At the Proverse Spring Reception, 19 April 2016, four books were launched and a fifth book was given a soft launch. Lawrence Gray and Gustav Preller were announced as winners of the Proverse Prize 2015 and Henri Hoeg as winner of a Supplementary Prize in the same competition. All three were warmly congratulated.  Gray and Preller's prize-winning novels are scheduled for publication at the Proverse Publishing Parade to be held in November this year.

The two launching authors present, Dr Deepa Vanjani and Mr Henrik Hoeg, introduced their work. Dr Deepa Vanjani flew in from India for the occasion and was also interviewed by show host, Phil Whelan, on RTHK3's morning music and chat show, "Morning Brew".

Poems as songs, sung by a third launching author, poet Patty Ho, with piano accompaniment, were played from the video CD, which is  packaged with her second collection of poetry, "Of Leaves & Ashes".

Understandably, Dr Hasan Erkek, who lives in Turkey, and Ms Jan Pearson, who lives in Australia, could not join us but we hope they can do so on another occasion. (Regular supporters will remember with pleasure two talks that Jan Pearson gave at two previous Proverse events.)

For the first time, two Honorary Advisors to the Proverse Prize were present: Peter Sidorko, Hong Kong University librarian and Edwin Thumboo, Singapore academic and poet.

We had the rare opportunity to hear a brief reading of his poetry by Professor Emeritus Dr Edwin Thumboo, visiting from Singapore.

Photos by and courtesy of two guests. (More will be added soon.)