3rd Sharpened Word Literary Matinee

This week, four very different prose writers graced the Sharpened Word stage.

Novelist Iskandar al-Bakri read from his second historical adventure, The Throne of Ledang.

Frances Yip (Ipohgal) read from her memoir about her family and childhood in Ipoh, The Scissor Sharpener's Daughter.

Both spoke passionately about their intent to preserve and share their stories of Perakian lives from earlier times for younger generations.

Atikah Abdul Wahid read from her short story, 'Beloved', about a shy baker with a secret crush, newly published in the anthology Hungry in Ipoh. She also spoke about her year-long journey writing the story, and how much it changed from early concept to final draft as she discovered more and more about her main character as she worked.

Writer and editor Kris Williamson read from his current novel in progress, about a slightly naive young man in rural Java who discovers the girl he loves, having already married another man, may have been kidnapped by her new husband.

Mixing elements of crime thriller with satirical observations about the loving yet bickering parents of the girl, the scene he read combined a touch of comedy with the pathos of a potential human tragedy.

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