Hazia’s Reflections

Below was generated from an interview with a ‘New Straits Times - Learning Curve’s’ journalist. A journalist I knew recommended this to him, it was very well done:)

Books: ‘News’ from 30-somethings

NOT many people can claim to be an author. Recently, writers Rumaizah Abu Bakar, Shih-Li Kow and Chua Kok Yee did just that when they launched News From Home, a book of 30 short stories they co-wrote. News From Home is available at Silverfish Publications and all major book stores.

The book project began after they completed the Silverfish Writing Programme, a workshop for budding writers.

Chua attended the first workshop, Kow the third and Rumaizah the fourth.

“Programme instructor Raman Krishnan noticed that each of us had our own distinct writing styles and that we were serious about getting published,” says Kow, 39, at the book launch at Silverfish publications, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.

The three also share a determination to succeed and good work ethics, says Raman, also publisher of News From Home.

“Whenever they failed, they tried again. They refused to give up and took criticism as a challenge,” he adds.

Recognising their strengths as writers, Raman suggested that the trio collectively produce a book of short stories.

“We were excited and immediately heeded the idea,” says Kow.

What followed was hard work fuelled by passion. The three 30-somethings penned 10 short stories each working to a strict deadline.

Last month, News From Home hit the bookshops.

Although the proud trio agree that the book was finished at an unbelievable speed, they insist it was no walk in the park.

“We have day jobs, we knew the sacrifices we had to make. We agreed to give our best,” says Kow, a former industrial engineer.

Chua, who has had a few short stories of his published, says writing interesting plots required a “tremendous amount of reading and research”.

The 33-year-old Ipoh-born confesses that the most difficult part was to have his stories criticised by his co-authors.

“Our writing can be personal to us, making it difficult to take criticisms constructively,” says Chua, a manager of a cosmetic company.

The key, he adds, is to learn from criticisms and not to be discouraged.

Rumaizah, 35, says working on the book was rewarding.

“I learned that storytelling is not about language proficiency and flaunting of vocabulary.

“It is all about technique and the ability to engage the reader with a simple storytelling style,” says Rumaizah.

The three authors were pleased that more than 50 avid readers turned up for their book launch and bought copies of the book.

News From Home is the first book to carry the “Malaysian Literature in English” sticker, a new initiative to promote the country’s literature locally and overseas.

Raman hopes the book will be a prelude to the next generation of local writers “who can hold their own against the rest of the world and yet remain distinctly Malaysian”.

9 December, 2007