Stories From Litopia
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Nationhood Found
I was starting to get used to the idea that Romania was the land of my ancestors. Those...
Christmas on the Equator
I’m often asked, “Do you celebrate Christmas over there in Borneo?” The official answer is “Yes, we do.”...
After 65 Decembers
. In August, he smiled at the memories of 65 Decembers, and put away his razor. . Throughout...
Sunnyside: A Man Without a Country
I had good reason to believe Poland was "my" country; cashiers in Polish grocery stores would speak to...
Hooks
It’s the word I keep encountering again and again when listening to interviews with agents and publishers, especially...
Not an Ode to Howl
I am privileged to belong to the Thursday Ladies of Letters, a writers' group in Kota Kinabalu. It's...
Still Singing Those Songs
I caught a sad news item concerning one of my music icons: Jimmy Cliff, who died at the...
Livers, and Maybe Gizzards Too
American street food keeps getting re-invented: oysters, tripe soup, and chicken gizzards get replaced by hot dogs and...
If Genres Were Dating
Sci-fi's office, its walls lined with the concept art of unbuilt cities. The Director watches Sci-fi brandish spreadsheets....
November – Brussels Sprouts
For a long time, I thought Lancaster County didn’t have a rush hour. It turns out that before...
The Stillness of a Spellbound Audience
I like collecting. Mostly things like pens, books, spices and tropical fevers, but lately also “lean-in” moments. These...
Under the Influence of Irving – A Review of Queen Esther
Queen Esther, John Irving, Simon & Schuster, 2025, pp. 432 I’ve just finished reading the new John Irving novel,...
The Terrifying Tarap
Tropical fruits are a diverse bunch. On the one hand, we've got pineapples and passionfruit, mangos and mangosteen,...
Then Someone Said
. I thought I’d play the rapping game: words in rhythm (no chance of gain). . Shyness prevailed,...
The Language Of Place
Pimp, dick, bumfit admittedly sounds well dodgy. Or at least it does if you don’t live in these...
If the Protagonist Had Slept in
The PROTAGONIST’S room. Chapter One’s bloodstained clothes still cover the floor. The DIRECTOR stands in the doorway, exasperated....
A Fresh Start
There comes a point in life* when you must admit that you were wrong. A story is trundling...
The Book They Actually Wanted
Writers need feedback, and I have found the perfect focus group*. It offers raw, physical reactions, delivered with...
