A joyous walk through the spring of life

The Chommanard judges have awarded the inaugural prize to Yuvadee Tonsakulrungruang, 53, for "Roi Wasan" ("Walking Through the Spring").

Yuvadee writes about her Chinese heritage - she is of Kwantung descent - and about four women who migrated to Thailand 70 years ago.

"A lot of books are written about the Taew Jew Chinese, but no one's written about the Kwantung," she says. "I wanted people to know that there is such an ethnic group in the world."

The judges praised Yuvadee's ability to convey the human spirit as she describes the protagonists' different roles and complex relationships across generations.

"Roi Wasan" features a lot of banter among grandmothers, women's "secrets" and references to the Chinese food market in Bangkok's Yaowarat district, all of which contribute to its overall lightness.

But Yuvadee also writes about hardships, though the gloom tends to be hidden behind a facade of joy.

"Walking Through the Spring" will be translated into English to promote Thai women writers overseas.