Category:
Fiction (short stories; transcreated)
Content: [click here]
ISBN: 978-967-18509-7-8 [12 May 2023]
Original
writer: Uthaya Sankar SB
Transcreators:
Lalita Sinha, Nanthini Muniapan, K. Pragalath, Roshini Muniam, Uthaya Sankar SB
Editor:
Amir
Muhammad
Social capital contributors: [click here]
Publisher:
Uthaya Sankar SB
Publishing Advisor: Koh Yok Hwa
Layout:
Gemilang Publishing Sdn Bhd
Pages: 144 [including prelim]
Paper (cover): Art card (260 gram)
Paper (content): Cream paper (120 gram)
Publication
date: September August 5 July 2023
Selling
price: RM40.00 [excluding postage]
Get your copy: [details here]
Since I started writing in 1991, people have been asking if I also write in Tamil and English. Frankly speaking, some of my stories and poems have been translated into English, Tamil, German, and Mandarin.
After years of pondering — and being inspired and motivated by friends and fellow writers — I am publishing my first collection of short stories in English; transcreated from the original Bahasa Malaysia.
Projek transkreasi cerpen (Utusan Malaysia, 6 Mei 2023) - [baca di sini]
The scoop in Free Malaysia Today (30 May 2023) - [read here]
A feature in The Sun Daily (6 June 2023) - [read here]
An interview in Eksentrika (11 July 2023) - [read here]
A feature in The Edge (17 July 2023) - [read here]
A Chat About the Cat - [read here]
As a full-time (read: struggling) author and “The most hated Malaysian writer” (Eaten by a Fish, 21 January 2023), I really need your — yes, you — support.
If
you have any questions, feel free to contact me via WhatsApp (011-11411952) or uthayasb@gmail.com.
Contributors for my previous books — Pulau Pendatang (2015) — Nari! Nari! (2015) — Mandala Bicara (2016) — Ikan Patin dan Beruang Besar (2017) — Thirukkural dan Megha Duta (2018) — Ramayana dan Mahabharata (2019) — Vetalam dan Vikramaditya (2020) — Putaria (2020) — Bhagavad Gita (2021) — Kavya Sastra (2021) — Suvarna Bhumi (2022) — Khanda Puranam (2022) — Katha Sarit Sagara (2023) — Nari! Nari! (2023).
Below is the backstory for the English transcreation project:
In September 2021, I asked friends if I should get
some of my Bahasa Malaysia short stories translated into English. At least 30
friends reached out to express their support.
“Definitely a good idea. This will
reach more masses.” – Vicky Achuthan
“I think it’s a good idea but
whether people will buy I am not sure what the book buying market is like these
days.” – Ann
Marie Chandy
“Great idea. I would buy.” – Anurada Murugesan
“Yes, absolutely a good idea! There
are readers who have interest in this type of stories in English.” – Archana Divi
Pillai
“Great idea. You have a following and
people would surely buy and read.” – Mahi Ramakrishnan
“I think it’s a good idea. Definitely
something you should do. And I think it would be interesting.” – Jonathan Edward
“I really think it's an excellent
idea to translate your works to the English language. I, for one, would
earnestly want to read even though I can read in two other languages. Kudos for
a well thought plan and idea.” – Hanusuya Gunasegran
“Short stories are popular. It will
be good to have a single translator. The person will get a real feel of your
writing.” – Dr.
Malachi Edwin Vethamani
“I think it’s a great idea! Your
stories are mostly very engaging.” – Dr. Lalita Sinha
“Yes! I love the idea. It sounds
exciting. Because of your stature as a published author in Bahasa Malaysia, I think
people would be interested to read.” – Dr. Ann Lee
“Yes, I think your stories have a
Malaysian flavor to it and by translating into English it would be made accessible
to a larger international audience.” – Saravanan Selanduray
“I think it’s a great idea to translate
your stories into English and definitely people would be interested to read
because your writings are always awesome!” – Subashini Thiyagarajan
“I think it is a very good idea. It
is about time you tap into the English readers market.” – Pragalath Kumar
“Good idea. People would be
interested to read.” – Vignes Chandran
“It is a brilliant idea.” – Bissme S
“Great idea.” – Dr. Sargunan Sockalingam
“It’s a good idea! Go for it.” – Saras Manickam
“It is a great idea. I am sure many
would be interested.” – Sumathi Muniandy
“Yes. It’s a very good idea.” – Evelyn Chua
“Translation is always, always, always
a good thing.” – Rozana Isa
“Yes of course. Go ahead.” – Himanshu Bhatt
“Good idea for someone who loves expressing
himself with words. For someone who started self-publishing books and kept
doing it until he became one of the best.” – Jeevaraja Sandanam
“Wow! Surely a great idea. It will expand
your audience.” – Patricia Clement
“Good idea.” – Anthony Charles Louis
“Yes, it’s a great idea.” – Anuradha Chelliah
“Yes, definitely. Would be good to
get a wider audience and for people who have trouble reading in Bahasa
Malaysia.” – Arun
Tharma
“Definitely people will buy.” – KA. S.
Annadurai
“I think this is a good idea and
that people would be interested in reading it.” – Heidi Shamsuddin
“I would say go for it. This might
open the door to a new group of readers.” – Veralona Mollon
“Yes, it is a good idea and I am
sure many readers would support.” – Alexandar Dars
But the terrible flood in Taman Sri Muda (December 2021) temporarily halted my plan.
In February 2023, I decided to revive the project and initially thought of publishing a compilation of five “cerpen” in English. Later, five more stories were selected. Later, one more.
The transcreations are handled by the experienced transcreator Dr. Lalita Sinha, media expert K. Pragalath, Nanthini Muniapan, Roshini Muniam, and myself, while Amir Muhammad has (on 10 February 2023) agreed to be the editor. [Biodata]
Some sample promotional material - [Facebook] - [FB Page] - [Twitter]