SINGAPORE, June 13 — For the first time, the Read! Fest this year will focus solely on local content, in conjunction with Singapore’s Golden Jubilee.

Besides book parties with local authors, poets and graphic novelists, creative writing workshops with scribes such as Hassan Hassa’ree, K Kangalatha and Troy Chin are on the cards.

Crime buffs will also get a special treat, with a panel discussion on real crimes in Singapore featuring criminal lawyer Sunil Sudheesan, forensic scientist Lim Chin Chin, and contemporary writer Colin Cheong.

Speaking at the launch of the two-month festival, aimed at nurturing a love of reading, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said yesterday: “This is especially meaningful as 2015 marks our 50th year of independence. We have come a long way in our journey to build our national literature — an important part of Singapore’s culture capital and identity.”

This year’s Read! Fest also highlights the contributions of young reading ambassadors and student volunteers, who have been involved in engaging their peers to foster a reading habit. These children go through a three-day training camp on skills such as storytelling, buddy reading, book talking, and dramatisation. Apart from developing their confidence in public speaking, they also discover Singapore’s heritage and culture through books. ― Today