Archives: Authors

An extraordinary American author, lecturer, and activist, Helen Keller overcame being deaf and blind after a severe illness at 19 months. Born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, her life changed in 1887 when Anne Sullivan became her teacher, introducing her to communication through tactile signing.
Keller’s breakthrough came when she connected the word “water” to its sensation, unlocking her ability to learn language. She went on to advocate for the rights of disabled individuals, women’s suffrage, and social justice. Her first autobiography, The Story of My Life (1903), details her remarkable journey.
Keller co-founded the ACLU in 1920, authored several books, and travelled extensively to inspire millions. Honoured with numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, her legacy as a beacon of hope and resilience endures. She passed away on June 1, 1968.

Benjamin Franklin, born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, was a polymath and founding father of the United States. The fifteenth of seventeen children, his early life was marked by financial hardship and limited formal education, attending the Boston Latin School for just two years. However, his strong desire for knowledge led him to become self-taught, reading extensively on science, philosophy, and literature.
At 12, Franklin apprenticed to his brother James, a printer, and began writing for his brother’s newspaper under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood.” In 1723, at 17, he moved to Philadelphia to pursue a printing career. After early struggles, Franklin’s determination paid off, and his business flourished.
In 1727, Franklin formed the Junto, a group for intellectual discussion. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish his own printing business, acquire the Pennsylvania Gazette, and found the Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731. He also founded the Union Fire Company and conducted groundbreaking experiments on electricity, inventing the lightning rod.
Franklin’s contributions to science, literature, and politics solidified his reputation as an influential intellectual figure both in America and Europe.

D.H. Lawrence was born as David Herbert Lawrence. He was born on September 11, 1885, in Eastwood, Nottinghamshire, England, to a working-class family. His early life experiences
and the social environment he grew up in greatly influenced his writing.

In his childhood, Lawrence witnessed the struggles and tensions within his family and the surrounding mining community. His father worked as a miner, and his mother’s
unhappiness and frustrations in her marriage left a lasting impact on Lawrence. Despite the challenges, Lawrence showed an early aptitude for education and was awarded a scholarship to Nottingham High School.

Lawrence’s time at school exposed him to a broader world of literature and ideas. He excelled academically, developing a passion for literature, poetry, and art. His intellectual
pursuits led him to study classics at Nottingham University College (now the University of Nottingham) in 1906. At
university, Lawrence encountered a vibrant literary and artistic community, which further fuelled his creative aspirations.

During his university years, Lawrence began writing poetry, short stories, and essays. He explored themes of human relationships, sexuality, and the profound connection between man and nature.

After leaving university, Lawrence experienced a period of restlessness and uncertainty. He held various jobs, including working as a schoolteacher and a clerk, while continuing to
write.

His early works were not commercially successful, and he struggled financially.
However, Lawrence’s breakthrough came with the publication of his novel Sons and Lovers in 1913. It received critical acclaim for its psychological depth and vivid storytelling. The success of it marked the beginning of Lawrence’s rise to literary fame. In the years that followed, Lawrence published several
notable works, including The Rainbow (1915) and Women in Love (1920). Both faced censorship and controversy due to their explicit depictions of sexuality. Lawrence’s writing
challenged societal norms and conventions. It explored the complexities of human desires and relationships in a candid manner. Lawrence’s reputation as a groundbreaking writer grew, but he faced ongoing struggles with censorship and
public reception.

His works continued to delve into themes
of passion, individuality, and the clash between nature and industrialization. Sadly, Lawrence’s life was cut short when he succumbed to tuberculosis on March 2 1930, in Vence, France.

He was 44 at that time. His literary legacy, however, lives on, and his works have had a profound and lasting impact on 20th-century literature. D.H. Lawrence’s fearless exploration
of human emotions and the complexities of relationships continues to captivate readers to this day.

RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1941). An esteemed Indian philosopher and polymath, he was a beacon of artistic brilliance.

Born on May 7 1861, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, Tagore was raised in a family renowned for their contributions to art and literature. his early childhood was shaped by a rich cultural environment. Debendranath Tagore, his father, was a prominent figure in the Brahmo Samaj, a socio-religious reform movement. Tagore’s education began at home, where he received lessons in various subjects, including literature,
music and history. he displayed a prodigious talent for writing and composed his first poem at the tender age of eight. at the age of 17, Tagore was sent to England to pursue formal
education. However, he left after a brief stint at University College London, realizing that his true calling lay in exploring the Indian culture. Upon returning to India, Tagore delved into studying the works of classical Indian poets and philosophers.

This period of self-exploration and intellectual growth laid the foundation for his future literary endeavours. Tagore’s profound insights into human emotions became the cornerstone of
his poetic expression. Before achieving fame, Tagore faced personal tragedies and experienced financial struggles. his family’s zamindari (landlord) estate faced economic difficulties, compelling Tagore to take up management responsibilities. Despite the challenges, he continued to write, establishing his literary reputation through the publication of several collections of poems and plays.

Tagore’s rise to prominence came with the publication of his collection of poems titled Gitanjali (Song Offerings) in 1910.

The collection garnered international acclaim and earned him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913. He was the first non-European laureate to win the award.

Tagore’s fame transcended his literary achievements. He was a prolific writer, penning novels, short stories, essays, and plays that explored a wide range of themes. Those included love, nature and social issues. He was also a social reformer, advocating for women’s rights, education, and the upliftment of the marginalized sections of society.

Tagore’s contributions extended beyond literature. He was a renowned painter and composer. Rabindra Sangeet, a vast collection of songs captured the essence of human emotions was created by him. He established the Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, which aimed to foster the harmonious
coexistence of art, culture and education.

Rabindranath Tagore’s enduring legacy rests in his ability to bridge the gap between tradition and modernity, east and west.

Joy started writing stories on Wattpad at 13, convinced words were the best kind of therapy. After 13 years in Qatar, she returned to the Philippines, pursued Creative Writing, and pivoted into freelance life—writing copy, web articles, and still squeezing in stories when she can. Now in her early twenties and based in Metro Manila, she writes about mental health, family secrets, and self-discovery with humor and heart. Follow her on Instagram @joy.pepito_

Maria is an author, educator, storyteller, and co-founder of Ungu Pen, dedicated to creating engaging content across digital and non-digital platforms. Fluent in English and Malay, she connects with diverse audiences, as seen in her bilingual children’s book, There are Saga Seeds in Our Pockets! Supported by grants from the National Heritage Board and National Library Board, the book bridges cultural and linguistic gaps. Its adaptation into a digital program for the Esplanade and translation into Mandarin further highlight Maria’s adaptability and reach.

An award-winning television producer, Maria began her career in broadcasting, scripting and directing across various genres. She holds a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education and an Advanced Certificate in Assessment and Training, and has contributed to policy-making and educational research.
Through Ungu Pen, Maria develops high-quality content for children and young adults, spearheading numerous publications and initiatives that blend technology with storytelling. A passionate advocate for well-represented literature, she has authored and produced over 20 children’s picture books, middle-grade novels, novellas, short stories, and animations.

Her middle-grade book Sahabat Hebat: Rahsia Haiwan Hibrid (Fantastic Friends: Secrets of the Hybrid Animal) was published under the Singapore Book Council and the National Arts Council’s ‘Beyond Words’ series. With support from the Lee Kuan Yew Fund for Bilingualism, Maria has also produced picture books featuring animation, songs, and augmented reality, exemplifying her innovative approach to education and storytelling.

Here is a link to the list of titles that she has written: https://bit.ly/MariaBookTitles

Stephanie is a former civil servant who traded government meetings for deadlifts when she started her own fitness business. A literature major who once taught in secondary school (which feels like several lifetimes ago), she has spent her career helping people in different ways, first through education and the civil service, then through mental-health-focused fitness.

When she’s not coaching clients or running her business, you’ll find her pounding the pavement to Lady GaGa, firmly believing that most of life’s problems can be solved by running fast enough to “The Edge of Glory.” She’s a trainer who believes fitness is as much about mental resilience as physical strength, and deep down, she’s still that educator who just wants people to see how awesome they really are and live better lives.

She believes everyone has their own path to figure out, and being human is incredibly messy. Which is exactly why we all need a little more kindness for ourselves and each other.

San Shwe Baw holds a B.A. in English from the Institute of Education, Yangon, Burma, an advanced diploma in English Language Teaching (DELT) from the University of Leeds, U.K., and an M.A. in TESOL from St. Michael’s College, U.S.A. He retired slightly over a year and a half ago as an Assistant Professor at the Theodore Maria School of Arts, Assumption University, Thailand, where he served for nearly three decades. Before moving to Thailand in 1994, he spent twelve years as an English tutor at Yangon University and Sittwe College. His English language teaching articles have been published in both Thailand and the United States. San Shwe Baw is the author of five novels: The Astrologer’s Predictions, Enslaved by English, Love by Fate, I Gave My Life for Thee, and A Candle in Darkness. These works have been published by Myat Su Mon Sarpay, Global Ahlin, Myanmar Book Center, Seikku Cho Cho, and Juty Sarpay in Myanmar. His fourth novel, I Gave My Life for Thee, the English translation of the Burmese novel Myay Si Mel Mel Thway Yel Yel, won the prestigious 10th Mekong Literary Award. Additionally, two more books translated from Burmese to English are expected to be published by March this year, further expanding his contributions to multilingual literature.

Journal Kyaw Ma Ma Lay, often regarded as one of the foremost Burmese writers of the 20th century, authored nearly twenty books along with numerous articles and short stories. Many of her contemporaries, as well as younger writers, recognize her as a literary genius who had a unique gift for transforming everyday events into compelling narratives. Her works reflect the lives, struggles, and aspirations of modern Burmese society, resonating deeply with readers across generations. Ma Ma Lay was also one of Burma’s few prominent female authors during her time, she became the president of the Writers Association in 1948.

Ma Ma Lay won two top Burmese Literary Prizes for Not Out of Hate and A Slow Stream of Thoughts and Burmese Medicine Tales. She passed away in 1982 at the age of sixty-five.

A. K. Tolentino’s work has appeared in Anak Sastra Literary Journal and Eksentrika. Author of Pride, Prejudice, And Malice and contributor to Nyra Vol. IV, an anthology of prose and poetry. She reads and writes in a variety of genres, but has a penchant for Historical Fiction. She lives in the Philippines with her family and a temperamental cat named Tiger Lily.