Now, the Kuala Lumpur-born advertising professional has achieved her goal with the release of her first short-story collection, “The Turning Point”. Uma launched her self-published book alongside 10 other authors at the Malaysian Association of Professional Speakers’ (MAPS) annual convention this month.
“Standing on stage, all of us holding our books, it was such a wonderful feeling. It almost felt surreal, like a dream come true,” the 57-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.
“I also did this to inspire my daughter, Vishaala. I wanted to show her that if you put in the hard work and believe in yourself, you can achieve what you dream.”
Uma began her writing journey by posting stories on Facebook. Most were tributes to her late parents, written on the anniversaries of their passing. These were received well, with many of her friends suggesting she put them all together in a collection.
Inspired, Uma signed up for creative-writing classes from local teacher and editor Sharon Bakar, before joining an authorship programme organised by MAPS. Both were great experiences, Uma said, and key to getting her book published.
Writing “The Turning Point” was no easy task, especially with Uma holding a day job. Even though she often ended up writing long past her bedtime, this, she said, proved therapeutic, a nice escape from the stresses of everyday life.
“I had to deal with a lot of tight deadlines but, somehow, I managed to complete the book – even if I had to sleep at 3am sometimes! Luckily, my daughter was very supportive,” she shared with a laugh.
“The Turning Point” contains 12 tales, each featuring flawed but relatable female protagonists. It also has a curious structure: the odd-numbered stories are based on Uma’s true-life experiences and centre around a character named Paro; the even-numbered stories are creative concoctions of her imagination, often based on the experiences of people she knows.
Some moving, some humorous, Uma’s slice-of-life narratives are heartfelt and wholesome, many paying tribute to the strength and resilience of women.
“The stories are about how these women navigate their lives coming out of challenging situations. It’s not just owing to their inner fortitude but also the support they get from all around them. Their familial bonds are strong,” Uma noted.
“Little Rice Balls”, for example, is the whimsical tale of a mother who convinces her daughter to eat a dish she despises. “The Tartan-Patterned School Bag” revolves around a young student’s crafty scheme to obtain something she covets.
“Beyond Comfort Zones” tells of a woman who rediscovers her passion after an unplanned career change, while “Anna Vengki’s Deepavali” is the moving story of an old woman’s emotional reaction to her daughter’s interracial marriage.
As for the future, Uma aims to write another collection of short stories. In the meantime, she hopes readers will enjoy her first book and be inspired by the messages within her narratives.
“Every story has a takeaway. It may glare at you or emerge through your reading. It may be that life happens, but you move on; or that failure is not the end of the world; or sometimes, the hard things that happen to you can mould you into a better person,” she concluded.
Get your copy of ‘The Turning Point’ here.