It's my pleasure to introduce the work of first-time Insignia Stories contributor, Ismim Putera. Please enjoy his poem, 'Si Tenggang the Sailor', inspired by a Southeast Asian folktale. Si Tenggang the Sailor Ismim Putera Si Tenggang yearns for the seawater washes his thighssalt encrusts on his facesands in his eyeshe is a weeping statuefossilised from... Continue Reading →
INSTINCTS #15: ‘Bloodwork Mandarins’ by Deborah Wong
Happy November everyone! This month's INSTINCTS poem comes from Malaysian writer and recent Horror Matsuri contributor, Deborah Wong. Enjoy 🙂 Bloodwork Mandarins Deborah Wong for the executed wandering spirits I’d weaved too many ancestors dreams,succulent and salty blood in drips,land being stolen, drenched in mad fears,the fate is to erase history—colossal of wishesin flames and... Continue Reading →
HORROR MATSURI #4: ‘House #197, Argyll Road’ by Deborah Wong
I hope you're all enjoying Horror Matsuri so far! Today we have a horror story by Malaysian writer, Deborah Wong. Deborah was featured in our Author Spotlight earlier this week, and is a contributor in the Southeast Asian Fantasy Drabbles anthology (links follow the story). HOUSE #197, ARGYLL ROAD by Deborah Wong Beware of the... Continue Reading →
INS2020 Excerpt #2: ‘The Craving’ by Tutu Dutta
I've wanted to work with Tutu Dutta for ages, so thrilled to have her story 'The Craving' in our reprint anthology, Insignia 2020: Best Asian Speculative Fiction! Hope you enjoy this teaser... THE CRAVING By Tutu Dutta Excerpt: The afternoon warmed. When the sun set and enveloped the peaceful valley in a warm... Continue Reading →
INSTINCTS #2: ‘Graveyard Shift’ by Kim Whysall-Hammond
Welcome to our second INSTINCTS publication: a free-style poem by new contributor, Kim Whysall-Hammond. Kim says the poem was inspired by Malaysian folktales told to her by a friend. Enjoy! Graveyard shift In old Malay, draped in forest lies heat swamped George Town along tree lined avenues abandoned colonial mansions forsaken, cracked, diminished irrelevant... Continue Reading →
BOTW: ‘Phoenix Song’ by Tutu Dutta
Recently I met (online) Malaysian-based author, Tutu Dutta, and discovered her wonderful fairytale-like stories. Her latest book is featured below, but please check out her YA and middle-grade readers as well. Phoenix Song by Tutu Dutta Blurb: Arohan is desperate for a guitar. What eight year old boy isn’t? So when Arohan’s grandmother gives him... Continue Reading →