I’m a writer of all kinds of stuff.
In the fictional world, my stories usually fall into the horror or dark fantasy genre. I’ve published 2 novels, a novella and 4 collections of short stories. My latest, is my novella Juriah’s Song. There’s also 2 retrospective collections of short stories: 44 Cemetery Road and Gravedigger’s Kiss. My narratives are mainly set in Malaysia.
On the non-fictional side of the fence, my latest is a children’s book entitled A Children’s History of Malaysia. I’m now spending heck of a lot of time on an Encyclopedia on the same subject.
So write I do . . . on this blog too!
52 responses so far ↓
YAN YI // April 4, 2007 at 4:15 am |
Hi Tunku Halim,
I was just talking to Sharon Bakar just the other day on the need for more Horror stories in the Malaysian market and she brought up your name. Surprisingly enough she recomended that I go to your blog and have a good look at what you write and I must say, it is really something I have not expected.
I work with an international book publishing firm, Marshall Cavendish, and we are in the midst of sourcing for Authors who write on the horror genre. Please drop me an email to find out more. Hope to hear from you soon!
Yan Yi
fauzi // April 5, 2007 at 4:35 am |
Hi Tunku Halim,
I’m a student of publishing (uitm). Rite’ now im doing an academic writing regarding self-publishing. So i was wondering, do you self published your own novel or it is being published by a conventional publisher?
Because if you do self-published your own novels, i want to send a few quetions for you to answer. Hope u can reply through my e-mail a.s.a.p. Thanks.
Yusuf/Martin // April 5, 2007 at 9:18 am |
I have short stories and poetry written in and about Malaysia I should like to share. Perhaps my latest story, about 1951 and The Emergency, is a little long for your considered work – plus it may be published by Silverfish, my fingers are still crossed on that one.
tunkuhalim // April 9, 2007 at 2:03 am |
Hi folks – thanks for your comments. I’ve emailed each of you separately. Let me know at tunkuhalim@gmail.com if you haven’t received my reply.
anna azman // May 31, 2007 at 2:27 pm |
hi tunku halim, i always dream about being a writer but dont know where to start. so maybe u can enlighten me and perhaps share a few tips. i leave u my blog address and maybe u can comment on it, those are my early works while im studied.so hope to hear from u soon.bye.
http://drivingvolvosoccermama.blogspot.com.
tunkuhalim // June 2, 2007 at 8:41 am |
Anna – you’re got a good site. Keep writing. My advise to all budding writers is to get a book on creative writing. Write and re-write. Do it from the heart. Create a body of work that you’re proud of!
sid // June 7, 2007 at 3:51 am |
hi tunku halim..
read about u on the sun yesterday..
i really love writing.. but, dont know haw to start..
maybe one day..
all d best to u..
tunkuhalim // June 7, 2007 at 5:47 am |
Sid – It’s easy to start writing. Go with one word at a time. Then a sentence, then a paragraph . . .
rabinder // June 12, 2007 at 8:55 am |
Hi tunku halim ..
well i have aways been a fan of yours. Last semester i did writing as a paper and have started my own blog. well i just would like to share what my lecturer told me that started my interest in writing. she said that what do we leave behind when we move on, we need to leave something that people will remember us by. Something through our writing and for the next generation. You have done a good job with the 44 cemetery road and hope more to come in the distant future.
tunkuhalim // June 13, 2007 at 12:02 am |
rabinder – it’s always wonderful to meet a fan (even if only in cyberspace). I really agree with your lecturer. When we move on, we leave the stuff that others can remember us by. But I’d like to take that further. We leave behind stuff that makes the world just a little bit better. I hope that with my stories I’ve provided fulfilling entertainment so that, whilst reading, we forget the stress of our daily lives.
Sylvia Wee // June 14, 2007 at 4:25 am |
I have bought 44 Cemetery Road and have enjoyed it tremendously – I finished it all in one night. Four stars out of 5. My least favorite is the tikam-tikam hahaha… really good story that one. Anyway, ‘boleh tolong tak’? Next time you want to publish your books – can you ask the publisher/printer to use better ‘professional’ fonts? You see most malaysian book publishers/printers uses Times New Roman – it is so ugleh. Even the cover was not tastefully done. A simple black cover with red text using good font or minor illustration would have been so much classic and stylish. So it’s like a gem covered in dust. OK that’s all lah. Write more psychological thriller.
Sylvia Wee // June 14, 2007 at 4:26 am |
Didnt mean to say least favorite. It’s suppose to be my favorite.
Sylvia Wee // June 14, 2007 at 4:39 am |
The Cover for – The Woman Who Grew Horns & Other Works – is simple and nice. The font usage is good too
Cantekk!
Some example of simple and nice ideas…
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/513H7NK0EPL._SS500_.jpg
http://mystic-caravan.com/elvish/cedco/2530.jpg
tunkuhalim // June 14, 2007 at 5:07 am |
Sylvia – so glad it’s your favourite! It must have been a long night indeed. Hopefully an entertaining one. Aiyoyo, trying to ask a publisher to change things is very susah one! The pretty much stick to a formula. But maybe next time I can ask them
tunkuhalim // June 15, 2007 at 6:19 am |
Sylvia – I like the “Thrillers” cover. Great use of the hand and the blood!
etta // June 16, 2007 at 5:13 am |
hi sylvia. hmmm, i like the cover of thriller. chantek maa.. something like fright night.
etta // June 16, 2007 at 5:13 am |
hi sylvia. hmmm, i like the cover of thriller. chantek maa.. something like “fright night”.
etta // June 16, 2007 at 5:17 am |
hi tunku halim, i’m doing TESL now and this semester i’ve to do academic writing about teaching of reading. it is wonderful to be in this lovely cyberspace. hope we can share yg baek punya!!
tunkuhalim // June 16, 2007 at 10:51 pm |
etta – TESL must be really interesting. Yes, sure can share what’s baik dan bagus!
Jun // August 4, 2007 at 10:10 am |
Hi TH! Although I’ve never come across your books (can’ get them here in Adelaide *sigh*), your blog’s really inspiring, esp when you talk about writing. I think you mentioned about finding inspiration in all places, and I agree with that, but how do u catch hold of it before it vanishes? bring a pen and paper/ PDA wherever u go? sure… but how practical is that, esp when inspiration strikes in the midst of a few rounds of tipsy wine tinkles? any advise?
tunkuhalim // August 6, 2007 at 1:31 am |
Jun – Thanks for your nice comments about my blog. I only realised last week that my mobile phone has a voice recorder, so that’s helpful! A lot of writers carry a journal, to jot ideas and bits of writing at a cafe. I don’t. Maybe I should. I tend to get my inspiration and ideas whilst I’m writing. I visited Adelaide a few months back. What a lovely city!
Jun // August 6, 2007 at 2:30 pm |
hmm… so ur inspiration flows when ur words do so eh? but how and whr do u start when there’s no inspiration? would u say u’re like an artist whose works stem from mindless doodles on a blank paper? anyhow, u were in adelaide? wow. u must have been inspired LOTS huh? ;p went to hobart 2 yrs ago, and my only gripes were that the weather’s too cold (apr weather is like adelaide’s winter *grr*), and that there’s no chinatown nor any area bearing a remote resemblence to a “mini asia”
tunkuhalim // August 7, 2007 at 11:06 pm |
Sometimes I start by thinking of a title for a story. Like “The Rape of Martha Teoh” or “44 Cemetery Road”. That provides the focus. Sometimes its thru juxtaposing 2 ideas like: twin towers and orang minyak. That became my story “Mr Petronas”. Sometimes it’s stuff from personal experience.
Oh yeah, Hobart definitely needs a mini China Town. The food in Adelaide was just marvelous. Brrrr . . . cold here too. But I like having the 4 seasons!
Yu Jian // February 29, 2008 at 5:25 pm |
Hey tunku.
Recently discovered some of your stuff whilst at Borders, the Curve one day waiting for the girlfriend to finish shoe-shopping (many guys would be nodding in unison at this point).
Ended up asking her whether she needed to shop for a bag, a dress and a top as well. Your stories were so absorbing that I could not put it down.
Am now a fan of your writing style. Crisp. Witty. Economical. Yet the important points come across hard like a sledgehammer on a windscreen. The impact of your stories linger in the subconscious long after you’ve put the book down. To the point of reminding you to Google the author at the next available chance you come online. Only to discover his blog which is pretty entertaining and honest.
A great writer you are, indeed.
Loved ‘Malay Magick’. What was your inspiration / source for that hemaphrodite creature? Urban legend? Myth? Or did it originate from a dark corner of your psyche?
Anyway, just felt like dropping a note of appreciation for your input into our local horror literature. If you ever do come up with new stuff, feel free to add me on your mailing list, if you have any, for updates on when and where I can get them. You’ve made one sale for your yet-to-be-published work already.
Keep up the good work and I’ll be sure to recommend you to members of my professional fraternity. (p.s. I’m a lawyer. As you might’ve known, 80% of our time are spent waiting in Courts. So having a ‘Tunku Halim’ handy in the Counsel’s brief helps to ease the passage of time)
Rgds,
Ong Yu Jian
tunkuhalim // March 2, 2008 at 7:22 am |
Yu Jian – Thanks for the great comments. I’ve got quite a lot of dark stuff out there which I hope will keep you entertained whilst waiting in court.
I was a lawyer once and wrote in my spare time. ( I even had a semi-law book published on Condos!) Did you manage to find that inevitably lost court file?
It’s mainly the horror stuff that fascinates me though. Sometimes I wonder where the awful imagination comes from. The creature in “Malay Magick” does indeed emerge from my dark subconscious.
MPH are republishing my horror novels “Dark Demon Rising” and “Vermillion Eye” this year (I hope!) so do look out for them. Cheers!
Debbie // March 9, 2008 at 1:19 pm |
Hello again Tunku, I’d like to link your blog to mine so that I won’t forget to read your latest post and I could promote your blog and books to my friends. =) Thanks!
tunkuhalim // March 11, 2008 at 5:04 am |
Sure thing, Debbie. Go ahead!
Luciana // March 18, 2008 at 12:35 pm |
Write Me A Letter
Eternity
Behind Closed Doors
In Between
Ruby
… are just some of the titles I could think of right that could be the title of your future short stories.
tunkuhalim // March 19, 2008 at 12:07 am |
Luciana – Thanks for the title. I particularly like “Write Me A Letter”. It can give rise to all sorts of plots!
ina87 // May 31, 2008 at 12:27 am |
hi tunku halim
i was linked here when searching for karate info. i’m in difficulty in looking dojo in terengganu as i just recently moved there. any idea you could suggest or do u know any dojo in terengganu, thanks
tunkuhalim // May 31, 2008 at 12:33 am |
ina87 – Sorry I don’t know about dojos in Trengganu, but I’m sure there must be some karate or other martial art. Don’t worry if you have to change styles, just find a club and enjoy your training. Good luck!
marsha // June 27, 2008 at 4:00 pm |
Hi Tunku Halim! Long time no see…Anyway, was just hopping around all the blog sites that I ‘used to’ visit and decided to come round here and read this. Conincidentally, I’m just done with a fiction book about 7/9th of the journey done and hunting down a publisher.
I want to go the conventional way but you know lah, how hard it is in Malaysia. Too many restrictions and all that. And I was thinking along the lines of either global exposure or no exposure. I don’t mind the wait and I am a blardie patient person when it comes round to realizing a dream.
Anyway, still tinkering away at the keyboard in the dead of the night…trying to convince myself that I can take the knocks. Never knew it’s so hard to be an author….really.
That’s why my hats off to people like you lah, you know.
Smiles and write lots,
Marsha
tunkuhalim // July 2, 2008 at 11:30 pm |
Marsha,
Nice to see you again. Writing fiction? That’s great … enjoy the writing. Finding a publisher is an entirely different story. Write and re-write and re-write some more. It’s a long journey but a great one.
Enjoy,
TH
anis hanim // August 6, 2008 at 10:15 am |
hye tunku halim..
i’m a student of INTEC, Shah Alam.and right now,
i have an assignment to make book review. i choose your novel which is Juriah’s song. it’s really interesting.and can i get more information about you, about your interests and your family background.i need it for my assignment.plzzz
Tunku Halim // August 7, 2008 at 4:29 am |
Hi Anis,
I’ve emailed you my background. Hope that helps!
Thanks for picking my book to review. I hope you’ve enjoyed it and are giving me a good review
Loshana // November 18, 2008 at 11:34 am |
Dear sir,
I am a Communications student from Taylor’s college. During my last semester, I was given your book, “A Children’s History of Malaya” for reading material. I must say that unlike other history books, I found this book rather simplified and easy to follow. It was as interesting as a storybook and gave me a better understanding of Malayan history than the textbooks I read in my school days. Thank you for writing this book, and I hope to see more of your works in future.
Thanks,
Loshana
tunkuhalim // November 19, 2008 at 4:33 am |
Loshana – I’m glad my book has revived your interest in Malaysian history. History as it is currently taught is not too interesting. I’m glad I wrote to book and your message makes it doubly so. Thanks for your kind comments.
Suji // March 12, 2009 at 3:43 am |
Hi Tunku Halim
I am homeschooling my son in San Jose, CA and wanted to introduce a little history of Malaysia into our days…he’s curious about his roots. I was very very delighted to be informed that you have a children’s book out on Malaysian history. Can’t wait to read it. Thanks!
Suji // March 12, 2009 at 3:51 am |
I’m also linking to Write Lah! on my blogroll…hope that’s okay with you
tunkuhalim // March 12, 2009 at 6:55 am |
Suji – I’m glad you’re going to teach your son Malaysian history as it’s really quite fascinating. The books will be almost impossible to find in the US though. I’d suggest you get someone in M’sia to post one over. Delighted you can blogroll me!
Suji // March 12, 2009 at 4:50 pm |
Thanks for your reply Tunku Halim
Yes I trolled Amazon hoping to find it but couldn’t. It’s sis to the rescue. She virtually lives in an MPH in KL every weekend so hopefully we’ll get our copy soon 
Wei Jean // April 26, 2009 at 3:05 pm |
Dear sir,
I’m doing a creative writing module as part of my undergraduate course here in the UK and I chanced upon your blog in the process of researching for an essay. I’ve chosen to explore the idea of how different languages and cultures influence an author’s style and their approach to the writing process. Being a Malaysian (who has shamefully never read any fiction by Malaysian authors but vows to remedy this error the next time I go home!), I thought it would be interesting to look closer to home in addition to all the usual literature-prize-winning names.
Rather than clutter up your blog with a full explanation of what I’m after, I wonder if you would mind answering a few questions about this via email? If I may trouble you to reply to my email address (jinawee[at]gmail[dot]com), I would be terribly grateful and explain more clearly in my next email. I fully appreciate that you may be busy and understand if you prefer to decline.
Thanks =)
Wei Jean
tunkuhalim // April 30, 2009 at 5:54 am |
Suji – I hope you managed to get it by now!
tunkuhalim // April 30, 2009 at 5:55 am |
Wei Jean – I’m happy to answer any questions you may have. Do drop me an email at tunkuhalim@gmail.com
FiFi // July 13, 2009 at 2:06 pm |
hi Tunku Halim,
im taking TESOL in USM Penang. we are taking a subject about Malaysian authors. due to this, my group and i are very intrested to have an interview with you. pls respond to my request via email. we are very honored to hv you and your work in our project.
thank you a lot!
tunkuhalim // August 25, 2009 at 9:58 am |
FiFi – Thanks for your interest in my writing. Hopefully, we’ll get to meet one day for that interview. All the best!
Puan Rosni bte Hashim // September 2, 2009 at 11:46 pm |
Brovo,Tenku Halim
I am a pasionate lover for children,though now my own had grown up to be mum and young adults. 27 & 26.My personal experience raising both of them in foreign land – JAPAN! for a malaysian mothers is full of challenges.
But the end result comfort my hearts . It is a form of Jihad that most Malaysian mums take it for granted. Your up comming books on children
warms my hearts and those of Malaysian children who deserves to be love intellectualy through the media of books. May the blessing of Allah be with you for the effort.
tunkuhalim // September 4, 2009 at 9:08 am |
Puan Rosni – It must have been so challenging bring the children up in Japan. It is such a different culture there. I’m sure there must have been lots of pluses too! Thank you, so much, for your kind thoughts and words.
Rosni bte Hashim // September 4, 2009 at 11:53 pm |
Please inform me when the children book is out!
tunkuhalim // September 6, 2009 at 8:36 am |
Puan Rosni – Actually, it’s already out in all good bookshops in Malaysia. You can find out more at http://www.historyofmalaysia.net
pakmat // September 24, 2009 at 1:39 pm |
..salam, tunku..just discovered your blog..will try and discover your books, too..never did think of self as a writer..just an oldster who puts his feelings in a blog..
tunkuhalim // September 27, 2009 at 10:44 am |
Pakmat – I do hope you get to enjoy my books. You’re already a writer, if you’re writing! I think being a writer is more of an attitude about yourself and what you really are!