Ridhwan Saidi & Babyrina

Today theSun published a story where I wrote about author Ridhwan Saidi who wrote a crime thriller titled Babyrina  that supposedly revolved around Malaysian woman named Babyrina who started a website where she posted risque picture of herself. His most impressive quote in the interview : If I write a story about goodness, my novel will not sound sincere. I am keen to explore chaos, brutality and violence. I’m curious to know what goes on in the mind of a serial killer. Obsession and perversion are strong energy.”  

Below is the full article. 

Headline : The Online Link 

Author Ridhwan Saidi first heard about the mysterious internet ‘sensation’ Babyrina in his younger days.It was 1996 and this ‘mythical’star was said to have started a website where  she had posted risque pictures of herself. At that time, the internet was at its infancy and Babyrina was said to be studying in the United States.The story goes that when Babyrina wanted  to come to Malaysia in 2001, she was allegedly turned back. According to some sources, she went on to the United Kingdom instead, and soon, disappeared from the public radar and was never heard of again. 
Piqued by her story, Ridhwan decided to write a crime thriller about a serial killer who arranged his dead victims in the same poses that Babyrina had purportedly appeared on her
website. He then decided to name this novel after her.
“I chose to name my novel after her as she is an enigmaticand mysterious character,” says the 29-year-old local boy. 
“Till today, we are not certain if there is any truth to her story. Some said Babyrina might not even be a Malaysian. They claimed she could be a Latin American.
“Now, we do not hear any more stories about her. She has completely disappeared. That made her  even more enigmatic and mysterious.”
Ridhwan said his novel is not a biography on Babyrina. He also denied claims of naming his book after this risque ‘artiste’ to sell more copies of his novel. 
“The young generation of Malaysians today do not know who she is,” he says. “So the title will not help to boost the sale of my book.
“In the past, some of my books have titles such as Stereo Genmai and Mautopia which can be a little avant-garde and people find difficulty in relating to them. So this time around, I decided to use a simpler title.”
He believes Babyrina had more to offer than just her pretty face and her sexy poses. He said he stumbled upon an ‘interview’ where Babyrina purportedly answered queries from her fans and he 
found her answers carry a sense of humour.
Ridhwan also added a scene where Babyrina has a conversation with one of the characters in the novel. But of course, spilling the beans on this particular scene will only spoil the readers’
fun. There are also many turns and twists in the novel that will keep readers turning the page. 
Ridhwan likes to dabble in dark themes and characters such as serial killers, porn stars, incest, violent murders and eccentric personalities in his books. He released his first novel,
Cekik – a suspense thriller about a gory murder case – in 2011.
After Cekik, he started his own publication firm, Moka Mocha Ink, where he published his own works as well as those of other writers. Babyrina is his fifth work of fiction.
“Writers like to explore what is good and what is bad,” he explains
about his penchant for writing crime thrillers.
“If I write a story about goodness, my novel will not sound sincere. I am keen to explore chaos, brutality and violence. I’m curious to know what goes on in the mind of a serial killer. Obsession and perversion are strong energy.”
Surprisingly, Ridhwan had no desire to be an author when young. He was more attracted to images than words. He dabbled in photography and directed a few shorts. Like everyone who makes short films, he also harbours dreams of directing a feature film.
Still, he feels he is too young now to direct a feature film. “I will only direct my first feature film when I am 40 or 50. I want to collect more life experience before sitting in the director’s chair.”
Meanwhile, his next project will see him writing a fiction novel for Fixi, the publishing house that gave him his first break by publishing Cekik.
The novel is due sometime next year. Since it will be called Brazil, Fixi will be sponsoring him for a trip to that country to watch the Fifa World Cup from June 12 to July 12. He will only start on the book after his return.

Footnote: Babyrina, priced at RM20, will be launched at KL Alternative Bookfest (KLAB) and Arts For Grabs this Saturday at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market, in Kuala Lumpur. Ridhwan will be present for a book signing at noon

The author 

The cover of the book

Wan Nor Azriq & D.U.B.L.I. N

Headline: Walking Out His Story  
By Bissme S 

Author  Wan Nor Azriq struck it lucky the first time with his debut novel, D.U.B.L.I.N. The book won the first prize in the novel category of the writing competition, Sayembara Penulisan ITBM- PENA-BH (2013).D.U.B.L.I.N. centres on an ageing and ailing writer, Mr H, who tries to make sense of his current life and his complex relationship with his research assistant, Anita. 
Wan will be coming out with his second novel, Boneka Rusia Guido, next month.The story is a satire on the Malaysian political scene and has a young narrator telling the story of an ambitious political leader and recluse novelist.In this exclusive interview, the 27-year-old shares his views on his writing style, his penchant for elderly characters and also how he became a writer.

*Explain your inspiration for D.U.B.L.I.N., and your style of ‘walking in literature’ where walking is said to have inspired so much great writing?

“Four years ago, I read an article in the Guardian which mentioned a tradition of walking in literature. Many authors love walking and have used their [walks to work out] their writing. Since then, I have done a lot of research on the subject.I walk a lot. I have been walking since high school. My school was quite a distance from my home. I like to daydream and whenever I  walk, it allows me to do that.”

* Is your lead character Mr H based on a real person?

“I have a habit of creating elderly characters in my short stories and novels and I do not know why.There is a part of Mr H in me. I think there is an old man inside me. There is also part of my father in Mr H and I am very close to my father (an English teacher and a self-taught painter).”

* What reactions did you receive for D.U.B.L.I.N.?

“[Some said] my novel is different and has unique structure [while  others said] my novel does not  have a concrete idea. One reviewer said my work is ‘floating between East and West  philosophies’ and it does not have anything worthwhile to say.”

* Some felt D.U.B.L.I.N. is too western and not Malay enough. Any comment?

“I really don’t understand what they meant when they make such comments. When I read a book, I do not think about the book as either eastern or western. For me, I will want to see if I can connect with the book, or the language, or with the story that’s featured and with the characters that the author has presented. For me, there is no nationality in literature."

* You mentioned many famous authors in your book but did not include any local ones.

“The authors I mentioned in my book loved to walk and they used their walking experience in their work. I’m not aware of Malaysian authors who love walking and/or who use their walking experience in their writing. That is the reason [why] I did not include any. I have problems writing something that is close to me. There must be distance between what I write and myself. If I were to include Malaysian authors in my book, it would have been too intimate
and I would not like it.”

* Some have said D.U.B.L.I.N. is a difficult book to read.

“Reading a book is like going to a theme park. If you want to play  simple games,then you can throw darts or enter the ‘haunted houses for some scares. But If you want something more  challenging, then you can take the roller-coaster rides.So if you are looking for something  simple and light, you cannot get it from my book but if you want something complex, you may  enjoy my book.
I think there are more difficult books [to read] than mine. If you think mine is difficult, then don’t read it. I am not saying this in arrogance. I really believe reading  should be something pleasurable. All books are meant to be entertaining.”

* If you have to rewrite D.U.B.L.I.N., would you change anything?

“When I am finished with writing a story, I get detached from the story. I cannot remember what  I have written. Whenever my friends point to some scenes from D.U.B.L.I.N. and  in my short stories, I will be totally in a blur. When I start a new writing project, I want to be as far  away as I can from my old project as I do not want to repeat myself.I will be so immersed in my  new writing project, that I have no emotion left for my old one.”

* Did you always want to be a writer?

“No.I was a science student. Art was alien to me. My girlfriend then loved reading the popular romantic novels. She gave me one to read [and said] the story would make me cry.It is about a wife who learns that her husband has AIDS. But the wife stands by his side till the end. I did weep after reading the novel (laughs). But I also told my girl that I could write a better story than this and that was how I began writing short stories.”

Wan Nor Azriq .... there is no nationality in literature 

His second novel hitting the book shelf 

His debut novel