Turning the page

Dear Reader,

I’m writing to bid farewell, as my journey with Ethos Books has come to a close. It was fitting that I ended my stint with trips to the Frankfurt Book Fair and George Town Literary Festival, for the Penang launch of Dina Zaman's Malayland.
 
The past two, almost three, years have been rewarding. From my first Pagesetters commercial project—the launch of ROAR: Football Legends of Singapore—to the publication of multiple Wild Rice plays and Mervin Mirapuri's epic poem A Walk With My Pig, I've had a hand in strategising campaigns and events, and witnessed how stories spark meaningful connections. Publishing, I’ve come to realise, isn’t simply about selling a product—it’s about cultivating relationships and creating experiences.
 
Media theorist Marshall McLuhan observed in “The Medium is the Message” (1964): “The linearity of the written word is at odds with the simultaneous and all-at-once nature of electric media.” This dichotomy is something I’ve reflected on deeply during my time in publishing. Books, as linear mediums, offer depth and introspection, yet they now exist alongside digital platforms that demand immediacy and engagement. The challenge we are confronted with today, then, is how to merge these modes—to create stories that honour the contemplative nature of print while embracing the dynamic, communal energy of digital media.
 
Over the past year, I've tried to do just that with my content-forward approach, blending the depth of storytelling with the immediacy of social media. I hope you’ve enjoyed that chapter of my journey. But I am a restless soul, and the time has now come for me to turn the page.
 
I leave with gratitude and curiosity about what lies ahead. Thank you for the memories!
 
Best,
Nicholas

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