Winning the 2015 Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) Poetry Book Competition, the author rocketed in 2022 with a short story collection, Cerita-cerita Bahagia, Hampir Seluruhnya (Happy Stories, Mostly). However, all that glitters might not be gold. Author Norman Erikson Pasaribu garnered quite the … [Read more...]
Why Indonesia is a gold mine for horror fans
May 2, 2023 by
American-Indonesian author Nadia Bulkin talks about her passion for horror fiction and how her Indonesian roots have influenced her writing. Even as a child, Nadia Bulkin always had a penchant for telling stories. Her mother said she would dictate stories for her before Nadia had learned how to … [Read more...]
Pay attention: Local genre novelists are finally recognized
May 1, 2023 by
The public and filmmakers have started to shift their gaze from the more mainstream fiction novels. There was a long period when local mainstream novelists ruled the best-seller list and the silver screen. Indonesian novelists such as Ika Natassa (Critical Eleven), Ilana Tan (Winter in Tokyo), … [Read more...]
Independent Spirit: LGBTQ Voices in Publishing
April 30, 2023 by
Mainstream publishing’s LGBTQ content today resembles the transgressive indie fare of a decade ago. Poet Ocean Vuong’s queer coming-of-age novel, the 2019 Penguin Press release On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, is a book club staple. Last year, MCD x FSG Originals resurrected Imogen Binnie’s … [Read more...]
‘Book of Beasts’ exhibit explores Goenawan Mohamad’s joy of the unexpected
March 12, 2023 by
Renowned poet, essayist, playwright and editor Goenawan Mohamad presents his first exhibition of prints, created during his artist-in-residence program at the DEVFTO Printmaking Institute. Goenawan Mohamad's Kitab Hewan: Book of Beasts exhibition is open from Feb. 3 to March 5 at Sika Gallery in … [Read more...]