Ratna Damayanti Taha will speak about her debut novel, 'Mind the Gap'.
“My book invites readers to explore the gaps in how society defines meritocracy, success, and access, through the eyes of someone often a triple minority in many circles. My wish is that readers feel, even briefly, a kinder curiosity towards those still othered by class or skin.”
—Ratna Damayanti Taha
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About the Author
Ratna Damayanti Taha is a Singaporean writer with a background in academic communications research and translation. She writes with a focus on ordinary people and everyday relationships, paying attention to the quiet details that shape daily life.
Her debut novel, Mind the Gap, was named the winner of the 2026 Epigram Books Fiction Prize (EBFP), a leading award for unpublished full-length fiction manuscripts in Singapore. The win marks a significant milestone for Ratna, whose short fiction had already earned recognition—“Dayung Sudah di Tangan, Perahu Sudah di Air” took the Golden Point Award in 2021. Mind the Gap is her first full-length work, and her first novel to be published.
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About the Book
Nora grows up believing in neat routes to success until life forces her off the map.
Nora does everything right. From school debates to political reporting, she grows up believing in merit, hard work and the promise of success. But over the years, careers stall, loyalties fracture and the certainties she once trusted begin to unravel. As Singapore changes, Nora begins to question the cost of keeping up with a society obsessed with forward motion.
A novel about ambition, disillusionment and the quiet compromises people make in order to belong.
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📍Venue: Wardah Books
🏢 Address: 58 Bussorah St, Singapore 199474
🗓️ Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
🕛 Time: 8.00 pm - 10.00 pm
🎟️ Tickets: www.tinyurl.com/wb-rdt26 ($5 per person)