Just as the sports community here dreams of Singaporean athletes bagging Olympic gold medals, the literary community here has its own quieter, but just as seemingly distant, dream: that a Singaporean author might win an international literary award.

After all, local writers are eligible to enter some of the most prestigious - not to mention lucrative - literary prizes in the world, including the Man Booker Prize.

To date, no Singaporean has bagged a major book award, though some have taken the first step by having their works shortlisted or longlisted.

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