Interview

Inspired by national struggles and everyday exhaustion, the Cigarette Girl author writes a story about ants that feels deeply human. In a world still run by patriarchs, the writer behind Cigarette Girl turned to a tiny, underground matriarchal society to find feminist answers. Ratih Kumala’s … [Read more...]

It’s November, 2025, and “My Harimau King” has arrived on bookshelves as both a thrilling story for young readers and a cultural milestone, with author Annie McCann’s voice roaring through every page like the tiger king at the heart of her tale. (“Harimau” means tiger in Indonesian/Malay). Set … [Read more...]

In the short story collection titled This Fresh Hell, published by Clan Destine Press, there is a story involving the character Nyi Roro Kidul, who according to stories from the regions of Java and Sunda, lives in the southern sea area. Recently, adventure stories involving a legendary figure … [Read more...]

Jesse Q. Sutanto explores themes of misogyny in the gaming community and beyond in her new YA novel, Didn’t See That Coming, her second work set in Indonesia. Seventeen-year-old Kiki Siregar plays her favorite virtual game using the handle DudeBro10 and has persuaded fellow players that she’s a … [Read more...]

'I'd really like to impart to my readers in the middle grade to believe that you can make a difference.' Michelle Kadarusman says writing for middle-grade is where she has found her voice. The Canadian Australian Indonesian author's novels have a compelling way of unraveling complex world issues … [Read more...]