Ratna Damayanti Taha, a 44-year-old stay-at-home mother of four, has won the 2026 Epigram Books Fiction Prize for her debut novel, "Mind The Gap." The novel, which earned her S$25,000 and a publishing contract, explores themes of meritocracy, race, and self-discovery through the eyes of a young Malay girl in Singapore.
Taha dedicated three hours each weekday morning to writing between February and June 2025. Her journey into writing began in childhood, inspired by her father's improvised bedtime stories and her mother's self-taught English literacy. A validating moment in primary school, when her composition was read aloud to the class, solidified her confidence.
Despite life's fragments and personal grief, including the loss of her father in 2023, Taha persevered. Her previous short story, inspired by her father's pandemic isolation, won the 2021 Golden Point Award, further fueling her ambition.
Taha emphasizes defining success on one's own terms, finding fulfillment in motherhood and her writing. She hopes "Mind The Gap" contributes to greater representation and encourages conversations about stereotypes.
Her advice to aspiring writers: "The mess of life isn't a distraction from the work - it is the work."
