Page 9 - 03/2022 PULSE@FASS e-Bulletin

Issue no. 3 | 2022

Lloyd Fernando Seminar Series

By Assoc. Prof. Dr Carol Leon

On 23rd September Rosalind is also an author of 14 non-fiction titles and an
2022, the English illustrated children’s book, Twee & the Mysterious Howl.
Department played Her online talk titled “Getting Published in the UK &
host to Rosalind Chua Malaysia – a comparison and some practical tips” looked at
for the Lloyd Fernando the differences and similarities in the publishing industry in
Seminar Series. Ms both countries. She also talked about the need for aspiring
Chua is a publishing Malaysian authors who write in English to be more
professional with 25 proactive and industry-savvy.
years of industry
experience. A history Finally, she outlined some practical tips for making
graduate from the successful submissions to publishers and literary agents.
University of Durham, Rosalind Chua The session which started at 10.30 am went on for almost
UK, Rosalind, upon graduation, worked for seven years two hours as the audience asked thoughtful questions
with various London-based publishers. On returning to about the local publishing industry, themes and issues in
Malaysia, she set up Clarity Publishing. Together with a current local literature as well as the challenges in trade
partner, she started Sivagurunathan & Chua Literary publishing and academic publishing. As a writer and
Agency in 2021 with the aim of taking Malaysian authors to publisher, the speaker provided intriguing insights into the
the international audience. publishing world.

Faculty Member’s Guest Speaking on Chinese

Mid-Autumn Festival

By Dr Florence Kuek Chee Wee artisanal mooncakes, supervised by Bake With Yen chefs,
The annual Chinese Mid-autumn Festival is an ever heart- and everyone was delighted to take delectable samples
warming one, marked by warmly lit colourful lanterns, home to share with their loved ones.
joyful reunion parties with friends and family, retelling of
legends and fables, moon-gazing and the fascinating array
of mooncakes. Dr Florence Kuek of the Chinese Studies
Department, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, was
invited to speak to a group of like-minded baking
hobbyists and enthusiasts at Bake with Yen on 26 July
2022. Her presentation started with the late Taiwanese
singer Teresa Teng’s nostalgic and evocative rendition of
a lyrical song, “Shuidiao Getou-Mingyue Jishi You” (The
Moon Song), adapted from the renowned lyrical poem by
Sung dynasty lyricist SuShi (1030-1101).

Following that, she spoke about the history and legend
about Chang’e, a lady who flew to the moon after stealing
the elixir of immortality granted by the Wangmu, the
Queen mother. The first account of this beautiful tale,
according to Zhaoming Wenxuan (publication dated to
between 526-531), was found in a book named Guichang
during the Shang dynasty (1600-1046 BC). The revised
version portrays Chang’e as the wife of Hou’yi the mighty
archer who took down 9 suns in the suns, leaving only one
that we see today, to save the earth from scorching heat
and prolonged famine. After regaling the audience with
this legend, Dr Kuek joined the participants, baking

9 | Pulse @ FASS