2009 Publications

For the year 2009, there are two novels waiting to be published.

We Are Who We Are consists of seven stories interviewed from the marginalized community. Each story has its own unique “come into being” situation where many of us would just shrug the shoulders and take it as “one of the usual stories.”

If only we take the trouble to find out more, we will definitely learn more about compassion among fellow brothers and sisters. They have not asked for sympathy but understanding and the respect they are entitled to, to live their lives without judgmental attitude.


1. Tears Of Love

It is about a girl in her late teen was infected by her HIV husband. In her mid-forties today, she went through tough times with excruciating pain physically and emotionally. It is a heart-wrenching true story that could bring tears to her story told. Living her life in recluse, she has found solace with God for strength and the courage to accept what has become of her.


2. My Virginity-My Life

Her whole life was in turmoil when she realized that her boyfriend had cheated her of her virginity. Raised from a conservative family and her academic performance deteriorated, she left her Form Six for the city to look for a job. When financial constraints prevailed, she went for the alternative – to trade her young flesh for survival.


3. The Pricky-Dicky Talk

Having a chance to talk to the gays is an experience to look into the life they have been living. How they have come to accept their emotional changes are most intriguing. They have no bones to pick with anyone but to live and accept the life they are born with. Their courage to “open up” rather than to be hypocritical about it has earned my respect. The interview is filled with laughter and sexual innuendoes.


4. The Cry Of A Silent Voice

In the seventies, she was suddenly faced with an unexpected turn in her life. With a son and being the eldest in the family, the sudden demised of her spouse had led her to sell her body. After three decades in the sex trade she had to hang up her boots for good. Living a moderate life from the savings she has, she could still depend on herself. In her fifties now, she is a proud grandmother. Just like anyone else, she has her painful past too but of a different kind.



5. The Hanging Guavas Of The Loin

Male sex workers are not easily deciphered unlike their counterparts. They have their connections with those who want to be physically connected for sexual connection over the agreed connecting fees. The modus operandi is suspenseful and the risks they take could cost them their lives. How a younger man is able to perform sexually with an older woman has nothing to do with age and looks in such trade. To them it is in the state of the mind and their pride in such profession they have chosen. How he could make her feel wanted and satisfied within the four walls is up to the readers to find out in this chapter of the book.


6. In A Brave New World

Lesbianism is far more acceptable than man-to-man relationship we may think. It is untrue. Both these groups suffer the same fate in our judgmental society – to be despised, names calling and the worst of all ostracism. Why? Is it because they are different from the “normal” people? Are they not the children of the Almighty? The fact to the matter is that they did not ask to be born in that way. People who think of their “superiority” because they are “normal” over them, I guess they have to think harder. Having met and talked to this loving couple has brought a new understanding about “she and her” relationship. They have adopted a child (legally) and live a happy life. It is all about chemistry that works in a wondrous way.


7. The Feminine Touch

Transgender too has the societal right to live his life by dressing, acting and talking like a female. The spiteful comments and intimidating stares have become a way of life to them. They cry too for being born different and how they are subjugated by the cruel society is the difficult battle they have to fight for themselves. Employment opportunity is practically zero and what about their survival? What is their alternative then? This chapter is written with a tinge of anger after listening to their plights as a human being. Ostracizing them is one thing but to treat them like thrash is just too much!


Author’s Note

After compiling each story, it took me quite a while to digest what has come from the horse’s mouth. It really hurts! It is not that I am more compassionate or more understanding but as a person like anyone else. The difference is that I have spoken to them and took the interest to know them better because we are sharing the same small world.



My interest is in writing but it may not be yours. So, We Are Who We Are should be a good read to take a peek into the world of the marginalized community.

The excerpts from each story compiled from the interviews will be published and your thought about the contents will be most welcome.


The second novel is a fictional story entitled City Mongoose is about a retired man who had finally found time to indulge in his hobby – bird watching. From his binoculars he saw a travelling bag been flung near to where his motor-cycle was parked among the bushes. It was a bag filled with ill-gotten gains!