Su-Chen Christine Lim
Encyclopedia
Su-Chen Christine Lim was born in Malaysia and had her early education at the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
(CHIJ) in Penang
and Kedah
. At the age of 14 she migrated to Singapore with her parents and two brothers, 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. After her graduation, Lim joined the Ministry of Education
as a curriculum specialist, and devoted her time between family, work and writing throughout her years with the Ministry.
Her first novel Rice Bowl was published in 1984, and co-wrote the award-winning short play The Amah: A Portrait In Black And White in 1986. Her second novel Gift From The Gods (1990) was nominated for a National Book Development Council award in 1992. In that same year, Lim won the inaugural Singapore Literature Prize
for her third novel Fistful Of Colours (1992). A Bit Of Earth (2000) was nominated for the Singapore Literature Prize
in 2004. In 1996 she was given a Fullbright Grant to attend the prestigious Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa
, and returned to the University as Writer-In-Residence in 2000. This Residentship honor was also extended to her at the University of Western Australia
in Perth, the Moniack Mhor Writers' Centre in the Scottish Highlands and Ateneo de Manila University
in the Philippines.
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).
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools are a group of eleven all-girls Catholic schools in Singapore. The first CHIJ school in Singapore was established at Victoria Street in 1854, by nuns of the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus. Today, the group includes six primary schools, four secondary...
(CHIJ) in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
and Kedah
Kedah
Kedah is a state of Malaysia, located in the northwestern part of Peninsular Malaysia. The state covers a total area of over 9,000 km², and it consists of the mainland and Langkawi. The mainland has a relatively flat terrain, which is used to grow rice...
. At the age of 14 she migrated to Singapore with her parents and two brothers, and continued her education at CHIJ Katong
Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus
The Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools are a group of eleven all-girls Catholic schools in Singapore. The first CHIJ school in Singapore was established at Victoria Street in 1854, by nuns of the Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus. Today, the group includes six primary schools, four secondary...
. She read Literature at the National University of Singapore
National University of Singapore
The National University of Singapore is Singapore's oldest university. It is the largest university in the country in terms of student enrollment and curriculum offered....
, and graduated with a post-graduate diploma in Applied Linguistics. After her graduation, Lim joined the Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Education is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to education in Singapore.-Statutory boards:...
as a curriculum specialist, and devoted her time between family, work and writing throughout her years with the Ministry.
Her first novel Rice Bowl was published in 1984, and co-wrote the award-winning short play The Amah: A Portrait In Black And White in 1986. Her second novel Gift From The Gods (1990) was nominated for a National Book Development Council award in 1992. In that same year, Lim won the inaugural Singapore Literature Prize
Singapore Literature Prize
The Singapore Literature Prize is an award in Singapore to recognise outstanding published works by Singaporean authors in any of the four official languages: Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil....
for her third novel Fistful Of Colours (1992). A Bit Of Earth (2000) was nominated for the Singapore Literature Prize
Singapore Literature Prize
The Singapore Literature Prize is an award in Singapore to recognise outstanding published works by Singaporean authors in any of the four official languages: Chinese, English, Malay and Tamil....
in 2004. In 1996 she was given a Fullbright Grant to attend the prestigious Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, and returned to the University as Writer-In-Residence in 2000. This Residentship honor was also extended to her at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
in Perth, the Moniack Mhor Writers' Centre in the Scottish Highlands and Ateneo de Manila University
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
in the Philippines.
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
- The Lies that Build a Marriage: Stories of the Unsung, Unsaid and Uncelebrated in Singapore (2007)
- Hua Song: Stories of the Chinese Diaspora (2005)
- A Bit of Earth (2000)
- Fistful of Colours (1992)
- Gift from the Gods (1990)
- The Amah: a Portrait in Black and White (1986, short play)
- Rice Bowl (1984)