‘Reaching the World’ is Bangkok’s first international writers’ showcase, bringing together authors, translators and publishing professionals from around Asia, the Pacific to share their work in conjunction with one of Asia’s longest-running and most prestigious literary events, the South East Asian Writers Awards.

Reaching the World takes place in Bangkok 5-9 November, 2012 and is co-organised by the Asia Pacific Writers & Translators (AP Writers),  South East Asian Writers’ Award (S.E.A Write)

Bangkok has been designated UNESCO’s ‘World Book Capital 2013’ This start-up literary festival begins with a two-day Summit: a think-tank of writers and translators. This is hosted by the Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University.

• The Summit explores two themes: 1) The value of literary prizes; 2) The need for quality literary translations to take writers to the global market.

‘Reaching the World’ also includes:

• Author Showcase Readings by award-winning Thai and visiting poets and writers.
•  Creative Writing Workshops led by international author-mentors.
• The S.E.A. Write Awards Presentations Gala Dinner at the legendary Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, in the presence of Princess Sirivannavari Mahidol.
• AP Writers Meeting to elect the new Board and decide events for 2013 and beyond

A Post-festival writing retreat takes place in Laos, 11-17 November. The winners of the 2012 South East Asian Writers Awards (“The S.E.A. Write Award”), are invited as special guests to ‘Reaching the World’, the international literary gathering in Bangkok (5-9 November, 2012) co-organised by the Asia Pacific Writers & Translators Association. The S.E.A. Write Award honours leading poets and writers in the ASEAN region.  The ten countries which comprise the ASEAN region are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (See more information about the Award.) The winners this year are Wipas Srithong (Thailand), Suchen Christine Lim (Singapore), Oka Rushmini (Indonesia), Duangxay Luangphasy (Laos), Ismail Kassan ( Malaysia), Trung Trung Dinh (Vietnam), Charlson Ong (Philippines), and  Pengiran Haji Mahmud bin Pengiran Damit – pen name Mahmudamit (Brunei).