Just Bitchin: Want To Buy My Words?

In the luckier parts of the world, when writers get published they work with their publishers, publicists, as well as pound the pavement themselves talking and promoting their work. In Malaysia, the writer assumes the duties of marketer, publicist and media liaison. Suffice to say we’re “lucky” in the protracted sense of the word.

Still, I’m privileged to have friends who are journalists and familiar with my work. Having said that, it didn’t mean it was easy.

I didn’t realise the extent of it all: the emotions, the fears, the paranoia, everything. I thought I could get away with not turning up to interviews. Then I was made to realise that it wasn’t just about me. It’s about my publisher, printer, funder, assorted pets and so on—the book had to sell to pay for the wellbeing of the universe.

So I sent out a press release explaining the book’s existence.

There were one or two publications that turned me down as they didn’t cover “religion” (but the book’s not about that!) or that I didn’t fit in with their readership, i.e. not glamorous enough to fit in with KL’s hip set. Well, that’s OK. Being rejected is one thing. Being accepted is another.

I was looking forward to talking to Shanaz Habib, anchorwoman for Al Jazeera’s Everywoman. I thought it went OK. But, boy, was there an avalanche of emails and SMSes from friends, acquaintances and family: I fidgeted too much; the earpiece popped out of my right ear; I said too many “you-knows.” Unless I am tortured to do so, I will never go on TV again.

When the book was finally out in the market, press interviews started appearing in the papers… consecutively. I don’t know how Lydia Teh, Farish Noor and Marina Mahathir do it, talking about their work and books. I’m one of those who after I finish something, completely detach myself and move on to another project.

The press who interviewed me were varied, but the questions were similar. I was also asked the same thing by readers who attended the Kuala Lumpur International Literary Festival 2007. I’m grateful for being allowed to promote my book, but it’s the same thing again and again. Variations in the interviews helped.

Talking about the book in public is another animal altogether. I’m generally terrible with dealing with people. I’m known not to appear at parties or weddings simply because I don’t know how to mingle. Did you know prior to the launch of the book, I bought Psychology Today for an article on confidence? For all my wa-wah in print, I’m shy. I swear. It takes a lot of guts to socialise.

In a way, the book promotion has forced me to develop a new persona. Yes, I’m still very much me, but I had to step outside of my comfort zone. Thank God the interviews have consisted of the journalist, photographer and me. However, talking about religion in this country puts a writer in a different ballgame together, so before all the interviews I had, I spent many hours fretting.

I must say I’m still proud of the fact that at my book launch, I didn’t pass out. Yes, many were people I’d met through work, but there were new faces too. Some were new readers who had bought the book only for the cover—such a cute baby! I managed to say hello, how are you, and channelled “socialite” into my very pore. The next morning I had to have my arms massaged. And I was on Nurofen for two days straight.

Some of them also told me their stories, which is what I AM MUSLIM is all about. Muslim life in Malaysia. Some were heartbreaking. I met two readers who wore the hijab and yet were discriminated when they were younger only because they had lived abroad for so long with their parents, hence they weren’t Muslim enough. Or Malay enough.

At the moment I am writing this, my activities have winded down somewhat. Wahhey. I am happy. I can go back to my old life, and chat with my family and friends about other things like organising a singles’ night. Yes, in my other life, I like matchmaking friends. I spent an afternoon babysitting Layla, my niece, who’s the funniest and greediest baby ever. It’s nice to go back to my real life.

I know it’s only been a month, but the launch, the Festival, the column and all the things I did for the book seem so remote to me now. It’s like watching a movie. I can’t believe I had dancing dervishes at the launch wearing my mother’s tudung.

But life goes on. I have bills to pay, and a holiday to save up for. Will I be writing books for the rest of the year?

Nah. I’m just going to concentrate on work and be a bimbo.

Hang on. I have the Malay version coming out in June. Sigh.

Dina Zaman recently released her book I AM MUSLIM, published by Silverfishbooks. Please buy it.