Must be a female author holding nationality or permanent residency in ASEAN-member country, China, Hong Kong, or Taiwan.

The author must be alive throughout the entire judging process.

The submission must be a fiction novel (no minimum or maximum word count), originally written in any national language and must be published in English, either as an original work or in translation, between 2015 and 2025.

The work must be original and must not be plagiarized, AI-generated, or based on pre-existing content. A signed letter of originality is required.

The book must be published by an established imprint based in the Asia-Pacific region or in English-speaking countries. (An “established imprint” refers to a legally registered publishing company that has a proven track record of publishing works by multiple authors. It must operate with professional editorial standards, assign ISBNs, and make titles available through recognized retail or distribution channels. Publishers that exist solely to release the author’s own work do not qualify.)

All rights remain with the author throughout the judging process.

Any disputes involving the translator are the responsibility of the author.