote bags. Art prints and enamel pins. Sprayed edges, illustrated endpapers, foiled cases, special editions. In the age of subscription boxes, aesthetic Booktoks, and Bookstagram flatlays, the physical features of a book (and its merchandise) are just as important as the story. In this conversation, a distributor, an indie publisher, a Bookstagrammer and a bookseller discuss the new strategies used to market books, how it’s affected publishing and bookselling practices, how readers are responding, and what impact the social media age has had on the book as an object.
readingpublishingcreativitycraft and designindustry perspectives
Alexander Chua (Singapore)
Alexander Chua is the co-owner of Book Bar, an independent bookshop with a focus on Singaporean and Asian literature. He has been in the bookselling and publishing industry for six years, first managing the Epigram Bookshop before opening Book Bar in July 2023.
Ang Jin Yong (Singapore)
Ang Jin Yong is the current editor for TrendLit Publishing. He has published a poetry collection Medical Records (2021), and has edited numerous anthologies and works including Never Before—50 Essential Poems, A Long Walk, The Inventors, This Is How We Come Back, etc. In addition, he also played important leading roles in managing several major TrendLit projects, including the company’s merchandising project, with the National Arts Council and “Poems on the MRT”, with Sing Lit Station.
David Tay Ang Shun (Singapore)
David Tay Ang Shun is a marketing executive at Pansing Distribution (DefinitelyBooks on TikTok and Instagram) where he handles book campaigns, author publicity, merch, and "scrolls TikTok for work”. He has managed book tours in Singapore and Malaysia for authors such as Hwang Bo-reum, Jemimah Wei, Kim Jiyun, Lee Miye and Vanessa Chan, among others. He has written CNF and (embarrassing) poetry. He also enjoys birdwatching.
YZ (@Wordwanderlust) (Singapore)
YZ is one-third of the Singaporean bookstagram account, WordWanderlust. Together with his besties, Bren and Kess, WordWanderlust posts unfiltered (and unhinged) reviews of books of various genres. YZ in particular believes that reading and collecting books are two separate hobbies, evident from his constant need for new shelf-space to house new books with pretty covers and special editions with gorgeous stencilled edges. "You can never have too many books" is one of his favourite penchants.
Lauren Ho (Singapore/Malaysia)
Lauren Ho is a Malaysian author who writes across genres for both children and adults, including the international bestseller Last Tang Standing. Her work explores identity, relationships, and the emotional undercurrents of contemporary life. She lives in Singapore with her family. IG: HelloLaurenHo
Programme dates and times are subject to change.