George Town Literary Festival 2026 Participating Authors
Samantha Chong
Samantha Chong is a Malaysian writer whose fiction explores belonging, identity, and the ways people carve out a sense of home in a changing world. Originally from Penang, she draws on her multilingual and multicultural background in her work. She is the author of the young adult fantasy novel Prodigal Tiger, with a second novel, Paper Ghosts, forthcoming. Her writing spans both fiction and non-fiction.
Christopher Chu
Christopher Chu is a writer and editor based in Macao. He is the editor of The Bay, an English-language publication covering culture and lifestyle across China’s Greater Bay Area. Together with his wife, Maggie Hoi, he has co-authored Macau’s Historical Witnesses, Camilo Pessanha’s Macau Stories, and Macau’s Historical Flavors, books that explore the city’s rich history, culture, and identity.
Olivier Hein
Olivier Hein is a historian and writer whose work explores the overlooked histories of nations, regions, and cultures. A former diplomat with the United Nations, the OSCE, and the United Kingdom, he has lived and worked across Europe, Central Asia, and North America. He is the author of Star and Key, a history of Mauritius, Borneo: The History of an Enigma, and Mother of the World: The Remarkable History of Turkmenistan. His forthcoming book, Glory, Faith and Sorrow, traces the epic history of Peru.
Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho
Wiley Wei-Chiun Ho is a Taiwanese Canadian writer whose work explores migration, memory, and the complexities of cultural identity. Born in Taiwan and raised in Canada, she writes from the perspective of the “Generation 1.5” experience. She is the author of The Astronaut Children of Dunbar Street: A Memoir, and her award-winning writing has appeared in literary journals and anthologies across Canada.
Maggie Pui Man Hoi
Maggie Hoi is a researcher, educator, and writer based in Macao. An Associate Professor at the University of Macau, her work focuses on the health benefits of natural herbal products. Beyond her research, she is passionate about Macao’s history and cultural heritage, interests that have informed several co-authored books exploring the city’s stories, identity, and everyday life.
Tuan Phan
Tuan Phan is a Vietnamese American writer and educator whose work examines migration, memory, and the ways people navigate lives across cultures and borders. Based in Taiwan, he is the author of the memoir Remembering Water and the short story collection Gills: And Other Stories, which explores contemporary Saigon through stories of change, displacement, and resilience.
Gaea Schoeters
Gaea Schoeters is a Belgian writer whose work spans fiction, opera, essays, and literary translation. Known for combining formal innovation with social engagement, she is the author of the internationally acclaimed novels Trophy and The Gift, both shortlisted for major literary prizes. Her work has been translated into more than 20 languages, and she is an active voice in contemporary European literature and the performing arts.
Sam Sussman
Sam Sussman is a novelist and screenwriter whose debut novel, Boy From the North Country, became a three-time USA Today bestseller and a finalist for the National Jewish Book Awards. A recipient of the BAFTA New Writing Award, his writing has appeared in Harper’s and The Washington Post, and his work is published internationall
Janet Tay
Janet Tay is the author of Early Mornings at the Laksa Cafe and the forthcoming Late Nights at the Donabe Diner. A Tin House Winter Workshop alum, she writes fiction and literary non-fiction on themes including food, family, and everyday life. Her work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, and her play Reunion was longlisted for The Windsor Fringe Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing.
Martin Vengadesan
Martin Vengadesan is a Malaysian writer, journalist, and musician whose work moves between reportage, cultural commentary, and fiction. Drawing on a long career in journalism and public affairs, he has written extensively on politics, music, and society. His books include the best-selling Malaysian Murders & Mysteries, co-written with Andrew Sagayam, and a growing body of fiction that ranges from dystopian satire to comedy.
Xu Xi
Xu Xi is an Indonesian Chinese American writer whose acclaimed body of work spans fiction, memoir, and essays. The author of sixteen books and editor of several anthologies of Hong Kong literature in English, her writing often explores migration, identity, and transnational belonging. Her latest collection, Horizon Hong Kong: Selected Stories, will be published in 2026. A distinguished educator and literary mentor, she has taught and led creative writing programmes across Asia and the United States.
Malachi Edwin Vethamani
Malachi Edwin Vethamani is a Malaysian poet, fiction writer, editor, critic, and Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham. He is the author of five poetry collections and two short story collections, with several of his stories adapted for the stage in Malaysia and India. His books include Malchin Testament: Malaysian Poems, which received the Malaysian Book Award 2020 for the English Language category. He has also edited several collections of Malaysian literature in English. His latest publication is Cinta & Kehilangan (2026), a Malay translation of his selected poems by Regina Ibrahim.
Evren Sharma
Evren Sharma is a Turkish writer whose work is shaped by a life lived across cultures. Trained in drama studies with a specialisation in playwriting, she worked as a stage actress before turning to journalism in Türkiye and London. Her debut novel, Eksildik Birer Birer (We Dwindled One by One), won a debut novel prize in Türkiye, and she developed the storyline for Rumi: The Musical, which premiered in London's West End in 2021. Her latest novel is Rumi: Captives of the Light. Having lived across Europe, the Middle East, London, and Kuala Lumpur, she has also spent years working with non-governmental organisations on women's rights, a commitment that continues to shape her writing
Jeremy Tiang
Jeremy Tiang is a Singaporean novelist, playwright, and literary translator based in New York City. A two-time winner of the Singapore Literature Prize, for his novel State of Emergency and for his translation of Zhang Yueran's Cocoon, he has also received an Obie Award for his play Salesman之死. With Dr Kavita Bhanot, he is the co-editor of Violent Phenomena: Essays Toward the Future of Literary Translation.
Anitha Devi Pillai
Anitha Devi Pillai is a Singaporean writer, translator, applied linguist, and educator whose work explores language, memory, migration, food, and the lives of women in the Singapore Malayalee community. She is the author of several books, including From Kerala to Singapore: Voices from the Singapore Malayalee Community, and the translator of Sembawang: A Novel, a finalist for both Best Literary Book and the NUS Singapore History Prize. Her fiction was longlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2024. Her latest short story collection, What the Tongue Remembers (2026), explores food, love, migration, and women's lives in Singapore.
