In line with the nation’s 60th anniversary of its Year
of Independence this August, MPH Publishing is celebrating Malaysian writers during
the national day season.
The poster MPH Publishing created to celebrate MPH Writers |
Early this month, MPH created a poster with portraits (read:
mug-shots!) of writers in the MPH Writers’ Circle and a friend who spotted it
on line, sent it to me with his wish, “Congratulations, Peggy!”
I didn’t look too closely at the faces in the poster but I instantly
recognised the familiar face of former Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammed.
I thanked my friend for his kind wishes and told him, while I’m
somewhere at the bottom of the list with Dr M and others at the top, I’m still
glad to be counted among Malaysian writers in the MPH Writers’ Circle.
It was much later, when I found the time to look closer at the
poster and spotted my own face (and due to sheer vanity) wished MPH had picked
a better shot of me than this old photo. Even I almost couldn’t recognise
myself because I had grown my hair out then and I hardly look that way now.
Published in NST Life & Times Jom on Aug 17 |
On Aug 17, “Tales from a Johorean” written by Putri Zanina Megat
Zainuddin, my former editor in Travel Times, the pull-out section with The New
Straits Times, was published in NST Life & Times Jom.
It was a report on my book launch event which she graciously
attended in Johor Baru. Putri is meanwhile, back in Kuala Lumpur, reading my
book to write her book review.
On Aug 20, the Sunday Star published a two-page feature
entitled, “A nation of stories,” and I was both delighted and humbled to see
that My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real
People, Rich Heritage, was listed among the book titles here!
Another friend who read this spread, rushed an online link of
this feature to me with a message, “Your book has been mentioned here too.
Congratulations! Now it’s an official must-have for any avid reader of
Malaysian authors and their stories…”
There was just a brief write-up about my book but I’m ever
grateful that it was counted among the list of distinguished Malaysian book
titles mentioned in this feature.
The two-page feature in Sunday Star on Aug 20 |
In the past few weeks, I had the privilege of more new
experiences including giving an introduction of my book at the club meeting of
the Rotary Club of Johor Baru, and being interviewed and filmed for a segment
in the Think City Johor Baru corporate video.
A date was set for a Meet-the-Author session at MPH bookstore at
Johor Baru City Square and as it was a public event, I did not know what to
expect. When info about this event was shared online, one of the first people
to respond was Ahmad Fadhli who not only told me that he was coming to get his
books autographed, he also sent me a photo!
Ahmad Fadhli with his book for me to autograph |
Throughout this time, MPH Publishing was in touch to keep me updated
about my book and I’m deeply humbled that my book remained on the MPH
Non-fiction Bestsellers list for four consecutive weeks.
I’m glad that readers can identify with the contents of my book
and are happy to have a copy of their own as well as present it as a gift to
others.
It’s such a thrill to know that copies of my book, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People,
Rich Heritage, has left Johor and Malaysia, being sent abroad to be read
and enjoyed in other continents.
My nephew, Aaron, who was at my book launch event, hand-carried
copies back to Perth, Australia, and also put a couple of copies in the mail to
send to family members in Sydney.
Cousin Malcolm with his book in Sydney |
The family there, gathered in cousin Malcom’s home for a
comforting steamboat meal at the height of their winter, had fun reading
snippets from my book and sharing memories from our family photos.
[By the way, Malcolm Ng and Philip Ng are cousins who also stayed with our grandparents at No. 154 Jalan Ngee Heng, and they went to St Joseph's School, walking distance from our house!]
Among the guests at this meal were our niece, Olivia and her
friend, Peter. Aunty Polly and Uncle Steven were also there on holiday from USJ,
so receiving my book in this gathering was probably one of the highlights of
the evening.
After the meal, (I was told) uncle was hogging a copy of my book
while Olivia was holding another copy and reading parts of it to Peter, in an
attempt to give him a quick intro to our family!
Olivia [Right, holding my book] reading to Peter |
Aunty Polly regretted not being able to attend my book launch
event because she was with her family in Sydney, but I assured her that she
will have her own copy. And when she reached home, it should be waiting there
for her.
[By the way, Aunty is mentioned in the Memories section of my book, in the story about author, Han SuYin’s
connection with Johor Baru.]
Weeks passed and then I received her short and urgent message:
“Where is your book?”
She was searching for it when she got home but in vain. I had
passed the book to my brother, (who lives nearby) to send it over but it looked
like my book was not delivered yet!
My brother responded to my “rush-it-over” message and to prove
that he had presented my book to our anxiously-anticipating aunty, he shared a
photo with me.
Shot sent by Noreen in Melbourne |
Meanwhile, my friend Linda had put a copy in the post to for her
daughter, Noreen, who lives in Melbourne and I was pleasantly surprised to hear
from her with a congratulatory message. She even shared a photo of my book to
prove that she was already holding it!
“My read as we’re out glamping for the weekend and whilst the lil’
man was passed out for the day,” read her message – referring to how she found
time to read my book once her active son had fallen asleep!
“Awesome book, Aunty Peg! Feels like I’m getting to know more
about your family,” she added.
Soon after my book was launched, I was in the UK on a family
trip and brought copies of my book to present them to my sister and her family
and also to cousin Bernice, who wanted it for herself and her friends.
My sister even had the strategy to keep one book available to
circulate on loan to those who wished to borrow and read, while she kept one
hardcover copy for herself!
Yeen recuperating after surgery and reading... |
Then we received the bad news from Sydney.
Cousin Malcolm’s wife, Yeen, who has a hobby in hiking, often
went on trips with her hiking friends, sometimes even camping out for days in
the Australian bush. Recently she went on a hiking trip to Snowy Mountain,
about five and a half hours south of Sydney.
We were told later that early one morning, Yeen went for a walk
and slipped on some ice. Her fall caused her excruciating pain because she
suffered at least two fractures on her bones.
Thankfully she received medical attention quite swiftly and the
surgery on her leg was a success. As she was recuperating in the hospital, Malcolm
showed me how Yeen was making good use of her time – reading my book!
Presenting my book to Aidah in hospital |
Glad Yeen is back home now, on the road to recovery, with the
tender loving care of her dear husband…
Then on Aug 21, I was shocked and saddened to receive news that my friend,
Aidah was admitted to hospital. She was able to send text messages, so I was reassured
that she was not dangerously ill but it was just as bad to be a victim of
dengue fever.
Her husband and son were there when I visited her in hospital
and to cheer her up, I presented her with a copy of my book. I’m pleased that
Aidah is also on the road to recovery and should be going back to work again
soon.
Later, Aidah told me that her cousin, Yani, who lives in Felda
Bukit Besar and reads My Johor Stories
online, is my secret admirer. [Blush! Blush!] Thank you, Yani, but it’s no
longer a secret now!