Bubbly Minds 20 From Book Hater to Best Selling Author 21 A Bookworm’s Sweet Spot

Bubbly Minds

As far as origin stories go, the tale of Parabelle Studios is at first glance a cute one. You would however, be quite amiss for judging this group of creatives by that cover alone. This is because despite the artwork of their first published book obviously having a stronger appeal to a young female audience (it gave me Little Mermaid kind of vibes) – not only is the nature of the story one of relevance to all Bruneians, but Parabelle’s overarching goal is an admirable one.

After taking the time to pop the many titular bubbles floating around the heads of Parabelle themselves, it becomes evidently clear that the group’s founder, Tina Afiqah, is a lady with a plan. Backed up by Sarah Halim, Azra Hasnan, and Dayah Azhar – who all round off this solid roster of girl power in their roles as writers, artists, animators, and musicians – this is a grouping with the potential to boost reading culture in Brunei.

A bookworm with a love of everything Disney, Tina spent many years living in New Zealand, the UK, and South Korea before returning to Brunei. Rediscovering her heritage, she enjoyed learning about the myriad array of myths, legends, and folklore associated with the diverse cultures populating the island. She did not enjoy the realisation that the stories forming the essence of Dayak tribal groups in Brunei such as the Iban, Dusun and Murut for example, were either not being appreciated to the degree they should be, or were being disregarded entirely altogether

by the younger generation.

Enter ‘The Bubble Princess and The Stone Heart’, a modern-day retelling of two 16th Century folklore tales known as ‘Lela Mencanai and Jong Batu’. Presented in a hip, new light to captivate the younger generation, what was once viewed by kids as ‘one of those boring tales grandpa used to tell us’, is transformed into a story of adventure that reignites a proud appreciation of their cultural history.

With their first batch of 400 books completely sold out, Parabelle has begun collaborating with the Jerudong International School to turn the story into a musical by 2023. Its second book, ‘Bubbly Thoughts of the Stone Hearted’, covers poetry, peribahasa, and quotes, and interestingly material was contributed by 14 writing advocates who were fans of the first book. Already, Tina is rewriting the entire story so she can present it as a second edition because you know, perfectionists need to do perfectionist things. With a ‘Frog beneath the Shell’ children’s book launched, and illustrator Azra currently working on a book for the studio too, Parabelle is certainly keeping themselves busy. With 50% of their sales going to the Paws Up Centre for helping strays, Parabelle earns major biG brownie points with us. •• IG: @Parabelle.studios

biG: You mention that writers must remember they are writing for the public. Do you find yourself consciously editing your creative process?

CO: Yes, if that is their goal for writing. Writing for personal growth, however, has no rules! I have to consider a lot of things when writing for the public such as omitting controversial, sensitive, and religious content in order to reach a wider audience. I'm just thinking about distribution, distribution, distribution. We've sold about 30,000 poetry books so far since my company's inception in 2016 and only when I have a large enough voice, I would then be more daring to write about more controversial matters.

From Book Hater to Best Selling Author

It seems almost impossible, when you look through all of Charissa Ong’s publishing achievements and remember that she is just shy of 25 years. The statistic? 30,000 books sold under her five-year-old Malaysian publishing house, Penwings, reaching and winning coveted spots on the best-sellers list and for best cover design. Her 2016 debut ‘Midnight Monologues’ is an illustrious poetry collection succeeded by ‘Daylight Dialogues’ and ‘Poetry and Short Stories: A Practice Book’. She began writing and reading to heal from her college heartbreak, later becoming encouraged to publish her work by fans on Instagram. Disappointing rejections and responses from Malaysian publishers frustrated her so much that she decided to literally do it herself. With two Southeast Asian authors under Penwings – the sky’s the limit for her burgeoning empire.

•• IG: @penwingspublishing @cotypoems

biG: How did the Twilight books enable you to move from being a self-professed book hater, to the avid reader and writer you are today?

CO: The grammar she used was simple enough for me to understand and challenging enough for me to want to learn their definitions. It has a low barrier of entry and I feel many people in this day and age can relate. I do the same with my books where I begin with short poems and then progressively increase the length to prose and then short stories to instill a love for reading in these book haters (like myself).

biG What does your ideal reading nook and situation look like?

CO: Just my couch, and hot tea. I could stay there for 8 hours at a time, with naps in between. I read on trains, in long queues and on beaches too. I always have a book in my hand wherever I go.

biG: Has your love for music and composing influenced your decision to write poetry? Are there any pieces you have turned into actual songs or vice versa?

CO: Yes! I had a piece called 'Missing Melody' where I launched a competition on social media to see who can layer a melody over the lyrics I wrote. I also compose songs for clients, freelance. I see all my work as songs, that's why I value rhyming so much. It has a sense of magic and nostalgia to them.

biG: Did the design course you enrolled in play any role in your publishing house?

CO: The twinning programme was a collaboration between my college and the University of Hertfordshire. The only thing I used from my studies is the logo from the personal branding module where I had to create a name card, resume, etc for my project. The Penwings Logo. I had no dreams to publish at all until I graduated college and started to write more on my personal blog. I thought I was going to be a short stories writer! But it's much easier to write poetry, commitment-wise.

biG: You have admitted that English books are still the preferred market to sell in. Do you foresee that changing in the future?

CO: I'm fluent in English (it's my first language) and Bahasa Malaysia. My Chinese is about the same level as my French - beginner to intermediate. Books can always be translated, so language isn't quite a big concern to me. It's just that it's a bit tricky with poetry when things tend to be lost in translation. People are becoming more empathetic, closer, and curious in this day and age. I can still see English being used as a medium to connect us all around the world. Until translation services and software get better of course.

Well, well. What do we have here? Situated on the first floor of the Higher Complex in Kiulap, and down a narrow corridor, is a space that epitomises one young lady’s passion for literature. Before I begin this brief story and flip to page 1, I feel the need to mention that as a bookworm myself, and against the context of life in Brunei, never did I expect to see a concept such as this given physical, tangible form. Thank goodness for those among us blessed with that pioneering spirit that pushes them to take such a leap of faith, because honestly, our Sultanate is made a richer place for it.

The Honey Book Store, while being quite a small space is an intimate spot filled with a warm energy and vibe conducive to lovers of stories. While other mediums such as movies, TV series, as well as video games come equipped with good writing and a variety of interesting plots, the greatest source of storytelling comes from the spine bound pages of the humble book. With an efficient online reservation system in place, clientele can book single-hour slots to escape the hustle and bustle of life at this nook for much needed private, quiet time with a good book.

Tea is always on offer in a dimly lit space where rows of fairy lights stretch across the shelves of four display cabinets, illuminating the colour-coded contents populating their shelves. Miscellaneous items occupy the upper limits, while colourful cushions rest against the lower. A single reading chair and side table are by the entrance, and if the weather is favourable, there is an outdoor area too. If you enjoy looking at aesthetic bookstagram accounts on IG, this place qualifies. Currently there is a 4-person limitation, but that might rise slightly in the future in tandem with small events that can be held here. Already, 2 bridal showers between small tight-knit groups of friends have taken place, as well as a ‘get-toknow-our-cats’ charity event. This cat daddy approves.

As a young girl whose mother was often found flipping through page after page; Sally picked up reading as a pastime as a means to create a meaningful connection, and it worked, as their relationship grew from this. Exposed to myriad writers and genres galore, their imaginations created a medium for both an escape from reality in works of fiction as well as practical real-life lessons that could be learnt and implemented in everyday reality.

On a mission to promote a better reading culture nationwide, Sally used to help with the Big BWN Project by reading to young children at Kampong Ayer and Pusat Bahagia students too. Have you ever seen those Book Donation & Adoption boxes which can be found at several cafes nationwide? She set that up. Have you heard of Books Beyond Brunei? An online service bringing in publications upon request for you delve into. Yup, Sally again. So, the next time an urge to buy a book or desire to read in a new spot arises, consider this sweet spot. •• Open: 10am-6pm (Tues-Sun) IG: @thehoneybn @Booksbeyondbrunei booksbeyondbrunei.com

A Bookworm’s Sweet Spot