It’s been over 6 decades since Malaysia gained independence and that calls for a celebration. Here’s a spotlight on 9 authors who have written books that have been celebrated by readers all over.
Deborah Wong
Deborah Wong is a Rhysling Award and Pushcart Prize nominated Malaysian poet. She holds a LLB (Hons) from University of London and the Associateship of the Malaysian Insurance Institute (AMII). A devoted fan-fiction writer, she finally answered the call to be a storyteller, by attending the summer intensive creative writing programme at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Her new book Me In Your Melody released recently and is a must-read for music lovers.
Lee Su Ann
Lee Su Ann started weaving stories since she was in high school, usually found scribbling in the shade of a tree under the watchful eyes of her school’s majestic clock tower. The clock tower of St George’s Girls’ School in Penang would later be the inspiration and setting for her second novel, A Stitch in Time. She published her first short story when she was 16. After graduating with a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences and a Diploma in Comprehensive Writing, she has since then been a test-tube baby scientist, a medical writer and an amateur actress /scriptwriter in her church’s own stage production.
Leslie Lopez
Leslie Lopez, a Malaysian citizen, has reported extensively on political and economic affairs in the region since the mid-1980s. He has worked for local Malaysian newspapers along with working in Indonesia and Singapore. He has won multiple awards and has covered notable news items. His new book The Siege Within is set to come out soon and will surely be of interest to many Malaysians.
Romen Bose
An international correspondent with over 22 years of reporting experience in the region, Romen Bose worked as a Political Communications Consultant for former Malaysian Premier Najib Razak for six years and was a close confidante to decision makers in the upper echelon of the country’s political elite. Before setting up his own consultancy, Romen was head of Asian social media at IHS Markit and worked as a senior foreign correspondent with French news agency AFP based in Kuala Lumpur. Having extensive knowledge on the subject he has written two books with us – Shattered Hopes and Final Reckoning.
Heidi Shamsuddin
Heidi Shamsuddin was born in Malaysia, and after being all around the world during her childhood and college days she returned home and began to write fiction. Heidi has recently embarked on a project to collect and adapt the folklore, fairy tales, fables, myths, epics, legends, wonder and magic tales from all around the Nusantara region, with the aim of spreading and disseminating these traditional tales. Her two books Nusantara – A Sea of Tales and Zara and the Twelve Realms of Kayangan are must-reads for fantasy folktale readers.
Ong Chin Huat
Ong Chin Huat is a freelance writer, fashion stylist and TV Host and has contributed to The Star, Life Inspired, Luxurious Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Design Anthology, Elle and Conde Nast Traveller among others. This is year, he published his book Harmony Heights, which became a favourite of readers throughout. It is set in a condominium located in a forgotten part of town resides a microcosm of bourgeois Malaysian society.
Malachi Edwin Vethamani
An internationally recognised author, Malachi Edwin Vethamani is a fictionist, poet, editor, critic, bibliographer and academic. He has received awards, got one of his stories adapted for theatre and has edited five anthologies of Malaysian Literature in English. His book of short stories Have I Got Something To Tell You will leave you wanting more.
Jin Young Lim
Jin Young Lim is a PhD student at the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultural Studies at UC Santa Barbara. He is the co-founder of Spawo Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to nurturing holistic education, sustainability, health and wellness, and culture in the Himalayas. He has led multiple mindfulness-based expeditions to the Himalayas and has been engaging in various contemplative practices throughout his life. His new book The Dao of Flow is a spiritual guide that can change your life.
Tutu Datta
Tutu Dutta lives in Kuala Lumpur; she was born in India but grew up in Malaysia. She started writing children’s books when she lived in far flung cities as the spouse of a diplomat, including: Singapore, Lagos, New York, Havana and Zagreb. She has published two books with us – The Blood Prince of Langkasuka and her newest release The Fraught Lives of Nathan Kwan and Lapsang Souchong.
Have you read all these local authors yet?
