NAGA TASIK CHINI WORLDWIDE RELEASE : ONLINE

N A G A

A novel by: ninotaziz

• Dear friends and fellow bloggers,
• 
  
• After much anticipation, my first ever novel NAGA is out. This has been a wonderful work of intense collaboration with many. First and foremost my head researcher and editor, my mother, Puan Kamariah Jaafar. Without her, this book would have remained a manuscript. My grandmother first told me the legend of Naga Tasik Chini when I was 11 years old. I am sad that she is no longer with us to share this book.

The dragons on the cover was illustrated by my daughter, Narissia Inas. Despite her busy schedule (she is in her exam year) she did not move from her laptop for two days to get it done. The cover design was done by Apratim and his team from Entercerebrum, India. Finally, the beautiful images in the book portraying the characters from Nagara, China and Bhumi Semenanjung Melayu were illustrated by artist Malek Rahim.

I would like to thank many for inspiring NAGA. Firstly, I thank Mr Lim Beng Teck for suggesting I write a full length story. I would also like to thank blogger Sir Remgold especially who was almost by my side every step of the way despite being in a different country, answering my queries in the middle of the night, wee hours of the morning. Thank you Ayoh Wang and Pakcik Hassan of Al-Manar for a glimpse of life in Terengganu, so essential to the story.  CfS Angelina's Mum gave sound and 'sexy' advice. And my sister Farah Alina was quick to give points on how to engage the reader. And my team at XLibris, Annie Maynard and Jane Cole, thank you for working so hard all the way in Australia.


I would like to acknowledge the tremendous help my daughter Iman offers when I need it, be it her opinion or her expertise.

Finally, my best friend and partner, the man who shares my journey, Rudy Daud. Thank you, Bang.


I hope you enjoy reading NAGA - A Legend of Tasik Chini.

For my daughters
Iman, Inas, Irani, Ilena and Little Ikesha.

• ISBN: 1-4771-2924-3 (Trade Hardback 6x9)
• ISBN13: 978-1-4771-2924-1 (Trade Hardback 6x9)
• ISBN: 1-4771-2923-5 (Trade Paperback 6x9)
• ISBN13: 978-1-4771-2923-4 (Trade Paperback 6x9)

• Pages : 239
• Book Format : Trade Book 6x9
• Subject : FICTION / General
• 
  

Description

 ‘Loyalty and betrayal are the two faces of human nature, 
which give rise to legends that withstand the test of time.’

NAGA spans three realms from the ancient world – Middle Kingdom during the Tang Dynasty, Nagara and Bhumi Semenanjung Melayu. It is the story of three adventurers, Sri Gemom, Srikandi and Kemboja and how fate set their worlds on a collision course that shook the very foundations of an ancient civilisation. More than that, against the background of sorcery and magic, the tragic tale of survival and loyalty shines through.

To purchase : click here
Available as well at Barnes&Noble

Mimpi Onangkiu

Illustration by Malek Rahim

Dalam duri ada api

Dalam api ada bara

Sejak kecil ku bermimpi

Tapak kaki menjejak samudera

Hilang sedih, rindu kembali

Hilang di tengah lautan

Hilang sudah Gellangui

Hilang dari ingatan

Dari mana datangnya sayang

Dari mata turun ke hati

Sudah lama terbayang bayang

Memanggil Tuan Puteri

Satu satunya pujaan mata

Indah berseri di dalam taman

Ratu di Bija Nagara

Masih terkenang kampong halaman

Dian membakar diri

Terang seluruh semesta

Keturunan Melayu sejati

Menzahirkan Raja semua Negara

Copyright 2012 © ninotaziz. All Rights Reserved.

A WONDERFUL DAY AT ATMA

Berita Harian  18thJuly 2012

About two months ago I received this email from Prof Ding Choo Ming, my mentor and friend from the Institute Alam & Tamadun Melayu, UKM (ATMA). "...we would like to invite you to ATMA to give a talk on your experience, technique and skills in telling ancient stories to modern readers.  You are one of the rare tukang cerita now! The tentative date in on the 10th July subject  to the availability of ATMA's director who is going to preside the 2 hours seminar...It is just a small gathering of some fellows from ATMA, some students and of course reporters from our local newspapers...What is different is you are the keturunan jati daripada keturunan tukang cerita yang panjang, maka penuh dengan misteri ... Salam hormat Ding"

I was delighted and humbled to receive this invitation as my association with ATMA over the last six years have been one of friendship and enlightenment. I was a bit worried about what was expected of me. But then, Prof Ding assured me it was a small gathering of minds and told me not to worry.

With Prof Ding Choo Ming at his office

Iman, my eldest daughter who is turning out to be such a wonderful help,  took care of all the details like driving me to UKM, taking care of my books and illustrations (which our dear Sir Remgold  advised me to bring along - Thank you kind Sir)

Receiving a gift to be treasured from Prof Dr Abdul Latif Hj Samian, ATMA Director

Prof Ding's student from Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong

I enjoyed telling them the story Puteri Saadong

HAK, an FB friend, turned up for the event. Apart from writing, we have found another connector - Adiguru Pak Nasir of ASWARA. Pleasure meeting you HAK!

I met writer Nisah Haron at Goodreads Malaysia. Our love for books brought us together!

Dato Zawiyah Baba had already bought Hikayat before the Wacana event.

She was such a delight to talk to.

It turned out that the room was full. After my talk, the audience started asking questions. When each of them introduced themselves, I was a bit shocked. Prof Dr Harun Mat Piah was there - had I known, I would have been very nervous indeed about the talk. Dato Zawiyah Baba. As it is, the talk was a wonderful experience. A student from Hong Kong asked me to tell the story Puteri Saadong. I also told the story of Onangkiu and my version of NAGA.

12th July 2012 was certainly a day etched in my memory. Thank you ATMA!

Friends and Family at the Book Release

 Thank you for coming, everyone!

Hikayat Babies

With Shazlin, my friend since Seri Puteri days

and her kids, Kalia, Tuah and Nisha. Where are you Putra?

With Yolanda, a gem of a friend

With Damien, an old friend and writer

and Ruben (far left)

Sisters, Khadijah and Farah

with Mum

Seri Puteri gang again

Dearest Habs and Uyun who just arrived from Hong Kong the same day.

The Rantau Panjang clan

Thank you Eita (middle front),

my sister in law who arranged the exhibition

With Kak Mah
the eldest cousin in the family

Crookshanks

Ilena was besotted with gamelan

Introducing Srikandi Inrasara

of upcoming book, NAGA - A Legend of Tasik Chini


A short video-clip on the book launch

The Hikayat Book Launch

Welcome to our home
Happy Birthday Abang!

Presenting Hikayat

Gamelan break

Book Signing

With Mum and editor of Hikayat
Puan Kamariah Jaafar

My life and raison d'etre!



AN INVITATION FROM ATMA

Wish me luck!


I have been invited by the National University of Malaysia, UKM, to speak on Hikayat's journey.

I would like to thank Prof Ding Choo Ming of ATMA for his support and encouragement.

Kosmo : On The Cover

Can you see that smile?

My only hope is that more people

read Hikayat.

HIKAYAT : THE UNOFFICIAL PHOTOS

The morning after, the scent of lilies reminded me that the book launch did happen. It wasn't a dream and the most important people were there either physically or in spirit, with me. My family and friends, and the people who made it all happen - my mother, Pn Kamariah Jaafar who worked on Hikayat as well, Fuzana, my editor  from Utusan and En Malek, to whom the exhibition was dedicated to.

Moments like these are best shared with family - hubby Rudy and daughters, Narissia Inas, Nadessia Ilena, Nafertari Ikesha, Naquessia Irani and Natassia Iman.


Iman, together with Inas and good friend, Alysha were in charge of registration, book sales, press kits. They did a marvelous job. Thank you girls!

Hanif, Iman's classmate during their Form Five days, was the official photographer. We are waiting for his expert shots. That's Goki, on the right, one of my favourites from Iman's former class also. Likewise, I am pretty sure I am his favourite Aunty.

Inas and Alysha with their friends and my extra hands whenever I have small events at home. Hakeem, who is not in this photo, is doing digital illustrations for my future book on Dragons and Serpents (2013). My sister in law, Wan Rosnita arranged the illustrations for the exhibition and she too, did a fine job indeed!

My gamelan performance



My upcoming book

NAGA - A Legend Of Tasik Chini

(August 2012)

Cover illustration  by Narissia Inas

Design by my good friend and associate  Apratim Mukhopadhyay of Enter Cerebrum, India

Thank you, everyone!

Next segment : The official blogpost of the Hikayat Book Launch, Exhibition and Gamelan Promise.

ninotaziz on HIKAYAT

My stand on the Malay Hikayat

ARTIST MALEK RAHIM ADDS MAGIC TO HIKAYAT

 En Malek is satisfied with Hikayat and has just finished 

his illustration for my next project : NAGA

En Malek Rahim's sketches of Malay dancers and Kadazan warriors are regularly featured at the Butterfly Park souvenir shop at the Lake Gardens. After a long happy but weary day with the girls, I found myself staring at these beautiful black and white illustrations and fell in love with the obvious detail, care and love that went into these drawings.

The shop assistants had the artist's phone number but they warned me that En Malek was a bit shy. They gave me his number as I was insistent. That was seven years ago. Since then, En Malek has illustrated four of my books From The Gathering, SRIKANDI, HIKAYAT and NAGA. Each book had a different style but all unmistakable in their homage to our culture.

ILLUSTRATIONS FROM HIKAYAT

 Panji Semirang

En Malek started out in design work for the textile industry for 15 years and then left to venture into illustrations that portray Malaysian scenes. He is reticent about his art and yet would be fiercely vocal about my work, encouraging me to ensure it becomes accepted and widely read. Our partnership is strengthened by our mutual  love for the Hikayat and we would both comment on each other's work without reserve until we get the results we are both satisfied with.

An avid reader and observer of past designs and artwork, En Malek would bring me books to study especially when he finds collections of his father's own Hikayat books. I am blessed to have En Malek as a partner and I hope the rest of the world would also one day appreciate this quiet unassuming man's artwork for the genius that it is.

Putri Saadung

Thank you En Malek.

Why I wrote Hikayat

Our Malay Hikayats deserve to be on the world stage along side all other great epics of the world.

I am ninotaziz daughter of Abang Tik daughter of Chu Rahmah daughter of Yangchik daughter of Bebunga. And I remember the stories being told night after night, grandmother to granddaughter to granddaughter.

Our history spans more than a millennia. And there is certainly a continuum of history that is preserved through the very legends of the land.

We have inherited a legacy of a myriad of legends, as rich and exciting as the Greek mythology or as revered as the Ramayana poems of Valmiki and yet sadly - these classical works are fast disappearing. Many of our Malay Hikayat originated from a Sultan’s wish to record his royal lineage. The Sejarah Melayu, Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa and Misa Melayu are examples of this. The origin of Sejarah Melayu or the Sulalat us Sulatin may never be uncovered but throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, versions were zealously updated, it was time consuming work, each volume faithfully copied by hand.

Professor Dr Ding Choo Ming of ATMA, UKM says:

Dua perkara penting telah dinyatakan dalam definisi itu [classical Malay manuscripts]. Pertama, media karya sastera itu ialah manuskrip. Ia lahir di celah-celah tradisi lisan dan percetakan. Kedua, karya itu lahir di istana dan bukan daerah pedalaman dengan sastera lisan berkembang dan diperkembangkan.”

There are also astounding works of literature, which language is beautiful and cosmopolitan in nature. This is because, the Malay cultural revolution and classical literature were shaped throughout a period of changing influences which fused effortlessly in the region. Buddhist tenets during the Srivijaya empire and Hindu teachings during the Majapahit kingdoms pretty much found deep roots in the Nusantara existent until today. Our epic legends are collaborated in other classical text especially in Java, China throughout the 13th to the 17th centuries and more modern writers in the 18th and 19th. When Portuguese traveler Tomes Pires of the 16th century in his Somu Oriental recounted the story of Parameswara from Palembang who commanded his Orang Laut, his version closely corresponded to that of the Malay Annals which alludes that the descendents of Seri Teri Buana of Palembang founded Singapore and Melaka.

Then Islam arrived as part of the Muslim world expansion. In the medieval period of Islam up to the 14th century, the Muslims led the world in their pursuit of knowledge and in science. Muslim scholars were aggressively studying Greek, Persian, Egyptian, Indian, and Chinese documents, amassing huge libraries and making astounding discoveries in astronomy and mathematics. Muslims were also purveyors of stylized art and literature.In this way, the Islamic influence extended to our shores, and, to our literature. This is where the word hikayat originated. Some epics such as Hikayat Hang Tuah actually bear witness to this transition from Hindu influences in the beginning to Islam in the ending.

Historian, Prof Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim elaborates on the term hikayat:

Although the word sejarah has long existed in Malay vocabulary, hikayat was more widely used. Many historical works tended to focus on the genealogies of ruling families-these were called salasilah. When history appeared in verse form, it was also known as syair. The term hikayat indeed tends to imply that, in traditional Malay thinking, history was not punctiliously distinguished from literature.

There is no doubt, the world found the Malay epics fascinating study. Though R.O. Winstedt was critical, he was totally dedicated to the study of the Malay romances and sought to collect many of the surviving books. Amin Skinner, Teeuw and Shellbear poured over the Malay manuscripts, studying its content and influences. Today, 151 libraries and museums in 28 countries hold the bulk of the old manuscripts.

We need to bring forth these epic legends through theatre, story telling and books and other media, especially movies.

Why?

For one, these legends are priceless and part of the world’s intangible heritage, just as monumental as any historical structure such as Cambodia’s Angkor Wat and Java’s Borobodur. In the intricacies of our classical literature, we will rediscover a civilization so cosmopolitan and complex.

It is high time we gave it its due worth and recognition.

I am Zalina daughter of Abdul Aziz, son of Tok Muda Salehuddin, son of Tok Awang Pekan, son of Tok Nik son of Tok Tunggal son of Tok Ghafur son of Tok Haji son of Tok Sabur. And my mission is to see that these classics come back to the main stream and flourish.

Review by The Malaysian Reader
Review by Sir PokDeng
Review by Nisah Haron

__________________________________________________________

Next segment : Malek Rahim - The artist who brought the Malay World to life

HIKAYAT

Available online at www.mybooks.com.my

Alhamdulillah.

I just came back from Utusan Publishers office. Picked up Hikayat hot off the printing press.

A bit teary and wondrously happy that Hikayat is finally printed and should be in the bookstores at the end of the month or so.

I have so many people to thank. First and foremost my Mum, Puan Kamariah Jaafar who edited and wrote introductions for each story in hikayat. My late grandmother, for telling me the stories all those years until she passed away. The last story we shared over and over again was NAGA Tasik Chini. MrsKhaw Choon Ean is the most loved English teacher by her students at Seri Puteri - I can't thank her enough for encouraging and nurturing my love for poetry. To these three strong women, I owe my chosen life vocation to reviving interest in the Malay Hikayat in this format.

I would like to thank Prof Ding Choo Ming of ATMA, UKM, Prof Tan Sri Khoo Kay Kim and Adiguru Pak Nasir for their feedback and guidance while I was writing Hikayat.

This book was truly the result of hardwork by so many people. YM Raja Toh Puan Raja Teh Zaitun Raja Kamarulzaman inspired the title Hikayat, Datin Vasanthi coordinated the lay-out, Evelyn Lam did the design, Ram, Iman and Inas did research and proofreading. The beautiful cover art by Raduan Man and illustrations by Malek Rahim took the book to another level.

Many years ago, Jit Murad said to me, if you want to write a book, make sure it is something important. Make it big! His kind words of encouragement still stay with me until today.

Two people have been there for me when Hikayat was just an idea, waiting to be written. Until today, these two wonderful people God has chosen to include in my life stand by me - my editor, Noor Fuzana Yaakub and my husband, Rudy Daud. Without them, I would not have had the strength to continue this journey of discovery of the Ancient Malay Kingdoms - Hikayat.

I thank God for the blessings I have received.

NAGA

I would like to apologize to all my blogger friends. I have been totally away from the blogosphere for a while. The truth is I am consumed with writing my first ever novel. It is entitled NAGA and is just about finalized. The editing process is about to begin.

I would like to thank a few people who have helped me with this 'project', more like life-long dream. First and foremost, my Mum, Puan Kamariah Jaafar, who is still going through the whole manuscript, editing and adding many layers of detail, crucial to making this the story it is. Our late night discussions back and forth is a test to see whether we have thought through the storyline fully. Next, the 'brutal' Remgold from across the border, Cat-In-Sydney, Ayoh Wang , Pakcik from Al-Manar who will deny he had anything to do with this and Audrey Danasamy all the way in Ho Chi Minh City.

There is still quite a bit to be done. But please bear with me. In the meantime, here are some illustrations for the book, done by my dedicated and genius partner in crime, En Malek. I thank him from the bottom of my heart for his belief in my work and for interpreting my stories so marvelously. En Malek Rahim has done the illustrations for four of my books, and he still amazes me.

I know this list will continue to grow in the upcoming months - thank you Prof Ding Choo Ming from ATMA UKM, Mr Lim Beng Teck from Vision-plus, Fuzana from Utusan Publishers and Annie Maynard from XLibris.

Last but not least, thank you Rudy - the love of my life and best friend.

Some characters in NAGA

Her Majesty Po Inu Nagara

Prime Minister Po Gadeng

Copyright 2012 © zalina abdulaziz @ ninotaziz

Terengganu Treasures

The truth is, I found a million treasures in Terengganu. The friendship, the skies, the sea-shells - the sound of waves roaring in the night. I will write about that later for I need more than an hour to relate it all down.

For now, I will share my absolute delight in this single extravagant purchase I made in Pasar Payang, Kuala Terengganu, an authentic brass kuali. I used it for the first time today, and it was an experience that made me tear a little.

When I was a little girl, my grandma cooked our rice in a beautiful brass pot. I took that pot for granted, not realizing it was a heritage of our past. Now I know I will never need a non-stick super frying pan anymore. This brass kuali of mine somehow ensures that the oil is heated up evenly and the splash of the oil hardly rises higher than the pan. It is non-stick and gives me the added pleasure of connecting with my past!

Looking at the golden brass pot, being in the kitchen was pure pleasure (I hated cooking) and a trip down memory-lane.

Sigh...

Kittens : From porch to pot

Exactly a week ago, Ilena and I were on our own at home. Rudy was in Kelantan with Ikesha, Inas and Irani, at Grandma's and Iman at college. I was making Ilena her favorite dessert, bubur jagung when she came over and whispered, "Don't look Mak. Sasha is having her baby."

"Where is she?" I asked, slightly panicky. "In her basket,"said Ilena, quite coolly.

Now Sasha had refused for weeks to get into that basket I prepared for her pending kittens. I took a peek and there she was, spreadeagled in the basket, looking bewildered. She was a first time Mom and obviously did not know what to expect.

Half way through the first kitten, she ran out of the house, hid under the misai kucing bush and proceeded to the porch. I was so afraid she would run out the gate. I called out to her and she hesitated. She stopped by the car. I went closer and held her (gingerly...her kitten was dangling out, I was terrified), finally she agreed to lie down. Soon kitten no 1 was born.

I stood up to get her basket. and she stood up too. I could see she did not want me to move so I stayed with her. Sat on the floor for an hour. Stroked her neck and generally calmed her down again. Her eyes glazed then, kitten no 2 popped out. This time Sasha knew exactly what to do, stayed still and relaxed.

I could see she was more at ease so I quickly went inside to get the basket and some clean rags. After a while I transferred Sasha and the two kittens into the basket and put them all under my writing desk.



Ilena was so happy. She said, "Today is the happiest day of my life Mak. Just the two of us and Sasha gave birth. It is so special!" It was a special day. Ilena and I actually had mandi serum that morning. Followed by me making spaghetti and bubur jagung just for her. She was really content.

I was worried about Sasha, she was too young to be a mother. I was afraid she would abandon the kittens so I took care not to touch any of them. She was exemplary. The whole night she did not leave the basket and in the morning, when I woke up, she looked terribly thin and parched. I gave her water and her cat food. She went back directly to her babies. Lo and behold, by morning, there were four of them!

The next day, I switched on the fan. The minute the light breeze hit the kittens, they started meowing away. I immediately switched off the fan. Sasha gave me a stare and picked up one kitten, surveying the room. Finally she went into this flower pot. I sighed, removed my beautiful plant and there the kittens have been for the last six days. I hope she doesn't move them anymore.

Oh, they are adorable. A good thing Ikesha was away the first three days. Now every morning, it is difficult to tear her away from the pot to get ready for kindergarten!

___________________________________________

No, Crookshanks has not been allowed in the house for long periods. Poor Crookshanks, he is really the gentlest of cats but we are too scared to take the chance. Sasha and Crookshanks will be spayed soon so this should be a one time experience.

A most beautiful experience, i must say.

Alhamdulillah.

Guest Writer : Stafford Ray

I would like to introduce my special guest writer and good friend, Stafford Ray from Sydney, Australia. With his permission, I have reproduced his excellent article, In The Loop which subject matter is, to me, of great interest to all of us.

When I was a little girl living in Tasmania, my Mum's landlord and foster mother, Mrs Ruth Bowling often took care of me. Her logic was crystal clear. And her wit, simply marvelous.

How wonderful now that I have met Stafford on-line. Stafford reminds me of my Mrs Bowling. An amazing writer, Stafford puts thoughts into delicious chunks of concepts that all of us can understand. He cuts into the subject matter with clarity. I wish politicians would stop their rhetoric and read what Stafford has to say.

And borrow his amazing wit at times!

Stafford blogs here.

____________________________________________________

In the Loop

I am worried about Jim.

Jim is in an outer loop of the economy, a very precarious place to be. But first let me explain ‘loops’.

Primary Producers are at the centre where all loops begin. They grow and raise food so they are not working in an expendable industry. My maternal grandfather was a farmer who used horses for everything from hauling logs to powering the sulky that took him and Grandma to town. But that all changed when he bought a tractor. Tractors do not eat grass and do not self propagate, so his purchase started a second line of loops that include tractor manufacturers, whose demand for materials created the next level of loops of miners, oil drillers, refiners, service mechanics, you get the picture.

More tractor manufacturers joined in so dealerships sprang up and new loops were formed that managed sales for manufacturing, a services not directly producing food or an object we can see and feel. But soon the dealer no longer had time to sweep out his showroom so he hired a cleaner and yet another loop was created.

Then the cleaner became so busy he hired Jim’s Pooch Grooming Service and now, every Thursday morning, Deefer gets a wash and a brush, her claws trimmed and anal glands expressed and yet another class of loops was added. We need these loops to create employment as productivity increases and industry continues to automate but we now have more people in outer loops than inner loops and it is these outer loops that are first to go when money gets tight.

Outer Loop jobs depend on our discretionary dollar. They include restaurant staff, tour operators and Jim’s Mowing, the specialist BBQ cleaner and I must not leave out the busty blonde who bursts into the blue-collar work place in her van offering espresso coffee and hot pies to blokes who gather around to admire her legs and torso while spending twenty times the cost of a cut lunch and thermos of coffee.

When the Great Depression peaked in the late 30’s, over half the population here worked on the land so when sons and daughters lost their town jobs they came home where there was a cow to milk, some chooks for eggs, a few fruit trees and a veggie patch so they did not starve and were hale and healthy when the economy recovered.

Now, Agriculture here in Oz employs less than one in forty so where do our sons and daughters go if unemployment hits 30% or worse?

We are facing fundamental and worldwide shifts in energy, environment, population and wealth distribution. We need a survival plan and leaders to explain it and guide us through it.

It seems they are here, but their voices are being drowned out by populists of the Right, who insist the Market (that gave us the 2007 GFC) will fix it and the Left which seems more interested in same sex marriage. Both are aided and abetted by media continuing to direct our attention to which celeb is cheating on whom, obscuring the fact we are in crisis and desperately in need of a global plan and a social contract to deliver it.

That mix of undermined respect for leaders, voyeurism, platitudes, scandal and lies leaves us confused. Confusion leads to anger and so we get Greece. What happened when the Greek Government tried to bite the bullet and balance its budget? Opposition voices condemned the austerity measures so people became confused then angry and then rioted.

Political opportunists are popping up everywhere as they do whenever we are in crisis and some of them are talking war. Should we be surprised? Of course not.

War will drag our attention away from their appalling economic management and the diminishing habitat of the brown breasted miniature whistling duck! To fight each other is in our genes so war it will be and our last chance to address the issues of environment, energy and population will be abandoned.

Are we really that stupid?

......................

Note: No disrespect is intended towards the many good people who work in service industries, including Jim's franchises. I am really concerned for their futures, as I am for Humanity as a whole.

________________________

More loops from Stafford here http://staffordray.blogspot.com/2012/02/more-loops.html.