Su-Chen Christine Lim

Suchen Christine Lim (born 15 July 1948) is a Malaysian-born Singaporean writer. She was the inaugural winner of the Singapore Literature Prize in 1992. She was awarded Singapore's pinnacle arts award, the Cultural Medallion, in 2023.

Early life Lim was born in Ipoh, Federation of Malaya and had her early education at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) in Penang and Kedah. At the age of 14 she came to Singapore, and continued her education at CHIJ Katong. She read literature at the National University of Singapore, and graduated with a post-graduate diploma in applied linguistics.

Teaching career After her graduation, Lim joined the Ministry of Education as a literature teacher and a curriculum specialist. She devoted her time between family, work and writing throughout her years with the ministry.

Lim retired from the Ministry of Education in August 2003, to devote her time to writing. That devotion subsequently bore fruit in the novels published as Hua Song: Stories of the Chinese Diaspora (2005) and The Lies that Build a Marriage: Stories of the Unsung, Unsaid and Uncelebrated in Singapore (2007).

Works

Novels Dearest Intimate (2022, Marshall Cavendish Editions) The River's Song (2014, Aurora Metro Press) A Bit of Earth (2001, Times Books International; 2009, Marshall Cavendish Editions) Fistful of Colours (1992, EPB Publishers; 2003, SNP Editions) Gift from the Gods (1990, G. Brash) Rice Bowl (1984, Times Books International; 2009, Marshall Cavendish Editions)

Short stories The Man Who Wore His Wife's Sarong: Stories of the Unsung, Unsaid and Uncelebrated in Singapore (2017, Monsoon Books) The Lies that Build a Marriage: Stories of the Unsung, Unsaid and Uncelebrated in Singapore (2007, Monsoon Books)

Non-fiction Hua Song: Stories of the Chinese Diaspora (2005, Long River Press)

Children's Fried Eggs (2014, Ethos Books) I Don't Want to Dance (2011, Ethos Books) Miss Missy Mynah (2011, Ethos Books) My New Monster Truck (2009, Ethos Books) The Hare and the Tortoise (1992, Manhattan Press) The River People (1992, Manhattan Press) The Biggest Hongbao in the Whole Wide World (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Cheep Cheep Cheep (1990, EPB Publishers, 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Granny (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Grandpa the Collector (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Nanny Nanny Poo Poo (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Mano Made A Promise (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Roti Prata (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) Woo Won Ton (1991, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) When My Baby Sister Came Home (1990, EPB Publishers) Ants in a Hurry (1990, EPB Publishers) Julius Fatball and the Alley Cats (1990, EPB Publishers; 2009, EPB Pan Pacific) The Hatching (1990, EPB Publishers) The Valley of Golden Showers (1979, Educational Publications Bureau)

Others "Mei Kwei, I love you" in The Women Writers Handbook, Aurora Metro Books, (2020) The Amah: a Portrait in Black and White (1986, short play)