Cotton candies, memories, fairy tales and dragonflies

Unforgettable Moment: 28 January 2012 (a report)

2012-01-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

Kemarin adalah hari Meet and Greet sekaligus launching novel kelimaku, yang kita sebut Unforgettable Moment, berkolaborasi dengan penerbit Gagas Media dan The U Coffee, Bistro & Library :)

Jumlah pesertanya 45 orang, walau di awal direncanakan sekitar 35 orang... terima kasih banyak buat teman-teman yang sudah hadir, mudah-mudahan menikmati acara singkat kita dan jika ada salah ucap atau kata mohon dimaafkan.

Terus.. kita ngapain aja di acara itu?

Walau acara dimulai jam 1 siang, dari pukul 12 library The U sudah dipadati teman-teman peserta. Nah, aku sendiri sedang mempersiapkan merchandise yang kemudian dibagikan kepada para peserta setelah disusun oleh tim redaksi Gagas Media yang hadir (Resita, Gita dan Evelyn). Setiap peserta mendapatkan satu tas dan block note dari Gagas Media, 1 eksemplar buku Unforgettable yang masih fresh dari oven penerbit :) dan voucher serta bookmark dari The U Coffee.

Para peserta mulai menyantap lunch berupa Meat Loaf, makanan favorit dari The U, kemudian acara dimulai dengan book signing dan foto bareng.. Kami juga sudah mengeset banner yang kemudian menjadi spot favorit untuk foto bareng, juga di samping mural Ai dan buku Unforgettable yang dijadikan book of the month di The U Library.

Setelah semua peserta berkumpul dan acara makan siang selesai, acara diskusi buku dimulai. Aku bercerita sedikit mengenai behind the scene penulisan Unforgettable.. seperti kenapa judulnya Unforgettable, asal mula menulisnya, durasi menulis novel ini.. juga inspirasi di baliknya. Sempat disinggung juga tentang covernya, tentang eksplorasi menulis novel dewasa yang pertama kalinya.. dan diikuti sesi tanya jawab yang seru :-) kami berdiskusi sedikit mengenai step by step mengirimkan naskah ke penerbit dan trik menulis agar nggak stuck di tengah jalan.

Daaan yang menjadi surprise adalah, untuk pertama kalinya aku announce tentang novel selanjutnya yang akan terbit di bulan Mei, kolaborasi dengan Yoana Dianika. Aku nggak nyangka banget semuanya sangat antusias :'-) makasih ya.. dan aku membacakan 1 chapter dari novel tersebut, khusus buat teman-teman peserta :D you guys are the first to know.

Lalu, kami bikin door prize seru dengan membuat sinopsis novel Remember When (pemenangnya Naya yang memberikan sinopsis keren ala back cover buku Gagas), dan tebak 4 nama karakter utama novel-novelku (yang lucu banget karena banyak teman-teman menjawab dengan kocak). Pemenang mendapatkan voucher dari The U Coffee :-)

Nggak lupa ada surprise gift dari admin-admin @Winnadict di Twitter yaitu Mudita, Yovita dan Keke.. berupa frame berisi 3 image dari novel-novelku yang sangat keren plus suratnya juga :D waaahh terharu.. suka banget, langsung dipajang :)

Akhirnya, karena keterbatasan waktu, sisa durasi acara kami pergunakan untuk foto bareng, yang heboh banget karena kami harus atur posisi dan pose supaya muat dalam 1 frame kamera :D hehe.. it's a really fun moment, guys, thanks for making this first event come true.

Maaf karena keterbatasan waktu, kita nggak bisa ngobrol lebih jauh lagi, up close and personal. Mudah-mudahan kita bisa melakukannya di lain kesempatan. Terima kasih sudah datang, dan mudah-mudahan menyukai novel Unforgettable :) it's my gift to all of you.

Giveaway novel Unforgettable: unforgettable memory

2012-01-28T18:58:00.000-08:00

Dear teman-teman semua,

terima kasih telah menunggu kehadiran novel Unforgettable. Dalam kesempatan ini, pengen juga bikin giveaway berhadiah 1 novel Unforgettable yang masih fresh from the oven alias baru cetak :)

Caranya? Sebutkan 1 hal (bisa moment, kejadian, event, seseorang, kenangan anything!) yang paling UNFORGETTABLE dalam hidupmu, dan mengapa.

Misalnya seperti ini: the most unforgettable moment in my life is meeting the love of my life - after that my life's never the same. Atau, momen paling nggak terlupakan dalam hidupku adalah saat pergi hiking bersama teman-teman, karena saat itu banyak kejadian seru yang mempererat persahabatan kami.

Kontes dibuka mulai tanggal 29 Januari 2012 hingga 6 Februari 2012. Jawabannya bisa langsung diposting di comment section di notes ini, atau via Twitter dengan mention @WinnaEfendi. Pemenang akan diumumkan tgl 7 Februari 2012 dan buku akan dikirim ke alamat pemenang.

Thank you and have fun!

Sneak Peek novel Unforgettable

2012-01-28T18:43:00.000-08:00

Berhubung Unforgettable rilis minggu ini, aku share sepenggal prolog dari novel tersebut ya :-)

Sinopsis cerita:

Ini adalah satu kisah dari sang waktu tentang mereka yang menunggu. Cerita seorang perempuan yang bersembunyi di balik halaman buku dan seorang lelaki yang siluetnya membentuk mimpi di liku tidur sang perempuan.

Ditemani krat-krat berisi botol vintage wine yang berdebu, aroma rasa yang menguar dari cairan anggur di dalam gelas, derit kayu di rumah usang, dan lembar kenangan akan masa kecil di dalam ingatan.

Pertemuan pertama telah menyeret keduanya masuk ke pusaran yang tak bisa dikendalikan. Menggugah sesuatu yang telah lama terkubur oleh waktu di dalam diri perempuan itu. Membuat ia kehilangan semua kata yang ia tahu untuk mendefinisikan dan hanya menjelma satu nama: lelaki itu.

Sekali lagi, ini adalah sepotong kisah dari sang waktu tentang menunggu. Kisah mereka yang pernah hidup dalam penantian dan kemudian bertemu cinta.

Penggalan cerita

Kedai wine itu dinamakan Muse.

Pemiliknya adalah sepasang kakak adik, yang sudah lama hidup berdampingan ditemani krat-krat berisi botol wine vintage yang berdebu, derit kayu di rumah usang, dan kenangan akan masa kecil dalam lembaran ingatan mereka.

Ini adalah kisah mengenai sang adik. Seorang perempuan di tengah usia dua puluhan, yang bersembunyi di balik halaman buku, namun mendefiniskan dirinya sendiri melalui tinta yang membentuk kata.

Dan seorang pria, yang siluetnya membentuk mimpi, begitu mereka pertama kali bersua. Menggugah sesuatu dalam diri perempuan itu, yang sudah lama terkubur oleh waktu. Membuatnya sadar, selama ini dia hanya sedang menunggu.

Karena semua orang hidup dalam penantian.

Lelaki itu datang setiap hari.

Dia selalu datang pada waktu yang sama; lima menit sebelum pukul sembilan. Menghuni tempat duduk di sudut, dekat dengan rak tinggi yang dipenuhi majalah dan buku dari satu dekade terakhir. Agak terasing dari keramaian, pojokan yang biasanya tidak terlalu digemari orang. Sebatang rokok selalu terselip di antara jari tengah dan telunjuk, ujungnya menyala dengan setitik bara api oranye.

Pada saat dia datang, perempuan itu tidak bisa menulis. Gelisah. Jari-jarinya mengetik, menghapus, mengetik, menghapus. Kadang kursornya berkedip-kedip di layar, tidak kunjung bergerak. Begitu dia beranjak pergi, baru perempuan itu menghela nafas panjang, lalu lanjut bekerja hingga fajar. Biasanya dia akan tertidur, tertelungkup di atas meja, sampai abangnya datang untuk menyampirkan selimut wol di sekujur tubuhnya yang dingin.

Malam ini, lelaki itu datang lagi.

Tapi hari ini ada sesuatu yang berbeda. Hari ini, lelaki itu tak hanya tenggelam dalam bayangnya sendiri. Hari ini, dia mengangkat muka.

Dan pandangan mereka bertemu.

Lelaki bermata cokelat tua itu datang lagi. Kali ini, ia menatap lurus-lurus ke arah perempuan yang duduk di samping jendela, kemudian mengambil tempat kosong yang dihuninya semalam.

Pada awalnya mereka saling diam, menikmati tarian jemari perempuan itu saat beradu dengan tombol keyboard, juga rintik-rintik hujan yang perlahan memburamkan jendela. Aroma rokok, aroma anggur, dan aroma tanah yang basah karena gerimis berbaur menjadi satu.

Kemudian, mereka bicara.

Novel Unforgettable akan beredar pada tanggal 31 Januari 2012, untuk luar Jakarta perkiraan di awal Februari.

Daftar Peserta Unforgettable Moment

2012-01-20T04:13:00.000-08:00

Teman-teman semua,

terima kasih atas responnya yang hangat terhadap event Meet and Greet Unforgettable Moment ini :) jumlah pendaftar sudah melebihi kuota dan dengan ini pendaftaran Unforgettable Moment resmi kami tutup. Jumlah peserta adalah 44 orang dengan nama-nama sebagai berikut:

Grisselda Niharja
Go Cindy
Cynthia
Yuliyono
Delisa Sahim
Dewi Anggraeni
Zahratul Haya
Ismi Prilly
Levita Rachel
Mudita Nanda
Al Inayah Fathin
Salwa Nadira
Rizka Rahmadina*
Dinda Tsaniyah*
Gracia Stefani
Vania Natasha
Marintan Ompusunggu
Alethea Yoris
Srie Karina Maha
Lucya Liu
Diah
Eda
Hanin
Hilmi
Syifa
Rina Wulandari
Reno
Dhea Mutiara Zahara
Balebat Buana Puspa
Senja Ramadhany
Chitra Nur Imaniar
Anneke Putri
Theofani Avesena
Afifah Zhafirah
Wardatulannah
Zulfa Afifah
Yulia Eki
Anita Putri
Jessica Aprillia
Rheza Aditya
Ferina Parlyshe
Vania Rotana
Jessica Hakim
Popi Hendriani

Bagi nama yang diikuti tanda bintang, mohon mengirimkan email konfirmasi nama peserta kepada redaksi@gagasmedia.net dan winna.efendi@gmail.com untuk keperluan administrasi.

Setiap peserta akan dikirimkan email konfirmasi yang berisi tanggal dan lokasi acara.
Can't wait to see you and I will see you soon! :)

-Winna Efendi, Gagas Media dan The U Coffee-

Newsletter: January 2012

2012-01-19T01:13:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

It's been an up and down month in the new year, for sure. I'm down with the flu for the second time this year. OK, beberapa berita baru..

- Tanggal 28 Januari, Gagas Media dan The U akan mengadakan event Unforgettable Moment: Meet & Greet sekaligus launching novel Unforgettable. Besok hari terakhir pendaftarannya :) I'm excited, actually.. I've never done a proper launch like this before.

- Akhir Januari, novel Unforgettable akan resmi launching di toko-toko buku. I'm really looking forward to this book!

- Kemudian, akan diadakan juga giveaway untuk novel gratis :) juga sneak peek novel menjelang akhir Januari. So don't miss it, akan di-update di blog kok.

I might be writing something new soon :)

Unforgettable Moment: Meet & Greet with Winna Efendi

2012-01-11T18:20:00.000-08:00

Hai semua!

Seiring dengan akan terbitnya novel Unforgettable, Gagas Media dan kami mengadakan event Meet & Greet pada tanggal 28 Januari 2012 pukul 13.00 sampai 14.30. Dalam event ini, pembaca dapat berinteraksi langsung denganku dan ngobrolin behind-the-scene penulisan Unforgettable, juga ikutan door prize berhadiah seru dari Gagas Media dan The U Coffee.

Serunya, kalian yang ikutan Unforgettable Moment ini akan menjadi pembaca pertama yang mendapatkan novel Unforgettable fresh from the oven alias eksklusif! :-)

Setiap pengunjung akan mendapatkan goodie bag dari Gagas Media, 1 buku Unforgettable bertandatangan, pembatas buku dan voucher serta lunch berupa main course, drink dan dessert, hanya dengan biaya pendaftaran sebesar 80 ribu rupiah. Terbatas hanya untuk 35 orang :-)

Pendaftaran dibuka dari tanggal 12-20 Januari 2012 dengan mengirimkan email ke redaksi@gagasmedia.net dengan subjek UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT. Nanti akan ada email balasan mengenai rekening pembayarannya.

See you there!

Pemesanan novel Unforgettable bertandatangan (diskon 10%!)

2012-01-11T03:45:00.000-08:00

Dear friends,

Kini novel Unforgettable sudah bisa dipesan :) status bukunya masih sedang dalam proses cetak dan akan ready stock di awal Februari 2012.

Bagi yang berminat memesan novel tersebut atau pun novel-novelku yang lain, silakan mengirimkan email ke winna.efendi@gmail.com dengan format NAMA, ALAMAT LENGKAP, TELEPON, dan BUKU yang ingin dipesan. Semua email akan dijawab dengan konfirmasi dan informasi rekening BCA untuk pembayaran. Harga buku belum termasuk diskon 10% dan ongkos kirim JNE reguler. Informasi ongkos kirim ke kotamu bisa dicek via www.jne.co.id (dari Jakarta menggunakan paket reguler). Agar menghemat ongkos kirim, saranku dibarengi dengan buku lain :)

Buku yang tersedia untuk dipesan adalah:

Ai Rp. 41 500
Refrain Rp. 46 000
Glam Girls Unbelievable Rp. 37 000
The Journeys Rp. 48 500
Remember When Rp. 43 000
Unforgettable Rp. 43 000

Harga di atas belum termasuk diskon 10% dan ongkos kirim.

Terima kasih.

Winna Efendi

2012!

2012-01-07T22:46:00.001-08:00

2012, new posts, new reading lists, new resolutions, new blog layout, new shoutbox :-)

It's a bit late for posting this, but better late than never, right? Here I am making new lists..

Reading resolutions

Story of a beautiful girl
Memilikimu (Sanie B Kuncoro)
Lullaby (Rina Suryakusuma)
Between Shades of Grey

Writing resolutions

A short story compilation, maybe
A teenlit novella in May
and more surprises :)

New year's resolutions

I haven't come up with one, but I will.
Meanwhile, I'm just gonna do my best.

Randoms of the day

2012-01-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

A lot of things have been going on lately, some are good, some are bad. But that's the circle of life, isn't it? Some people will always try to get you down, and there are some others at the end of the line that will support you no matter what. I'm trying to strike that balance.

The thing is, I don't really care what people think of me. Whether you see me as a bad person, a good person, or whatever it is, I try my best to not let labels get to me. I don't see myself as labeled, which is why I find it really hard to describe myself with words - because I'm not defined by them. A human being is always so complex. So complicated that one word doesn't always describe them, and that one word will always be at odds with each other because sometimes we contradict ourselves under special circumstances.

I don't really mind what others say about my work either. Whether they like my books, or they don't, because I know that although one part of me writes and dedicates my soul to words and my beloved readers, the rest writes for me. I write because I want to, because I can't help it, because I need to, and because I'm writing for me. Besides, art in every single possible form, is a matter of taste. You and I will have different preferences, and you don't have to like it in order to appreciate it.

No, this isn't a vent-up anger blog post. And I'm not mad. I'm just trying to place some sense into my own cluttered brain and understand myself a little more.

So that's just my random musing of the day.

Sneak Peek Novel Terbaru (Judul + Sinopsis)

2012-01-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Dear pembaca,

nggak terasa udah awal tahun 2012, dan it's my birthday today, terima kasih untuk doa dan dukungannya. I feel so very blessed.. dan di hari istimewa ini aku ingin berbagi kabar baik: buku kelimaku akan luncur akhir Januari! Hari ini baru saja mendapatkan judul, tagline dan sinopsis resmi novel tersebut dari dear editor Christian Simamora, so here goes..

Ini adalah novel kelimaku setelah Ai, Refrain, Unbelievable dan Remember When.

Untuk pertama kalinya aku menulis novel bergenre dewasa, dan kali ini agak condong ke novelet yang nggak setebal novel biasa, but I really hope you'll like it :) because it's really special for me.

Judulnya adalah UNFORGETTABLE (tentang cinta yang menunggu)

akan diterbitkan oleh Gagas Media di bulan Januari 2012.

Ini adalah cerita mengenai seorang perempuan dan seorang lelaki yang sering bertemu dan berbagi cerita di sebuah wine lounge. It's about life, it's about love, it's about wine. Ditunggu ya, I hope you'll like it :) nanti akan diadakan preorder buku bertandatangan dan kontes berhadiah buku gratis menjelang pertengahan sampai akhir Januari.

Sinopsisnya:

Ini adalah satu kisah dari sang waktu tentang mereka yang menunggu.
Cerita seorang perempuan yang bersembunyi di balik halaman buku
dan seorang lelaki yang siluetnya membentuk mimpi di liku tidur sang
perempuan.

Ditemani krat-krat berisi botol vintage wine yang berdebu, aroma rasa
yang menguar dari cairan anggur di dalam gelas, derit kayu di rumah
usang, dan lembar kenangan akan masa kecil di dalam ingatan.

Pertemuan pertama telah menyeret keduanya masuk ke pusaran yang
tak bisa dikendalikan. Menggugah sesuatu yang telah lama terkubur
oleh waktu di dalam diri perempuan itu. Membuat ia kehilangan semua
kata yang ia tahu untuk mendefinisikan dan hanya menjelma satu nama:
lelaki itu.

Sekali lagi, ini adalah sepotong kisah dari sang waktu tentang menunggu.
Kisah mereka yang pernah hidup dalam penantian dan kemudian
bertemu cinta.

Newsletter Desember 2011

2011-12-10T03:58:00.000-08:00

Hai teman-teman!

Memutuskan untuk bikin newsletter di FB dan blog, semacam news update mengenai berita-berita terbaru bukuku, menulis, dan masih banyak lagi. Untuk membaca newsletter, bisa add facebook-ku di Winna Efendi, atau blogku http://winna-efendi.blogspot.com. Link juga akan dipublish di twitter @WinnaEfendi.

So.. life's been great. Akhir tahun sudah dekat, artinya waktu untuk mereview pencapaian tahun ini juga mulai merencanakan tahun berikutnya :-) and I'm sharing that with all of you.

Tahun ini dihabiskan dengan banyak menulis. Aku bertekad untuk menyelesaikan beberapa proyek yang sempat tertunda, untuk persiapan tahun depan. Awal tahun 2011 dihabiskan menulis dan merevisi sebuah karya lama yang dimulai tahun 2007, tapi sempat terbengkalai. Hasilnya akan diterbitkan bulan Januari 2012 mendatang, namun judul, sinopsis dan cover belum bisa di-share. Don't worry, pasti akan kuumumkan di sini begitu sudah resmi :) novel yang akan diterbitkan oleh Gagas Media ini adalah novel dewasaku yang pertama, tapi jangan kuatir, temanya masih bisa dibaca oleh remaja juga kok :) ceritanya adalah tentang 2 orang yang nggak saling mengenal, tapi dekat karena sering ketemu di suatu tempat.. it also has something to do with wine. Proses risetnya makan waktu cukup lama, mulai dari membaca buku sampai mencicipi langsung :)

Lalu pertengahan tahun 2011, aku juga sempat sibuk dengan proyek lain. Yang ini masih surprise, nanti ya kalau sudah ada perkembangan lebih lanjut akan di-share. Menjelang akhir 2011, aku sempat kembali menulis novel teenlit. I kind of miss it, actually..

Biasanya, setelah menyelesaikan sebuah proyek menulis, aku akan break sebentar. Kali ini rasanya nggak sabar memulai yang baru lagi karena here I am, starting a new draft :-)

Buku-bukuku yang terbit tahun 2011 adalah Remember When (relaunch novel Kenangan Abu-Abu dengan cover/judul yang berbeda) di bulan April, diikuti dengan nonfiksi The Journeys, antologi kisah perjalanan para penulis di mana aku menulis tentang kisah travelingku ke Shuili, Taiwan.

Mengenai film dan bacaan bagus, aku juga punya beberapa favorit tahun ini, di antaranya Real Steel, It's Kind of a Funny Story, the Art of Getting By, dan One Day. Untuk buku, aku suka The Opposite of Love (Julie Buxbaum), Sisterhood Everlasting (Ann Brashares), What Happened to Goodbye (Sarah Dessen), dan Hector and the Search for Happiness.

Oh ya, teman2 di twitter bisa juga memfollow akun yang dibuat oleh pembaca novelku.. akun ini adalah fanbase Winna Efendi di Twitter, namanya @Winnadict. Baru hari ini tahunya, dan sangat surprised sekaligus tersanjung :) menjelang 2012, aku akan membuat kontes juga untuk memenangkan 1 buku baruku yang bertandatangan. Kontesnya tentang apa, masih lagi dipikirin :) ada yang punya ide?

So, that's it for this month's newsletter, see you di newsletter berikutnya yaaa.. :) thanks for reading my books and for your endless support!

Letting Go

2011-11-20T04:28:00.000-08:00

Lagu Adele berputar lewat speaker kecil yang terhubung dengan komputer, suaranya teredam oleh bunyi mesin kopi yang bergetar pelan. Kamu meletakkan sebuah cangkir keramik untuk menampung kopi cair yang menetes turun – cangkir biru, dengan gagang putih; cangkir lamamu, yang tak pernah kubuang bahkan setelah tahun-tahun itu datang dan pergi.

“Kamu tak berubah,” itu katamu ketika kamu menyisihkan sepatumu di depan pintu, menginjakkan kaki di atas lantai parket yang dingin dan menyapukan pandangan ke sekeliling ruangan. Bingkai-bingkai kayu yang sama, cat dinding krem yang sama, aroma lemongrass seperti pewangi dalam mobil dan lemari pakaianku, semuanya. Tapi kamu salah – aku bukan lagi orang yang sama. Ketika memberitahukannya kepadamu, kamu tersenyum. “Oh ya?” katamu. “Masihkah kamu mendengarkan CD Secret Garden-mu setiap kali kamu sedih? Masih sering lupa mengambil koran pagi di depan pintu?”

Mungkin itulah caramu menentukan seberapa jauh aku telah berubah. Skala antara satu hingga sepuluh. Hal-hal kecil susah untuk diubah, kamu pernah bilang begitu. Hal-hal kecil seperti caramu menggenggam tanganku, dengan ibu jari memutari pangkal tanganku. Caramu meneliti wajahku untuk setiap mikro-ekspresi yang mungkin kau lewati. Caramu memasukkan sedikit lebih banyak merica setiap kali memasak. Itu adalah sebagian dari hal-hal kecil. Urusan lain, seperti cincin yang kini melingkari jari manismu, itu adalah hal-hal yang lebih besar.

Lalu, kamu menuang sisa kopi ke dalam cangkirku, tak lupa menambahkan sesendok gula merah, seperti kebiasaanku. Ketika menyerahkannya kepadaku, ekspresi di wajahmu adalah kesedihan. “Kopimu, just the way you like it.”

Aku mengambil tempat di atas karpet, dan bersyukur karena kamu tak bergerak dari posisimu di meja makan. Jarak di antara kita terlalu lebar, dan kurasa tidak satu pun dari kita yang berhak merapatkannya.

“Apa kabarmu?”

Aku sudah berlatih untuk adegan ini, adegan di mana kita tak sengaja berpapasan di jalan dan pandangan kita bertemu. Akankah aku memalingkan mata duluan, ataukah kamu yang akan terus berjalan seakan-akan kita tak pernah saling mengenal? Aku memainkannya di kepalaku beratus-ratus kali, meyakinkan diri sendiri bahwa aku akan menatapmu tepat di manik mata dan berjalan tanpa menoleh ke belakang lagi. Tapi ternyata, kita berdua sama-sama berhenti. Aku tidak tahu siapa yang duluan tersenyum. Aku ingat, kamulah yang pertama kali menyapa.

Aku tak pernah menyangka kamu akan ada di apartemenku sekarang. Ini di luar skenario. Bagian ini tak pernah hadir dalam versiku, kamu yang duduk dengan cangkir biru tuamu, di dapurku, berbicara denganku. Dalam versiku, kamu adalah bayang-bayang yang menghuni masa laluku, dan aku bertekad tetap mempertahankannya sedemikian rupa.

But I miss you, Ben. Aku kangen berpegangan tangan sembari meluncur sepanjang ring lapangan es, dengan butiran salju meleleh di bahu. Aku rindu berbagi secangkir kopi, berargumen mengenai seberapa banyak gula yang akan kita masukkan ke dalamnya. All those little things, and then the bigger stuffs as well.

“We don’t have to change, you know.” Kamu menatapku lagi, aku yang sedang bermonolog dan berusaha melawan suara-suara dalam kepalaku. “Kita tak perlu menjadi orang asing bagi satu sama lain. Kamu adalah Julie, dan aku Ben. Kita saling mengenal, kita punya sejarah, kita adalah kita.”

“Yang kamu lupakan adalah fakta bahwa kita bukan lagi kita. Julie kembali menjadi Julie yang berusaha melupakan Ben, dan Ben.. aku tak tahu seperti apa dia sekarang. I’m not sure I care anymore.”

Kamu terlihat terluka oleh pernyataan barusan. Bagian awal ucapanku jujur. Bagian akhirnya.. aku tak yakin apakah itu sepenuhnya benar.

“Julie.” Kamu akhirnya bangkit, meletakkan cangkirmu di atas meja di mana bagian bawahnya menyisakan lingkaran cokelat. “Mungkin lebih baik aku pergi.”

Perkataan itulah yang membuatku kehilangan kontrol, saat itu juga. Aku bangkit, berdiri di hadapanmu dan dengan penuh amarah memukulkan kedua tanganku ke dadamu, walau kamu hampir dua kali ukuranku dan dapat menyorokkanku dengan sekali dorong. Kamu diam saja, menerima pukulan demi pukulan, dan itu hanya membuatku semakin marah. Aku mengumpulkan semua air mata, semua sakit hati, dan setiap keberanianku untuk mengungkapkannya padamu, bahwa kamu selalu memilih untuk pergi saat keadaan tidak sesuai untukmu. Being gone is the only thing you’re good at.

Kemudian kedua tanganmu menggenggam milikku, dan kita berdua saling menatap dengan air mata mengaliri sisi-sisi wajah kita.

Kamu dan aku. Kita berdua, mengulangi apa yang terjadi hari itu. Aku hanya tak tahu apa yang akan kau lakukan selanjutnya.

Kamu tahu, yang perlu kita lakukan bukanlah berubah. Melepaskan. Hanya itu. Dan denganmu di sini, I think it is time.

my first short story in months. haven't written any in a while. needs some work and could've used some good editing, but it's all I've got at the moment. inspired by one of the last chapters of Adam and Mia's story in Where She Went.

(book) Where She Went

2011-11-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

review : 4/5 stars.

I wasn't sold on If I Stay, but with this one, I am. Totally.

If I Stay wins best cover every single time, though. At first I was doubtful whether I'd like this one, since I'm not in love with the prequel.. but I'm glad I've decided to give it a chance. I might not like Mia all that much, but I do love Adam. He's sensitive, he's gentle, and he's a big softie. I like the fact that they're both adults now, zoom in three years later and fast forward - now look where they are and how they're doing. It's nice to see the aftermath of everything else, and how each is dealing with their own loss.

It's very well written, and I adore the writer for that. She can switch from Mia's voice to Adam's with great fluency, so smooth it doesn't ever hint that it's a female writer writing a character's voice. It's 100% Adam, the rock star, the suffering musician who is not sure who he is anymore. I love every single word he uses to explain himself, to show readers his heartbreak, beyond his life at the moment. He is flawed, but he's endearing, and kudos for exploring the depth of his soul.

It's more heartbreaking than the first one. I'm getting goosebumps just reading some passages, and I feel so happy when the ending concludes. Love it :)

(movie) Real Steel

2011-11-11T19:20:00.000-08:00

I came with expectations that I would like this movie, I just didn't expect I would love it so much. The start was a little slow but necessary, with a nice country song and cool cinematography of a man driving in a distance. And then we got to the real conflict, and came to know a very flawed man, selfish in his desires to make easy money and be as irresponsible as he could be. Plus there was an eleven year old boy, who, despite his age, was so mature and gave off this charm that was so genuine and heartwarming.

Sure, it's a movie about robots fighting each other. I sure don't adore boxing movies, as much as I don't really like watching people kill each other brutally. But then again, I never expected that I'd come to root for a robot (yes, you heard that right), to win a boxing match. Atom, the heroic robot, was made to look sympathetic, slightly human, with doe eyes and a plain face. Yes, he was plain, but the fact that he was made him anything other than ordinary.

I like how the main conflict has a mixture of human drama, ties between family and friends, father and son bond, father and robot bond, son and robot bond, and so much more. It's hilarious at times, but the comedic timing is right so it adds warm humor into the movie instead of playing with jokes that look like they were thrown just for the point of it. Then we have the action - which is unbelievably tense and so fun to watch. They did it to the point that we didn't get bored watching a series of robot fights over and over again, and till now I still marvel how they managed. Perhaps there was always something new in the fighting sequence, always a new environment, a combination of winning and losing, and a really touching scene near the end.

My only minor complaints are the poster and the ending. How I wish we could've seen the aftermath - who got custody in the end? What happened after the battle? It would be nice to see that. Then the poster - it's so bland. When it was on the cover of a movie magazine, I didn't even hesitate to look at it because all I could see was Hugh Jackman in a boxing pose, standing in front of a dark robot. I know it's probably to not compete with the high tech looking Transformers, but it doesn't let us know anything. It looks scruffy, boring, like a dark-age movie about fighting for one's honor and the world.. which is nothing like the movie. I wish we had the one I posted above, it's so much better.

So, we both loved the movie. Had an absolutely wonderful time and not a second wasted.

Alice

2011-11-11T19:02:00.000-08:00

It's Saturday morning and I'm sitting on my writing chair, typing. Haven't touched my laptop in what seems like days, and it feels good to finally do it. I also haven't written a blog post in weeks, so my apologies.

It's November, which means it's nearing end of year. I have had so many projects to do this year, and hopefully all of them will surface in the market next year :-) I sincerely love each one of them, and can't wait to see them hit the shelves.

One particular project I'm writing on at the moment is Alice. Alice Bell is an eighteen year old girl from Belfast, Maine, a small city in close proximity to water - by that I mean the sea. She's awkward and quiet, like most of my characters, but she's also something else. I particularly love writing with a small beach city as my setting, it somehow gives off a melancholic aura. Alice has a quirky family, and also a quirky personality, so it's nice to give her more life in the pages :-) for some reasons I can't stop thinking about her, and how nice it'd be to be able to write more about her and who she is and how she lives.

This one's due for May 2012 publication, so we'll see.

Giveaway novel Remember When: share pengalaman pribadimu

2011-10-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

Lagi pengen bikin giveaway lagi.. kali ini hadiahnya 1 novel Remember When bertandatangan. Caranya gampang, cukup tag Facebook Winna Efendi atau Twitter @WinnaEfendi dengan cerita berupa pengalaman pribadi kamu yang ada hubungannya dengan novel Ai, Refrain, Remember When atau Unbelievable. Temanya bebas, baik itu cerita hidupmu yang mirip cerita di novel, cowok sekelas yang mirip sama salah satu karakter novel.. anything! Mungkin, kamu pernah kenalan sama seseorang di busway pas lagi baca novel Remember When? Atau novel itu justru yang mempertemukan kamu dengan sahabat atau gebetan di perpustakaan? Syaratnya cuma: cerita itu adalah kisah nyata.

1 cerita paling seru akan dipilih dan menjadi pemenang. Kuis ini dibuka sampai tanggal 14 Oktober 2011. Pemenang akan diumumkan tanggal 15 Oktober 2011 dan dihubungi langsung via direct message.

Best of luck :-)

-Winna-

Mengenai novel baru dan hal-hal lain

2011-10-10T22:06:00.000-07:00

.. just want to share a bit of news about my new novel.

Bagi yang bertanya mengenai novel-novel karya saya, urutan terbitnya sebagai berikut: Ai, Refrain, Unbelievable (Glam Girls series), Remember When. Yang non-fiksi adalah The Journeys. Untuk sinopsis dan foto kover bisa dilihat di Photos :) kelima buku sudah beredar di Gramedia. Jika kehabisan, bisa dicari juga di www.bukabuku.com, www.inibuku.com atau www.kutukutubuku.com.

.. now about my next novel.

Novel terbaru saya bergenre semi-romance, sedikit lebih dewasa dibanding karya-karya saya sebelumnya. Gaya penulisannya kali ini mellow, dan bercerita tentang dua orang asing yang sering bertemu di sebuah wine lounge. Mereka lantas sering mengobrol tentang keseharian dan hidup mereka. Lalu, apakah yang akan terjadi..? Hehe.. nantikan terbitnya novel terbaruku ini ya.

Jadwal dan judul masih belum resmi, karena itu belum bisa ku-share di sini. Jadwal terbit tentatif adalah awal tahun depan. Mudah-mudahan berita ini bisa menjawab sebagian pertanyaan teman-teman yang penasaran dengan naskah terbaru saya. Yes, it's finished. Sekarang statusnya sedang diproses untuk terbit. Let's wait and see :)

Saya pun masih menulis, dan menyiapkan sebuah kejutan untuk teman-teman dan pembaca di tahun 2012. Terima kasih untuk kalian semua yang terus bersama saya dalam perjalanan menulis ini. I can't do this without all of you.

Best regards and love always,
-Winna Efendi-

(manga) Kimi ni Todoke/From Me to You/Reaching You

2011-09-12T01:04:00.000-07:00

Stumbled across this one on Book Depository and went straight for manga scans at mangareader.net. It has complete volumes till vol 59, to be continued.

The story revolves around a high school girl named Kuronuma Sawako, whose gloomy appearance and hair style resembles Sadako from the Ring movie franchise, earning her the nickname and the rumors that she can see ghosts. She's very ordinary and sweet, actually, but always has a difficulty expressing herself. On the first day of high school she encounters a popular cheerful Kazehaya Shouta, and from that moment on he befriends her despite her unpopularity. It is when she starts breaking out of her shell and befriends Yano and Yoshida, and also a couple of others.

The story is more of a self-discovery, coming of age, high school troubles, friendship and relationship kind of story.. it has a rather slow pace and great characterizations and beautiful drawing. If you like Bokura Ga Ita, My First Boyfriend or similar kind of piece-of-life manga, you'll probably love this one as well. It's so simple there's barely any conflicts, but once the conflicts arise - boy, they are good and heart wrenching.

My favorite character is Yano-chin :) each character is beautifully distinct, flawed but so fun to know that we feel each heartbreak, each emotion and grow to love every character there is. It's a good thing that everyone is three dimensional, especially the almost-antagonists that have depth and are given a chance to grow, such as Kurumi, Kento and Pin.

I'm going to watch the anime and live action movie soon!

Sixteen

2011-09-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

Like everybody else, I was sixteen when I started to drive. I wasn’t very good of a driver, but the feeling of obtaining a valid driver’s license was supposed to be so overwhelming that I demanded to get mine right away. My dad was a little grumpy when he took me to get it, and was still cranky when he let me drive us home afterwards. I was giddy with excitement, of course. Looking at my best photo plastered on the glossy card felt liberating, somehow. Like I was an adult. Like I mattered.

But then, that feeling didn’t last. I would always remember it, but the memory didn’t linger. It seemed trivial, years later, when a sixteenth birthday felt like aeons ago. Things like a crazy assignment or a math homework, whether school was canceled during a heavy snowfall, who asked who out for prom, and getting a first kiss – those things were so important back then, but now they are nothing but memories.

Sometimes I feel like children live more than adults too. They breathe more, they laugh more, they talk more, they notice more. More.

So why are we behaving this way?

Have you ever been sitting on swings, late at night? When he asked me that, I was so surprised I suddenly smiled.

That’s a great idea.

We got a pack of beer, cigarettes, and a bag of chips for me, and headed to the park by foot. The air was chilly that night, but I wasn’t cold. I sat at one of the swings and swayed slowly, none of us really speaking.

This is where I got my first kiss. He was the first to break the silence, as always. I looked at him, and he spoke again, shyly but not without confidence. Her name’s Anita. I was fourteen. No, that wasn’t right. It was midnight, and the next day it’d be my fourteenth birthday. Her skin was so pale in the moonlight, and I felt like I was floating.. His voice was quiet, and I listened without interrupting. When he was done talking, he looked up at me and gave me a tentative smile. It’s a silly story, isn’t it?

No, I replied. Actually, this is my first time sitting on swings, this late at night. It feels kind of good, surprisingly.

Sometimes I wish we’re children again. Or feel that same exhilirating rush again. We’re adults now and I bet we don’t feel much fun out of swinging high in the air. The feeling of being airborne…

He doesn’t continue. I know how he feels, and he must have sensed that I understand. And when he kisses me, I know that for a milisecond, I’m transported back to the feeling of being sixteen, getting my driver’s license for the very first time.

-a creative writing piece, 9 September 2011, 14.30-

(movie) Transformers: Dark of the Moon

2011-08-10T01:07:00.000-07:00

There's a case of successful action movies because of the awesome action sequence, but always in that rare case the movie's backed with good acting, well-written script, and tight plot. This third installment of Transformers movie lacks all three.

All the stars in this movie go straight to the amazing high tech action. It sure is really noisy, and often exhausting, but fun to watch. What annoys me the most is the characters - Sam becomes this crazy and sarcastic man still acting like a teenager, and not the very least heroic until the middle part of the movie kicks in. I know they're trying to make us sympathize with this character going through the growing pains part, and I've seen Shia in better movies, but still.. come on. I especially hate the delirious Jerry Wang character it's almost racist and offensive. The others are also out of character, saying things that are meant to be funny in the midst of a gory action scene, but they don't sound funny at all. In fact, they ruin the entire movie just by talking. I blame it on the script. Very badly written script. The movie could have finished in an hour, yet they give us random stuffs and stretch the plot for an hour more.

I loved the first Transformers movie. Didn't quite like the second. Loathed this one. It bored me to tears, if not to the edge of annoyance.

Grandmother

2011-08-07T06:49:00.000-07:00

She looks at me with searching eyes,
but I look away, unable to meet her gaze.
When she's walking away,
I stare at her hunched back, her weak posture, her wrinkled skin.
Knowing I should've said something, but I never did.
Knowing I could be that person, but I never was.

I'm sorry

The words form their weight on my lips, but are never spoken.
Until she's gone.

(book) Mockingjay

2011-08-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

Oh no. It's what I've been dreading the most, the last book in the trilogy. In this last adventure, Katniss has lost Peeta as she's brought back from the blown-up arena, and is desperately wishing she can get him back, safe. She's also appointed as the face of the rebellion, as a mockingjay.

Again, I'm going to be spoilery here, so alert, alert!

I'm a bit disappointed with how things go. At the beginning, we lose the characters we love most, namely Cinna. In the end, we also lose more people we grow fond of from the second book, namely Prim and Finnick. In fact, those two are my favorite characters.

Compared to the second book, this one's very slow paced. We're shown the state of hell Katniss is in, and how she's desperately trying to grasp loose ends, find the right way to make things right, and seems to be losing her sanity, if not her courage, to find out the truth. She's as reckless and impulsive as ever. Maybe it's what the Games do to her, and the Quarter Quell, and losing Peeta, but I start to agonize having to read her personal trauma over and over again.

In the middle of the book, I start disliking Peeta and how Katniss handles the fact that he's not the same anymore. Even Gale changes, and even though everything and everyone is in character, I find them very boring, if not very unlikeable. And then, we're faced with Katniss's choice to uncover the truth for herself, and we're brought to.. what?

I think the consequence to what Katniss has done must be unforgivable, not to us readers but to the Capitol, to the rebels, and to the people who support it. I find it unbelievable that in the end she is free, easily so. And how Peeta finds his real inner self back, I have no idea. It seems surreal to have the endings so neatly tied in a bow for us to conclude. I feel betrayed somehow, but maybe it's the feeling of losing something I really like, the ending of the book.

Overall, I love the first two books better. I like the arena better. I like it when Katniss and Peeta are pretending to be in love, when she's conflicted about her feelings, when she's ruthless. I want the girl standing up to volunteer for her sister, even if it means her death. I don't want beaten down, crying Katniss, having nightmares every night and feeling her happy ending is undeserved.

Maybe it's just me. I can't help feeling slightly disappointed because half the fun and conflicts are simply vanished from the third book.

On memories

2011-08-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't been writing much lately. Not my blog, not fiction, just review after review.. and many not done properly. But tonight I feel like writing something, at first about music, but turns out I want to write more about memories.

I remember back in high school, my group of friends loved listening to a radio station.. this program every Monday called Getar Cinta, hosted by Sarah Sechan. We loved sending questions and listening to the horoscopes, the love problems, like they could be solved as easily as math equations. I even got my question read on air, under the sender's name Chloe. I don't know what exactly got me thinking about it.. as the memory hasn't resurfaced for years. It was a decade ago and now I'm off doing my own stuffs, growing up seems like such a long time ago.

And then fresher memories come knocking at my door. I remember the warmth of our small house. I miss that place, the efficiency and the ease of coming home.. the smell of food easily reaching my doorstep, and the chatters easily heard. I miss the comfort of a small home, my tiny square room, the white bed sheets and the window overlooking the sea. I miss everything about it, the privileges I can't have in this place we call a house.

But it's always easier to appreciate, and less to complain. Everything always changes, gradually or not. Therefore here I am, sitting and typing as words pour out, and after taking a moment to miss out on the things I no longer have, I will resume my life as I always do.

These little memories might fade over time. But I like to think that they sometimes hide. They hide, until one day it comes back to us, slivers of the past, and make us remember of the good times, the bad times, and the little things that make us who we are today.

Memories are just memories. They can drag us down, they don't lurch us forward. But I like the fact that I can always look back and see what was there, what had always been there. Memories are bittersweet. Memories are beautiful. Move on, but always remember them.

(book) Catching Fire

2011-08-06T06:56:00.000-07:00

My review might be a little spoilery, and for that I apologize in advance.

I love the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy, so much that I can't put it down, literally. It felt the same way as when I read Twilight a couple years ago. It continued to haunt me long after I finished reading it. But unlike with Twilight, whose counterparts I didn't love, this one I still am in love. The second book doesn't disappoint.

It still revolves around Katniss, this time throw Gale to the mix, forming a love triangle you can never really pick sides on. I used to think Katniss and Gale are just meant to be, but like every friendship blooming into something else, it's clear that while he understands Katniss better than anyone, he doesn't necessarily want the same things as she does, nor does he want the best for her. That's why I switch to team Peeta, though I still think Gale's hotter than him :D

In the second book, Katniss and Peeta are thrown into the Game again, this time taking form as the third Quell, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Game. They suspect it's President Snow's doing, because Katniss's so-called survival tactic with berries from the previous book is seen as a motive for uprising from other districts. So they try to survive the Game again, teaming up with other tributes who might have some other motives.

I appreciate that readers aren't just thrown into the whole thing just to experience the same stuffs again. I'm happy about the plot twist, the hidden motive, and the planning that Katniss herself does not suspect. I'm happy that they make allies this time, and it's stronger than before. I'm glad that the writer throws in some new surprises, some mix of friendship and tragic deaths and more to keep us wondering.

What a page turner. My only complaint is that the pace is too fast. One page we're at the beginning of where the story ended from the previous book, the next we're at the Game again, and then it's over.

I can't wait till I read Mockingjay, and I'm glad I've supplied myself with the final book so I don't need to agonize myself waiting like I did when I was done with The Hunger Games. Oh yeah, can't wait to see how the movie turns out too! :)

(movie) Midnight FM

2011-08-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

Midnight FM caught my attention because of the premise. I watched it partially for research (job as a radio announcer), mostly because I just love a good thriller.

This movie might've been a mighty good thriller, if only it didn't drag for so long. For nearly two hours we watched as the psychopath killer played cat and mouse with the kid, while the mother grieved and tried to get there faster than the killer. There were some good moments and some scary moments too, but perhaps the plot was too slow paced and diverse that it took the nice moments out of the whole picture.

There were several cliches - the dead cops, the stalker fan who turned out to be the hero, and he didn't die after being beaten up several times. Even the climax was cringe-worthy.

Suffice to say, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. It's my first time watching Su Ae in a movie/drama, and I heard so many good things about her. I think the flaw doesn't rest within the acting, it's the writing that needs more focus and plot twist.

(movie) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

2011-08-03T00:17:00.000-07:00

Amazing! I had high hopes for this movie and it didn't disappoint. Every moment is heart-wrenching and gripping, and although I've read the book from cover to cover, I still didn't expect it would be executed this wonderfully.

Now I have greater respect for the change of theme and execution in the previous two or three installments. I once complained that it went from cheery and fun to dark and gloomy, but I guess it was necessary for a change in story. The characters were simply not kids anymore, and I was glad the director brought the change and made it believable as well as magical.

Now that the whole thing has ended, I'd like to cherish back all the seven books and eight movies, and remember them as something that grew on me during my adolescent years.

(book) The Lake

2011-07-31T08:13:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I've rated her work with 2 stars. I'm not sure what it is that I find lacking, exactly, and maybe that's just me.. because I find this one flat. It doesn't really move forward until the last chapter, and I know Yoshimoto's style is not exactly what you call fast-paced.. but I find this one boring.

I don't particularly care about Chihiro, the main character. I find her selfish and annoying, with her constant complaining and how she feels about her family. I like Mama-san, her flower-like delicate mother, other than that I don't love the characters. I also find Nakajima odd, and even with the explanation of the horrid things he's gone though, it doesn't help to explain how he's behaving. Usually I find the dialogue and the narration make sense, like they touch a deep place within us and make us feel emotional. But with this one, I come up with nada.

I love Banana Yoshimoto's books, I really do. I wonder if maybe because it's been years since I read her books, the last one being Amrita, and I have a complete collection of her work.. I'm disappointed by this one. Makes for a quick read, wonderful cover by the way, and certainly still looking forward to her finest work :) despite how I feel about The Lake.

(drama) Castle season 3

2011-07-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

Castle Season Three. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

1. Improved relationship between Beckett-Castle. I even hear the words finally spoken. And the kiss!

2. The family dynamics just got better. Also, the sidekicks get more screen time. Lanie, Esposito and Kevin Ryan time!

3. Alexis has her first love!

4. Better cases. Really.

5. The cap is involved.

6. Serious and darker tones. Better writing. Tighter plot.

7. More on Beckett's Mom's murder. That alone's worth it.

8. More double episodes. Which gets me really sitting on the edge of my seat. Threat to national security. Nuclear bombs! They never disappoint, and new characters, even just for a bit of screen time, are the best.

9. This is SO MUCH BETTER than season 2, especially than season 1. Thank you, writer and director.

10. Best cliffhanger ending in a drama series, EVER.

I'm in love with this one. Can't stop watching, even my boyfriend thinks I'm a Castle maniac. We'll just have to wait till September for a season 4.

(movie) Last Night

2011-07-23T20:38:00.000-07:00

While I was certain that I'd love this movie, I wasn't initially sure how it could carry one night in the length of a movie.

It wasn't dramatic, just the way I like it, and surprisingly, it was so much better than I expected. This is one example when all the actors carry out their roles beautifully, the script provides the depth of human emotions, and the cinematography and directing are just right. The combination of the above factors in turn create a gem of a movie such as this one.

My favorite character has to be Truman. Brutally honest, but warm and gentle. I also love the emotions playing in every actor's face, the sadness, the laughter, the love, the giddiness - you can just feel it. And then there's the chemistry, just right to be not over the top, and not so subtle you could've missed it.

A movie like this makes me want to write. Write to explore human emotions, write to release what I feel about it.. and the soundtrack following the credit just makes me linger and think about it all over again.

4.5/5

(book) What Happened to Goodbye

2011-07-23T01:50:00.000-07:00

As a hardcore Dessen fan, I wouldn't miss this book for the world.

As much as I was disappointed about her previous two books, Lock and Key and Along For the Ride, I'm happy to say that this one's got its rhythm back. Of course, it's familiar, it's formulaic, but it's comforting, and it's a Dessen original.

I can't say I'm in love with the naming part (I'm a bit indifferent about Auden, Mclean and Ruby as the lead characters' names), or the same old formula: girl in trouble, girl meets charming boy, girl evolves into someone better. But then this one again reminds me why I love reading all of her books.

It starts directly, in the form of a scene, introduced with narration about the past. It gets a little flat after that, but picks up pace before the good middle part started. I love the dynamics between Dave and Mclean, and Dave is such a cute character! I didn't like Nate from Lock and Key and Eli from Along for the Ride, but Dave's perfect. The thing is, their friend/relationship is developed so nicely that it adds flavor to the story. The best part of a Dessen book is usually the friendship and the relationship between the leads and the side characters. I'm not so fond of the other characters this time, but Deb, Opal and the parents are fully developed and that also adds to the story nicely.

Oh, I'm also happy that the other characters from her previous books get mentioned: Gervais, Heidi, and specifically Jason, who's changed so much since we last read about him in The Truth About Forever and Along for the Ride.

I personally feel that the divorce should be discussed more. Not just the aftermath, but flashbacks to the scene, a heartfelt discussion about how things change, people move on and finally accept it.. I feel that it would help us to understand the parents' decision better, and let Mclean understand them a little better.

I could go on and babble about this book, but suffice to say I love it. Love it a lot better than the last two books, and even though the ending's kind of blurry, I know that it's realistic enough that it should happen that way. As much as I don't like Mclean's immaturity by escaping her problems, I could understand her confusion and her hurt, which gets me teary eyed as I reach the book's climax.

A satisfying summer read indeed.

(book) Smile

2011-07-23T01:47:00.000-07:00

Pertama tertarik baca karena admin Twitter Gramedia membuat serial tweet tentang buku ini. Nggak ngeh juga kalau ini berbentuk grafis, malah sempat mengira ini novel YA biasa. tapi setelah melihat kalau ini ternyata bergambar dan sinopsisnya kelihatan menarik, akhirnya beli deh.

Dan saya suka! Pernah juga pasang kawat, tahu jelas susahnya makan ini itu, sakitnya setelah dikencangkan, mulut yang jadi lebar, susahnya kalau difoto sambil tersenyum.. dan semuanya di usia 11-14 tahun, hampir sama dengan Raina.

I adore the graphics. Warnanya cantik, dan gambarnya khas Amerika, kayak lagi baca Archie. Begitu membalik halaman pertama langsung melihat betapa indah dan detilnya gambar, juga nggak asal-asalan dan semua halamannya berwarna. So worth it. Ceritanya juga ngena dan sederhana.. dan yang terpenting, memberikan pesan moral tersendiri, bahwa penampilan bisa mempengaruhi cara pandang terhadap diri sendiri. Pada saat remaja kita mengalami krisis kepercayaan diri dan mencari jati diri, sama seperti Raina, dan bagaimana cara menghadapinyalah yang penting :D

So, smile a wide smile!

(TV series) Castle season 1-2

2011-07-16T23:33:00.000-07:00

Pertama kali nonton karena suka misteri pembunuhan yang agak light, tapi juga serius dan bikin otak muter. Not just a comedy where nothing really happens, tapi yang banyak action dan suspense. This one's perfect for weekend nights. Awalnya sangat seru, tapi begitu season 1 berlanjut, nggak terlalu banyak perkembangan dan perubahan plot kecuali mengenai pembunuhan ibu Detective Beckett. Lalu di season 2, interesting things happen. Banyak kasus yang lebih serius digarap, lebih misleading, lebih susah ditebak, lebih beragam, dan lebih seru.

Oh ya, Detective Beckett is gorgeous and Castle is just charming. Saya suka setiap karakternya yang jauh dari stereotipe - kick ass female detective, playboy writer, mature daughter, flighty mom, funny sidekicks.. :) I'm happy about the dialogue and the script as well! Setiap dialognya fresh dan lucu!

Can't wait for season 3.

(movie) Beastly

2011-07-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

Bland. I was expecting fresh plots (though it's a recycled version of Beauty and the Beast). Sadly, the characters are flat with not much development, the acting's painful to see, and the dialogue feels like they're being read out loud at a reading practice. No emotion whatsoever.

Basically, the two leads have no chemistry. Even though the script is quite cleverly written, with beautiful winter cinematography (especially that glass house!), the movie fails to accomplish a connection with the audience and that wonderful happy ever after romance we're all looking for.

I don't even know what else to comment.

Pemenang Kontes Avatar

2011-07-14T23:38:00.000-07:00

Pertama-tama, saya ingin mengucapkan banyak-banyak terima kasih kepada semua teman-teman yang telah berpartisipasi dalam kontes avatar. Banyak haru dan senyum saat melihat berbagai variasi avatar, dari sketsa pensil buatan sendiri, foto yang sedemikian cantik, kombinasi montage foto, dan tulisan tangan yang semuanya dicurahkan dari hati. Sungguh sangat bahagia melihat karya kreatif yang indah tersebut.

Semuanya saya posting dalam Readers' Montage, dan walaupun ingin sekali memberikan penghargaan setingginya kepada setiap peserta, saat ini saya hanya bisa memberikan hadiah kepada dua pemenang, yang karyanya memang sudah bikin saya jatuh cinta sejak melihatnya.

Pemenang pertama adalah Adhysti Siswoyo, yang mendapatkan hadiah berupa 1 buku bertandatangan. Saya juga memilih karya Cicilia Tjandra sebagai pemenang, yang mendapatkan voucher The U Coffee sebesar Rp. 50 000,- dan free Privilege Card :)

karya Adhysti

karya Cicilia

Mudah-mudahan teman-teman terus berkarya, dan saya akan terus mengadakan kuis dan giveaway yang lebih seru lagi.

Giveaway! Kontes membuat avatar berlatar buku

2011-07-06T21:26:00.000-07:00

Berhubung Refrain masuk cetakan kesepuluh dan The Journeys cetak ulang lagi, aku ingin membuat giveaway berhadiah lagi. Hadiahnya adalah 1 novelku yang bertandatangan (terbuka utk domisili Indonesia), juga vouchers, free membership, dll (khusus domisili Jakarta).

Nah.. caranya gampang :) yaitu dengan membuat avatar/profile picture. Formatnya bisa foto buku, pose kamu dengan buku, ilustrasi jpeg seperti di Tumblr dengan quote buku, sketsa karakter novel, apa pun.. selama berhubungan dengan novel Ai/Refrain/Unbelievable/Remember When :) bisa jadi avatar FB atau Twitter, jangan lupa tag aku juga.

Kontes dibuka sampai 14 Juli 2011. Avatar yang disubmit bisa lebih dari satu, tema juga bebas. Contoh avatar berupa foto saya attach di bawah ini, ciptaan Cito Meriko :)

That's giveaway of the month.. thanks!

On faith

2011-07-01T07:56:00.000-07:00

Life; work, stuffs, are not easy.
Love; relationships, love, friendships, bonds, are not easy either.

That's one thing about life. You never know where you're going to be, how you're going to end up. One day you're up in the air, the next day you might be tossed down in dirt. One day you might laugh your heart out, then there are times you will cry - be it those silent tears running down your face, or the loudest sobs you've ever had. One day you will lose someone, and some other time, if you wait patiently enough, you will meet another person and your heart will bloom again. You might let go, you might never forget. That other person might be the one, or he will be just another heartbreak. You never know.

One day you might find out that the person you trust and know best turns out to be a stranger. Maybe a stranger you meet on the street will later be the love of your life. Maybe you'll have your heart trampled and lose your faith to love. Or maybe you're that lucky girl who gets a proposal with a ring inside your champagne glass. Maybe, we never know.

Sometimes all it takes is one lucky coin on the street to make your day. Some other times you feel like walking down a dark alley with dead ends. Sometimes you're on a high because you get a promotion, sometimes you hit your lowest mark. Sometimes you just want to curse the worst words in your vocabulary, sometimes you're all smiles your cheeks hurt.

I've been there, we've all been there. Death, losing a job, losing a fortune, heartbreaks, love that doesn't last, regrets, fear. Tears of joy, soulmates, true love, being the best version of ourselves, winning, hugging your loved ones close, letting go without grudges, the best of friends.

Isn't life funny that way? And isn't it just fair that way?

It's not easy getting over our grief, facing problems with courage and strength, overcoming the stormy times in our life. And it's easy not to be grateful for every little thing we have, sometimes forgetting to count our blessings and choose to moan and whine instead. It's not easy hearing critics thrown in your face, watching people's backs as they walk away and never return. Life is damn difficult.

It takes a special strength to be able to face your demons and walk straight, with no hesitation. There's no guarantee that we won't ever stumble on the way, because we will. Because I know I will. But always be reminded that God is with us every step of the way. Because I'm lucky enough to know that someone is always holding my hand and walk beside me, even though sometimes I forget, or I'm too blind to see, too scared to believe.

Nothing is ever easy. You just need to have faith.

one Friday night, thinking of everything and nothing, and you.
picture credit: faqs.org

(book) The Lover's Dictionary

2011-06-29T04:48:00.000-07:00

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
Date read: 29 June 2011

Me likey!

My first time reading Levithan's book is not a disappointment at all. This book contains little entries, fascinating though very ordinary everyday stuffs. The best thing is that each of them is filled with such rawness, tenderness, and honesty that we can all relate, even though the story is entirely the narrator's own. I have no idea one can write with such fluency and grace, and tell a story of two lovers from the point of view of the man, without really talking about anything but at the same time talking about everything there is about a relationship. I mean, we don't even know their names, what they do, how old they are, where they met. It's all important things that become unnecessary in this book. Though it's actually a novel, it reads like a diary.

And that's the best thing about this book. Quick read, but a lasting impression. Kudos.

Summer reading 2011

2011-06-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

My summer reading list! Haven't made a reading list in months :-) been busy with stuffs, so I can't spare much time for reading. Will make up for it once my schedule winds down for a bit. So, my Amazon package has arrived, which contain books in the above picture....

Sarah Dessen's latest YA: What Happened to Goodbye. Can't miss this one, already hooked by the first chapter preview. I collect everything written by Dessen, as well as everything by Banana Yoshimoto (the translated version), which leads us to...

Her latest book The Lake. This is supposed to be mysterious, like her other books, and the sales of this book is donated to the Japan quake victims.

Dave Levithan's The Lover's Dictionary. Look how cute the cover and the title are. I'm new to his writing, despite it being so popular (Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, etc). But this one, I just can't resist.

Suzanne Collin's Catching Fire and Mockingjay, the sequels to the Hunger Games book in the trilogy. Love!!! I hope the second and third books are as good as the first one. It reminds me of the addictive Twilight read years ago.

I still have Sophie Kinsella's Twenties Girl on my Bookstalkers June reading list (which I read till page 5, got bored quickly, and haven't had the time or mood to flip more.. and it's a week till reading deadline).

For now I'm keeping it real, so just 4 books for summer reading. What's yours?

*I do want to read Sisterhood Everlasting though, but book's not yet available here, and I missed pre order on Amazon*

(movie review) I am number four

2011-06-22T22:49:00.000-07:00

Fresh theme in its genre, which is young adult fantasy. Perhaps we've all been used to wonderland and Narnia-themed movies.. but an alien living in the human world is quite original. I was disappointed in the execution, though. Choppy dialogue and unfunny lines that were supposed to be funny. Scenes were often cut short, left hanging in inappropriate moments. Climax was pretty good, but not as good as it should be. The first half was so bland and sleepy except for the scary moments (i.e. Number Three captured and killed). I was most disappointed in the acting department - the movie itself wasn't short of popular actors. Alex Pettyfer and Dianna Agron, in particular, barely had any chemistry. I kept seeing Quinn in Agron's performance, as much as I wanted to let it go.

One thing that's good about the movie is perhaps Number Six, kick-ass gurl with fireproof ability. She, too, was given ridiculous lines, and her glorious scenes were often chopped mid-music. I really liked her though, I hope she's given more screen time in the sequel, because she really lighted up every scene :)

One thing that's nice about this movie is the soundtrack. Full of mellow songs that made the movie look a tad bit like an indie film, and I loved that. Oh, I just realized James Frey was writing the book, with a pseudonym. Cool! I'm not sure I'm hooked enough to read the book, but let's see.

First post in June

2011-06-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

Whoah, nggak nyangka udah sebulan lebih sejak terakhir posting blog di sini. Sorry for the long delay! What's up with me lately? Pertama, sibuk pindahan ke rumah baru. I'm finally leaving the apartment, and have a bigger crib for my books and stuffs :D I really really miss the old apartment though, there's something so secure and comfy about sliding in and out of elevators, into a small warm space we call our own.

Lalu, saya juga sibuk menulis buku baru. Sudah 90% selesai dan hanya butuh editing, give me a month and I think it'll be done. Kali ini adalah proyek yang sama sekali beda dengan apa yang selalu saya tulis - akan jadi surprise tersendiri buat pembaca :) EXCITED! Sedangkan, satu novel yang judulnya masih tentatif sudah ada di tangan penerbit dan editor di Gagas Media, sedang dalam proses untuk diterbitkan. Yang ini berupa novella alias novel pendek, semi-romance, galau dan mellow *hahaha*. So, 2 new books coming up! Ditunggu, ya :-) I'm really trying to work things out perfectly.

Oh ya, kalau kalian notice sesuatu yang beda tentang blog ini.. yes I've modified the layout. Bukan hanya backgroundnya.. walau saya akui, selama ini saya terlalu malas untuk mengubah dan membongkar isi blog ini. Dan, susah melakukannya di laptop saya, karena ada beberapa program yang belum terinstall. For the last hour I've been trying to work out the elements of this blog.. termasuk mengubah font-nya (jadi lucu banget!), warna background-nya (masih dominasi abu-abu, putih dengan sedikit sentuhan pink ngejreng), dan membetulkan bagian kanan blog tempat tools dan widget dari berbagai sumber. I've added my fave quotes and book montage selection yang me-refresh secara random.. meng-update songs on my iPod dan current cravings.. membuat semua foto buku menjadi sama besar (yes I've been largely bothered by the different image sizes), dan merapikan layout agar enak dibaca oleh semua pengunjung website ini. I even matchedd the Twitter layout with the blog color theme. Hehe. A miss mix and match at heart. Maaf ya bagi para pengunjung blog yang nggak nyaman dengan keadaan blog sebelumnya. I'm making it up to you guys right now :)

It's time to get back to work now. So, have a nice Wednesday, fellow bloggers! I couldn't have done it all without you guys.. karena saya baru sadar betapa banyak pembaca dan kalian semua yang terinspirasi ingin menjadi penulis, dan membaca buku saya dan memberi dukungan terbesar dari hati :) thank you, sungguh.

Because I strongly believe that the best writer inspires her readers, and I'm glad I could inspire something inside all of you too.

Pemenang kuis #2: lomba resensi dan posting quote favorit

2011-05-01T00:49:00.000-07:00

Terima kasih bagi semua yang telah berpartisipasi dan ikutan dalam resensi novelnya. Pemenangnya adalah: Uchy Ramadhani dengan resensinya untuk novel Ai di sini: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=198313770204916

Uchy akan mendapatkan 1 novel Remember When :)

Terima kasih ya. Kapan2 akan diadakan lagi kontes yang lebih seru..

Launching The Journeys 8 Mei 2011

2011-04-27T05:36:00.000-07:00

Launching buku The Journeys bersama 12 penulisnya:

Adhitya Mulya, Okke 'Sepatumerah', Raditya Dika, Trinity, Windy Ariestanty, Valiant Budi, Winna Efendi, Ve Handojo , Alexander Thian, Farida Susanty, Ferdiriva Hamzah, Gama Harjono.

Venue: Gramedia Matraman, Jakarta
Time: Minggu 8 Mei 2011 jam 18.30
Diselenggarakan oleh Gagas Media

Bisa book signing dan foto juga diskusi bareng 12 penulisnya :)

Look forward to see you there!

Karakter dalam novel Remember When

2011-04-20T02:33:00.000-07:00

Buat yang belum baca Remember When, berikut sneak peek character-nya. Ada 4 karakter inti plus Erik sang penghibur :) bagi yang udah baca, karakter manakah favorit kamu? Yang mana yang paling mirip kamu? :D

[Freya]

Freya, karakter yang menginginkan kebebasan di balik kesepiannya.

Freya adalah karakter yang paling saya suka. Perempuan muda yang tampaknya tenang-tenang saja, tanpa ambisi, tanpa emosi, dan pendiam. Tapi ternyata Freya tidak begitu. Emosinya bisa meledak-ledak kapan saja. Freya sangat sayang pada sahabatnya Gia, dan diam-diam penuh rasa terima kasih karena keceriaan Gia selalu menarik perhatian dari dirinya - karena Freya memang benci menjadi pusat perhatian. Selain Gia, Freya dekat dengan Erik - teman sekolah dan teman mainnya sejak kecil.

Pacar Freya selama setahun ini adalah Moses. Freya cukup nyaman bersamanya, karena Moses sangat mirip dengan Freya - pendiam, introvert, kalem.

Di balik rambut pendek berwarna gelap dan sepasang mata hitam yang sendu, Freya adalah juara kelas setelah Moses. Freya paling suka pelajaran Matematika dan Kimia - yang menurutnya sangat mudah, dan benci olahraga karena selalu terakhir waktu lari. Freya juga pemain basket yang payah, walau badannya tinggi. Pokoknya semua olahraga, Freya tidak terlalu suka. Lebih senang duduk mendengarkan Erik mengoceh di kantin, atau bersembunyi di balik rak perpustakaan dengan sebuah buku yang menarik.

Freya juga tidak lahir di keluarga berada. Kehidupannya pas-pasan. Ayah Freya membuka toko obat kecil di rumah mereka, dan Freya sering membantu sepulang sekolah. Hanya itu sumber penghasilan mereka selama ini, dan Freya mampu sekolah dari beasiswa yang disabetnya setiap tahun.

Freya suka makan yang hangat-hangat, dan paling suka duduk sendirian di tepi jendela ketika sedang gerimis. Namun Freya juga kadang benci melihat hujan, karena mengingatkannya akan kejadian sedih beberapa tahun yang lalu.

Dan suatu saat nanti, Freya berharap.. akan ada cinta yang hinggap di hatinya. Cinta yang membuatnya benar-benar jatuh.

[Gia]

Seorang gadis secerah bunga matahari.

Perempuan beruntung yang memiliki segalanya. Lahir di keluarga berada (Papa Gia pebisnis hebat yang sering trip keluar negeri, Mama Gia buka salon pribadi di rumah yang ramai pelanggan), Gia juga dibekali wajah yang cantik. Mata bulat besar, rambut ikal, tubuh mungil, dan kulit kecoklatan - itulah ciri khas Gia. Karena kecantikan dan kebaikannya, Gia jadi salah satu murid perempuan paling populer di sekolah. Surat-surat cinta beramplop pink tidak henti-henti muncul di lockernya, datang dari berbagai pemuda yang ingin memenangkan hatinya. Tapi hanya Adrian yang bisa, Gia sudah suka padanya sejak pertama kali sekelas di SMU.

Anggia Wijaya - begitu nama lengkap Gia, menaruh simpati pada Freya karena tidak seberuntung dirinya. Pertama memang begitu, tapi lama kelamaan rasa kasihan itu pudar, berganti menjadi rasa kagumnya pada sang sahabat yang ternyata lebih tegar dari dugaannya. Gia suka pada Freya yang tidak banyak bicara, selalu mendengarkan ceritanya, dan memberi saran yang objektif. Freya juga yang selalu ada ketika Gia ingin mengobrol - entah untuk bercerita, bergosip, atau menangis setelah bertengkar dengan Adrian. Freya yang selalu tersenyum, mengerti dirinya apa adanya.

Gia suka segala sesuatu yang berwarna pink. Beberapa barang favoritnya adalah sepasang sepatu hak tinggi berwarna pink, kanvas dan alat melukisnya, dan buku diary. Gia hidup untuk melukis - karena itu dia cinta pelajaran kesenian dan benci Matematika (angka terlalu ruwet). Impian Gia adalah suatu hari menikah dengan Adrian, dan kuliah di University of the Arts London, nun jauh di sana.

Oh ya, Gia suka sekali popcorn karamel. Pokoknya yang manis-manis.

[Adrian]

Adrian.. karakter yang menarik. Seseorang yang bikin cewek-cewek tergila-gila, dan semua orang mau menjadi sahabatnya. Ganteng, putih, tinggi, atlit basket unggul di SMA, ramah dan bersahabat. Adrian kelihatan cuek di permukaan, tapi sebenarnya sangat peduli pada orang-orang yang disayanginya.

Adrian paling suka makanan masakan Mamanya, selain itu, juga penggemar berat Mi Item, yang dimakannya saat sedih maupun senang (sekali makan bisa 3 sampai 4 bungkus lho!). Adrian benci pelajaran eksak, cuma suka tidur di kelas dan main di lapangan kalau cuaca sedang cerah.

Teman Adrian banyak, tapi cuma satu yang jadi sahabatnya - Moses, teman sejak kecil dulu. Moses yang tidak banyak omong jadi seperti abang untuk Adrian yang (kadang) kekanakan. Walaupun Adrian kurang suka main bola dengan Moses (soalnya Moses kalah melulu), Adrian suka sekali tidur-tiduran di rumah Moses yang dianggap rumah kedua, sambil mengobrol ngalor-ngidul.

Pacar Adrian sejak kelas 1 SMA adalah Anggia, yang ditaksirnya sejak pertama kali melihatnya di program orientasi. Mereka disebut sebagai pasangan paling top di sekolah, karena kekompakan mereka.

Diam-diam Adrian menganggap Freya, pacar sahabatnya, kaku dan ga enak diajak hangout karena sifatnya yang antisosial.

[Moses]

Pendiam. Ketua OSIS. Perfeksionis. Sukses. Pintar. Dewasa.

Segala jenis sifat baik ada di diri Moses. Cowok cool yang benci bertele-tele, orang tidak bertanggung jawab, orang yang tidak punya masa depan, dan pemalas. Moses tidak sesempurna bayangan orang-orang akan dirinya, dan juga tidak sehebat pikirannya sendiri. Dari permukaan, Moses adalah cowok yang lebih dewasa dari umurnya, dan punya ciri-ciri seorang pemimpin. Wataknya tegas, keras, tegar dan kaku - terkadang terkesan dingin dan kurang sensitif. Tapi sebenarnya Moses sangat peduli pada teman-temannya dan Freya.

Sahabat Moses dari kecil sampai sekarang cuma Adrian, yang bisa mengerti dirinya yang seperti itu. Terhadap Erik yang nyeleneh dan teman-teman lain yang dianggapnya kekanakan, Moses tidak terlalu suka. Karena itu dia tidak punya banyak teman, karena Moses orangnya kaku - tidak mudah disukai orang. Moses jatuh cinta untuk pertama kalinya pada seorang gadis kecil tetangganya, yang pindah suatu sore Moses ingin menemuinya. Hingga sekarang, hanya Freya yang dapat meluluhkan hatinya lagi. Freya yang rapuh, menurut Moses perlu dilindungi.

Moses paling suka makan makanan tradisional - sayur asem, sambal terasi, pepes ikan dan nasi panas mengepul di atas meja makan. Tidak suka yang neko-neko, tidak suka junk food (ga sehat katanya).

Cita-cita Moses jadi dokter seperti keluarganya - walau sebenarnya dia punya ambisi lain: jadi arsitek. Tapi sepertinya orang tua Moses berkehendak lain.

Moses jadi seperti anak kecil yang terperangkap dalam tubuh orang dewasa, terpaksa mengikuti arahan, aturan, dan apa yang sudah seharusnya.

[Erik]

Sebuah karakter yang selama ini menjadi bayang-bayang, namun memegang peran penting di Remember When.

Erik adalah teman kecil sekaligus tetangga Freya. Dari dulu hanya dia yang 99% mengerti Freya, dari masa lalunya, keluarganya, dan seribu satu pikiran kecil yang beterbangan di otak Freya selagi dia melamun. Saking lamanya berteman dengan Freya, Erik bisa menebak mood Freya hanya dengan melihat wajah sahabatnya, yang biasanya tanpa ekspresi itu. Erik juga bisa membaca isi hati Freya, dan menebak tindakan selanjutnya (kayak paranormal aja si Erik).

Erik tidak terlalu suka pada Moses yang dianggapnya kurang perhatian pada Freya. Menurut Erik, Moses tidak mengerti pacarnya sama sekali. Tapi Freya yang keras kepala tidak pernah mengindahkan Erik tentang masalah ini, dan tenang-tenang saja mendampingi Moses.

Menurut Freya, Erik orangnya playboy - yang selalu gagal. Erik mudah jatuh cinta, baik dengan tetangga baru yang cakep atau murid kelas sebelah yang sudah punya gandengan. Erik selalu ditolak oleh cewek-cewek pujaannya karena Erik bukan tipe cowok populer seperti Adrian. Namun begitu, hati Erik sebenarnya hanya untuk Gia, yang tidak pernah membalas perasaannya karena dibutakan oleh cinta kepada Adrian.

Oh ya, gitu-gitu Erik kapten tim sepak bola lho. Selain itu Erik juga pintar bahasa Inggris, walau nilai pelajaran lainnya jeblok.

Latar belakang penulisan Remember When

2011-04-20T02:30:00.000-07:00

An intro

Ide untuk menulis novel ini dimulai pada suatu malam, di awal tahun 2007. Idenya muncul dari inspirasi lama saya untuk menulis tentang persahabatan dan kisah cinta remaja SMA. Saat itu novel berbahasa Inggris saya yang berjudul Dragonfly (Chance), sebuah bagian dari trilogi novel yang saya rancang, baru saja selesai ditulis. Saya lalu mencari-cari lahan menulis baru, dan terbersit keinginan menulis novel bahasa Indonesia yang sederhana.

Waktu SMA saya masuk ke dalam kelas kecil untuk beberapa anak untuk menyelesaikan SMA dalam kurun waktu 2 tahun, sehingga tidak pernah benar-benar merasakan kehidupan anak SMA pada umumnya yang riuh rendah, saling berbagi, dan banyak aktivitas lainnya yang menyenangkan. Salah satu topik yang paling hangat di kalangan anak-anak muda adalah munculnya persahabatan, yang tak jarang adalah persahabatan sejati - dan juga jatuh cinta. Hal ini saya rasa sangat menyenangkan - sekaligus membingungkan, karena pertama kalinya mereka benar-benar merasakan cinta dan persahabatan yang tulus, namun tidak pasti bagaimana harus bertindak di situasi tertentu. Saat itu saya mengingat jatuh bangun teman-teman saya, termasuk saya sendiri, dalam dunia yang kami bangun sendiri - jatuh cinta, cinta monyet, patah hati, bersahabat.

Lalu muncullah empat karakter utama novel ini. Dalam chapter pertama saya memperkenalkan Freya dan sahabatnya Erik. Tokoh Freya ini begitu hidup di pikiran saya. Seorang gadis muda yang penuh dengan kesedihan, ketakutan, kontrol diri, sehingga dia menjadi begitu introvert, bahkan cenderung anti sosial. Sedangkan Erik adalah sebuah lawakan, seorang sahabat sejati yang sebenarnya juga sudah dewasa. Contoh murid SMA yang tipikal di kehidupan sehari-hari.

Lalu diceritakan tentang Moses. Karakter ini mungkin agak jarang ditemukan, terkadang anak-anak SMA pada umumnya masih mencari jati diri, jarang ada yang setegas Moses. Lalu muncullah dua karakter utama lain, Gia dan Adrian - sepasang kekasih yang sedang dimabuk cinta, contoh remaja yang tidak mempedulikan sekitarnya dalam masa keemasan mereka, contoh murid-murid yang dikagumi orang lain karena kepopulerannya.

Tadinya saya ingin membuat novel di mana cerpen-cerpen di dalamnya tidak saling bersambungan, sehingga menjadi semacam cerita ringan. Namun akhirnya saya memutuskan untuk membuatnya bersambung. Dalam tiga chapter pertama, saya meninggalkan draft ini begitu saja selama dua bulan, karena kehilangan inspirasi. Tapi akhirnya saya kembali dan menyelesaikannya di bulan Juni 2007. Hampir setiap hari saya menulis, membiarkan teman-teman membaca dan mengkritiknya. I enjoyed it.

Proses menulisnya sangat menyenangkan. Saya merasa terbawa dalam emosi dan karakter yang saya ciptakan. Saya bisa menjadi Adrian yang menangis saat sedih, Gia yang tidak mampu melepaskan, Erik yang menjadi penengah, Moses yang galau dalam mengerti ada hal yang di luar pengertiannya, dan Freya yang bingung memilih. Cinta atau persahabatan? Sangat menyenangkan menulis adegan bahagia, menyelipkan sedikit suspense dan kejutan kecil, juga menikmati proses menulis bagian yang sedih. Entah mengapa, menulis kisah ini mengalir mudah untuk saya. It's almost sad when I have to end it.

Lalu kenapa judul awalnya Kenangan Abu-Abu?

Judul pertama yang terbersit adalah Kenangan Abu-Abu. Pertamanya adalah karena saya merasa kisah persahabatan dan cinta ini ada dalam grey area. Berbaur antara benar dan salah, hitam dan putih. Namun seorang teman menyatakan bahwa judulnya pas, karena abu-abu melambangkan warna seragam SMA. Kini diterbitkan lagi dengan judul Remember When, yang menurut saya sangat cocok :)

Semoga kalian juga menikmati membaca karya saya :) Kritik dan saran sangat ditunggu.

Catatan: SMA sekarang disebut SMU. Saya terbiasa menyebutnya SMA.

Quiz 2: posting quote dan buat resensi novel Winna Efendi!

2011-04-06T06:23:00.000-07:00

Berhubung relaunch debut novelku terbit minggu ini, mari kita rayakan bersama! :)

Sebagai apresiasiku untuk teman-teman dan pembaca sekalian, aku ingin bagi-bagi novel gratis nih..

Caranya gampang:

Posting status/tweet yang berisi: resensi novel, quote favorit kamu dari novel Ai/Refrain/Unbelievable/Remember When/The Journeys, atau kesan pesan saat membaca novel-novel tersebut.
Untuk pengguna FB/Twitter/blog, bisa juga memposting foto kamu bersama novel tersebut :)
jangan lupa mention @WinnaEfendi dan judul buku yang kamu quote tersebut, atau tag Facebook account Winna Efendi

Gampang, kan? Tweet/status/posting/quote/resensi yang paling seru dan kreatif akan mendapatkan 1 copy novel Remember When plus tanda tangan dan kejutan spesial!

Quiz ditutup tanggal 15 April 2011 (diperpanjang hingga 30 April 2011). Pemenang akan di-contact langsung via email/twitter/fb untuk konfirmasi alamat. Have fun! :)

XOXO,

-winna-

Pemenang kuis #1 Remember When

2011-04-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

Saatnya mengumumkan pemenang kuis pertama berhadiah 1 novel Remember When. Pemenangnya adalah Intan Nur Fadliilah. Selamat!

Saya cerita sedikit ya.. Intan sudah mengenal karya saya sejak Ai/Refrain. Intan sempat mengemail saya mengenai Kenangan Abu-Abu, yang sudah dicarinya ke mana-mana, menitip lewat kakak kelas, dan masih saja novel tersebut susah dicari :) berhubung novel tersebut kini di-launching ulang, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Intan yang sangat setia mencari buku-buku saya, membacanya dan menikmatinya.

Semoga menyukai Remember When. Novelnya akan dikirim lewat pos. Bagi yang belum menang, nantikan kuis #2 dan #3 yang akan diposting menyusul. Hadiahnya nggak kalah seru kok :)

(movie) Never Let Me Go

2011-03-27T05:56:00.001-07:00

Okay. After I watched this, all I did was stare at the screen, watching the credits roll. It's always what a good movie does to me, like I'm too blanked out to touch the remote, and too caught up in thoughts to do anything else.

I'm enchanted by the performances of Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan, both powerful actresses. Knightley has been greatly missed! I am not so sure about Andrew Garfield, I don't understand his passion, his fears, his feelings. I'm not sure if it's how it's supposed to be, or am I just not passionate about his acting.

The plot is simple, and I like the compacted version more than the book. The beginning grips audience right from the start, and the whole movie is just sort of left for your own interpretation - about love, about life, about letting go, and about giving up. I'm sure each of us has our own understanding about the whole thing, and that's the beauty of it :)

Love the poster so much, btw. 4/5 stars.

(book) Before I Fall

2011-03-27T05:54:00.000-07:00

I'm new to Lauren Oliver's books, and this is the first I've read since I heard so many rave reviews about it, and YA bookclub on GoodReads chose it for February read. I was late in obtaining a copy, but it was worth the read.

I was gripped right from the very first chapter. It's about Samantha Kingston (love the name, sounds so posh), who dies on her way home from a party, and wakes up the next day reliving her last day. I guess it's no spoiler because the synopsis mentions that she relives it seven times.

It got a bit boring somewhere in the middle because of so many details, so many repeated occurrences, even though some were altered according to Sam's choices. I also didn't get what she needed to do at first, like Sam herself didn't know what to do, and understood that her initial response was gladness that she thought it was all just a dream, and then tried to repair whatever it was she needed to do without knowing what it actually was, and eventually got so angry because she still messed it all up. Slowly, though, she (and us readers) started getting the depth of the story, some untold secrets, the dark side of the characters, and that was when I found the magic of this book.

Nearing the end, it was almost impossible to put down. The ending was a little shocking, because it was never what we expected it to be. But it all made perfect sense, somehow, and I thought about it long after I put it down. Haunting, beautiful, despite its flaws. And yes, I describe mellow books/movies I love with the words haunting and beautiful, every single time.

I think the whole idea is pretty genius. What would make more sense is that Sam should at least try to tell somebody about the whole thing, because it wasn't just logical that she didn't tell anyone. And despite a lot of people hating on Lindsay and the rest of the girls, I felt like I understood them, and that was what Lauren Oliver succeeded in doing - for making everything seem real, and for us to sympathize with and understand the characters.

3/5 stars.

Look forward to Delirium!

Rumah Beratap Biru

2011-03-25T02:04:00.001-07:00

Pada hari kamu pergi, aku masih meyakinkan diri bahwa aku akan baik-baik saja. Toh, selama ini kita pun berdiri di sudut yang berseberangan, bukannya berjalan berdampingan sambil berpegangan tangan seperti yang seharusnya.

Semalam pun, aku masih menjalani rutinitas seolah-olah tidak terjadi apa-apa. Masuk ke dalam mobil, memastikan aku aman terkunci di dalamnya, menstarter mesin, menyalakan radio dan memilih stasiun yang kusuka, kemukamun mengecek status bensin sebelum berkendara pulang. Seperti yang selalu kulakukan, ada maupun tanpa kamu.

Aku melewati jalan yang biasa - dua kali lampu merah, menikung ke kiri, melewati bagian belakang pasar basah yang pada malam hari dijadikan tempat berkumpulnya anak-anak tetangga untuk bermain kartu, kemukamun berhenti di depan rumah beratap biru.

Rumah beratap biru ini kita beli bersama, walaupun kita tidak pernah menyebutnya sebagai 'rumah kita'. Memang kamu yang lebih dulu menabung, dan menyetor uang mukanya. Tapi kemudian aku pun mulai rutin menyisihkan sebagian besar penghasilanku untuk rumah ini, meski kamu tidak pernah memintaku melakukannya. Lalu, beberapa tahun yang lalu - waktu itu bulan Mei - kita pun sama-sama meninggalkan tempat tinggal lama kami untuk pindah ke rumah beratap biru tersebut. Seingatku, kita bahagia.

Aku selalu mengeluh bahwa rumah ini terlalu kecil. Ruang paling besar yang ada di dalamnya adalah kamar tidur, itu pun ukurannya tidak seberapa. Kamu berkata, ruang yang sempit pun dapat terkesan luas jika kita mampu menatanya sedemikian rupa. Jadi kita pun memasang sebuah tempat tidur dan melapisi lantainya dengan karpet, juga meninggikan rak dan memindahkan segala benda lain yang hanya akan menyesakkan ruangan.

Waktu itu, aku tidak sadar ruang yang kamu maksud adalah hati.

Setelah tiba di rumah, yang kulakukan adalah memastikan dua kali bahwa semua pintu dan jendela telah terkunci, kemukamun merangkak ke atas tempat tidur, masih dalam pakaian lengkap. Aku sering melakukan itu; dan biasanya kamu akan memelukku dari belakang, menghidu aroma parfum yang sudah pudar, saru dengan bau keringat. Dan biasanya, apa pun keletihan yang kukumpulkan dari pagi hari akan pupus menjadi tak bermakna. Tapi malam kemarin, aku tidak punya tenaga untuk memikirkan tentang biasanya. Aku masih merasa aku akan baik-baik saja.

Tapi lalu mimpi itu datang.

Kata orang, mimpi adalah bunga tidur. Mencerminkan harapan, ketakutan, pertanda, dan apa pun itu yang pernah melintasi pikiran bawah sadarmu.

Semalam, aku bermimpi tentang kamu. Tapi aku tidak dapat melihat wajahmu - hanya punggung yang berjalan menjauh, siluet yang semakin lama semakin samar, sampai akhirnya menghilang seluruhnya. Entah fatamorgana, entah apa. Kamu hilang bersama salju yang merintik dari langit.

Aku tidak bisa tidur lagi setelahnya. Semalaman, aku memandang langit-langit, memperhatikan retakan halus dan sarang laba-laba yang mulai merembeti sudut kamar. Aku mencoba mematikan lampu, tapi kegelapan membuatku takut. Sampai akhirnya, aku terlelap, dalam usahaku untuk tidak memikirkan kamu.

Biasanya, apa pun yang kita ributkan, baik masalah kecil maupun besar, akan berakhir dengan saling berpelukan, di atas tempat tidur mungil dalam rumah beratap biru. Mungkin aku yang terlalu naif dalam mengira, masalah kali ini sama seperti sebelum-sebelumnya, dan dalam beberapa jam aku akan melihat kamu, dalam rumah beratap biru.

Tapi kurasa dalam hati aku tahu, saat kamu bilang kamu akan pergi, kali ini kamu tidak main-main.

Mungkin kami sudah terlalu lama menganggap satu sama lain sebagai properti. Sudah terlalu lama saling memiliki, dan sudah menyerahkan setiap bagian dari diri kepada satu sama lain. Setiap jejak di permukaan kulitku adalah milikmu, setiap serat dari rasa pernah kamu sentuh. Kamu pernah masuk ke dalam ruang paling gelap dalam diriku, begitu pun aku pernah melihat saat-saat terburuk maupun terbaikmu.

Namun, itu saja ternyata tak cukup untuk saling memiliki.

Terkadang, rasa saling memiliki yang terlalu kuat justru membuatku terlalu yakin bahwa kamu tidak akan pergi. Dan kali ini, seperti yang kubilang, kamu tetap pergi.

Aku tidak menangis. Aku tidak tahu apa yang harus kutangisi - apakah aku harus tersenyum, tertawa, marah, apa? Yang kutahu adalah rasa kosong di dalam dada yang terasa sesak. Jika aku menangis, apakah rasa itu akan hilang? Jika aku tertawa, apakah rasa itu juga akan hilang? Aku hanya butuh sebuah alasan untuk melakukan salah satu. Jadi aku pun tertawa.

Rasa itu tetap ada.

Kadang, aku yakin kamu akan kembali ke rumah beratap biru. Kadang, aku tak terlalu yakin.

Kemarin, seorang tetangga menanyakan perihal kamu. Katanya, ada sesuatu tentang berkebun yang ingin ditanyakannya.

Aku bilang, kamu sudah pergi.

just felt like writing this piece, Friday 16.05 p.m.
written using Ommwriter for Windows

(movie) No Strings Attached

2011-03-18T22:48:00.000-07:00

Judulnya bikin inget sama album NSYNC. I was expecting so much more of this movie, but it didn't quite meet all of them.

Acting-wise, it's okay. Natalie Portman seems a little stiff at times, maybe coz I've been so used to see her in intense roles. Ashton Kutcher - no doubt, carries the whole story kind of nicely. I think the problem with rom-coms these days is that they try to make things funny. Dialogue, script, everything relies heavily on funny moments. The thing is, they try too hard and it shows. Less romantic moments - the ones that are there seem kind of forced, and as a result it doesn't have enough oomph.

The only funny moment is the carrot you-said-no-flowers thing. A nice weekend date movie, but not worth watching twice.

Quiz 1: Menangkan novel Remember When gratis!

2011-03-18T22:35:00.000-07:00

Untuk merayakan akan terbitnya Remember When di akhir bulan Maret, saya akan mengadakan 3 kuis kecil berhadiah masing-masing 1 novel Remember When gratis, dikirimkan langsung ke alamat kamu.

Kuis pertama sudah saya posting sebelumnya, namun saya posting ulang di sini. Caranya hanya menjawab pertanyaan di bawah ini: Kenapa kamu ingin membaca novel Remember When? Jawaban dapat diposting langsung di bagian comment.

Jawaban paling kreatif akan dipilih pada tgl 1 April 2011 dan diumumkan di FB dan Twitter. Kuis ditutup tanggal 31 Maret 2011, diikuti dengan quiz 2 (quote favorit) dan quiz 3 (resensi novel) untuk hadiah yang lebih menarik.

Jangan lupa follow Twitter @WinnaEfendi dan Facebook winna.efendi@gmail.com untuk update info terbaru. Ikuti juga quiz-quiz selanjutnya :) Pre-order novel Remember When dapat dilakukan dengan mengirimkan email ke winna.efendi@gmail.com.

Terima kasih..

Sinopsis novel Remember When:

Apa pun yang kau katakan, bagaimana pun kau menolaknya, cinta akan tetap berada di sana, menunggumu mengakui keberadaannya.

Bagi kita, senja selalu sempurna; bukankah sia-sia jika menggenapkan warnanya? Seperti kisahmu, kau dan dia, juga kisahku, aku dan lelakiku. Tak ada bagian yang perlu kita ubah. Tak ada sela yang harus kita isi. Bukankah takdir kita sudah jelas?

Lalu, saat kau berkata, "Aku mencintaimu", aku merasa senja tak lagi membawa cerita bahagia. Mungkinkah kata-katamu itu ambigu? Atau, aku saja yang menganggapnya terlalu saru?

"Aku mencintaimu," katamu. Mengertikah kau apa artinya? Mengertikah kau kalau kita tak pernah bisa berada dalam cerita yang sama, dengan senja yang sewarna?

Takdir kita sudah jelas. Kau, aku, tahu itu.

Pemesanan buku + tanda tangan

2011-03-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

Dear teman-teman semua,

Bagi yang ingin membeli buku-buku karangan saya plus tandatangan, baik untuk kado maupun diri sendiri, bisa memesan lewat email ke winna.efendi@gmail.com dengan format berikut:

Nama
Alamat pengiriman (lengkap dengan kota dan kode pos)
No.telp yang bisa dihubungi
Email (untuk konfirmasi)
Judul Buku
Pesan yang ingin ditulis di dalam buku (jika untuk hadiah)

Setelah pemesanan diterima dan dikonfirmasi, pembayaran dapat dilakukan via transfer BCA. Setelah konfirmasi pembayaran, buku tersebut akan dikirim via JNE dalam jangka waktu paling lambat 7 hari kerja, dan pengiriman tergantung kotanya (Jabodetabek 1-2 hari). Ada pun buku-buku yang dapat dipesan adalah:

Ai: Rp. 41 500,-
Refrain: Rp. 46 000,-
Glam Girls Unbelievable: Rp. 37 000,-
Remember When: Rp. 43 000,-
The Journeys (proyek antologi cerita traveling yang berisi kisah 12 penulis): Rp. 48 500,-

Semua buku mendapatkan discount 10%!

Pemesanan buku akan mendapatkan kejutan menarik! :) (stock terbatas yah!) Jadi, ditunggu emailnya dan buku-buku di atas akan meluncur langsung ke alamatmu!

Terima kasih atas dukungannya. Look forward to your emails ;)

(book) Hector and the Search for Happiness

2011-03-13T00:24:00.000-08:00

Reading about happiness is a little like being on a journey on happiness. Deep down inside, we want to find out about what makes us happy, what makes us so insecure and unhappy, and want to find the factors that could be the cure to that. Reading this book is about wanting answers, but there are never really necessarily the perfect answers, just a bit of reflecting.

I like the way the story is told, like we're children and need to be taught in simple language. It's innocent and not vulgar, which I appreciate, and is truthfully a fresh change and suitable for the material.

Hector is a nice enough character, kind, although sometimes he appears quite boring and flat. Though, his intake to the people he meets, how he cautiously handles things and how he approaches everything like an empty glass waiting to be filled are quite admirable to me personally. I like how he describes things and accepts things, that he's just an ordinary human who makes mistakes (yes he made many! which i'm angry with him about). Human characters and the world is told through the eyes of Edouard, Edouardo, Ying Li, Clara, Agnes, Charles, Djamila and many people Hector meets through his journey. I like the story about the Chinese monk best.

So happiness, as we all know, is how we see things. My own firm belief in it is confirmed in the last few chapters of the book, and overall I'm happy with the whole story. I think we just need to be reminded, from time to time, that we have to be grateful and that happiness comes from within.

3.5 of 5 stars. I sincerely look forward to Hector and the Secrets of Love.

(drama) Dream High

2011-03-12T00:06:00.000-08:00

Just recently finished watching Dream High. It's the only drama that has me following its recaps religiously on DramaBeans, but also going out to watch it on KBS every Monday-Tuesday and buy the DVDs as soon as they come out.

OK, i'm a freak for high school music/dance themed drama. Most of you who have been following my reviews, or know how giddy i am when a similar movie/drama is airing, will know :)

So, this one's about the struggle, the relationship and the friendship of 6 teenagers in Kirin High School. Each of them deals with a demon of their own - be it jealousy, dreams that seem to have fallen apart, girl/boy trouble (oh yeah, of course), friendships that are broken, priorities, helping each other out, scandals, harrasments, gossips, and most importantly, growing up.

I don't see a lot of movies/dramas that have inch and EVERY lovable character, with plot so tight and pace so zippy, but still make room for creativity. The writing is nearly flawless, with beautiful cinematography, though I do have complaints about watching certain performances (they're often cut short, often focused on only one personnel rather than the whole group, zooming in and out and giving me a headache). The soundtrack is fun to listen to, with a couple of beautiful songs (Kim Soo Hyun's Dreaming - I still listen to it from time to time, and have no idea he's a talented singer as well as an accomplished young actor). The acting's okay, most of them hold their own, despite complaints and some flat moments, and I'm glad the writing and directing don't deviate much from the whole team, and the title Dream High is perfect, as it is about dreaming and fulfilling your dream.

What I love most about this drama is that I like every character, from the side characters and the second leads. The teachers are adorable and funny, each side character is cute and has their own important subplot. There is always a lesson to be learned, a potential for growth. Even the less important characters change throughout the movie, to the better. The cold teacher becomes someone warm hearted and sympathetic to her students, the weird teacher that doesn't want to have anything to do with well, anything other than himself, becomes focused and helpful throughout the whole ordeal. There are so many hilarious moments, touching moments, I lose count on how many times I laugh and cry while watching it.

My favorite characters are Pil Sook and Sam Dong, though it's hard picking favorites. I think it's mostly what Oh Hyuk said about them. Pil Sook is a character that looks so clumsy and weak, but she is actually a very strong person. And Sam Dong is also someone who's lost his way, but paves it back and becomes stronger because of his difficulties.

There are a lot of beautiful quotes from this drama, that mostly come from Jin Gook, the most mature character of the bunch.

I will quote several dialogue (taking them from DramaBeans' translation based on their recaps). If you, like me, would like to follow their fun drama recaps, please go to www.dramabeans.com

Jin-gook: There are two kinds of happiness in the world. One is a happiness that you realize after the fact. The other is a happiness that you feel in the moment. The happiness in the moment is so rare that they say you can live your whole life on the light that shines from remembering it. I think we’ll go on remembering this moment, today, like that kind of happiness…that we can remember for the rest of our lives, the moment when we shined.

And here's a section that I copied from episode 15 recap:

Hye-mi weighs her decision as she wanders the streets, playing eeny-meeny-miny-moe at each crosswalk, and frustrated that Fate isn’t helping her decide. Jin-gook finds her lost in thought, and she asks him what she’s supposed to do, since neither of them is one hundred percent.

Jin-gook tells her that if one choice were a hundred, it wouldn’t be a choice, but an answer. It’s because they’re fifty-fifty that it’s a choice, and she should weigh it carefully. He adds that once she chooses, not to look back, and turn that fifty into a hundred, to prove to herself that she made the right choice.

The last episode is great, full of fan service with satisfying ending that concludes every character's story, but I kinda wish there are more scenes for Hye Mi-Sam Dong. Do they get to be together after everything? It reminds me a little of the ending for my own book Refrain, not with skipping 2 years to tell the ending, but the one about sacrificing something in order for the one you love to be able to reach their dream.

Overall, a fun, meaningful drama to watch. Definitely will watch it again when i have the chance.

2011 Weekend Reads

2011-03-05T00:58:00.000-08:00

It's been a really long time since I've read for pleasure, out of habit, and rigorously. Recently I've picked up where I've left off and started a new reading list, bought the books from my wishlist, and had fun with it. Not just catching up with the latest movies, I'm also reading good books again. Reading good books is like eating good food. It's not just an education, it's a guilty pleasure, it's an investment of a lifetime, window of the world.

So let's start off with my reading list this year. Growing, and growing.. and growing.
Ah well. At least I'm having fun.

- Room (Emma Donoghue)
I've heard so much rave reviews about this book, and have to say I fell in love with the cover, also the premise. It's always what makes me snatch a book.

- Tinkers (Paul Harding)
Winner of the Booker's Prize! I took it off the shelves and paid for it without hesitating much. Have also heard a lot about it.

- Hector and the Search of Happiness
Have heard once about it and quite liked the concept of it.. coz I'm also doing something related though different. Cute cover. Cute sequel: Hector and the Secrets of Love, if I'm not mistaken. Will be on the hunt for it when it comes out.

- Garis Perempuan (Sanie B Kuncoro)
Had it on my wishlist for months. Skimmed through it and liked it.

- The Art of Racing in the Rain (Garth Stein)
K, this one's a bestseller. I've read half of it, never finding the mood to pick it up again, despite loving it.

- Jingga dalam elegi (Esti Kinasih)
What can I say? I haven't even read the first novel. Picked it out coz I like Fairish a lot.

- Before I Fall (Lauren Oliver)
A recommended book from GoodReads. A girl is in a coma and relives her life seven times till she gets whatever it is that's bugging her right. Sounds cool.

- I Ordered My Wife from the Universe (Stanley Dirgapraja)
How cool is the title? Like the solitaire tree in the cover too. Have never finished his first book but kinda like the first skim though.

- Heart of the Matter (Emily Giffin)
I like Miss Giffin for a chicklit fix! And I don't read chicklits often! She's like my Sophie Kinsella alternative, but with more depth and less laughter. Just more stuffs to ponder on.

- Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
This one's a bookclub read. I haven't found the Wordsworth edition I'm looking for though. More excited about the movie, like I am with classics. The wardrobe, the lush cinematography and gorgeous setting, the hairdo, the posh accent, pretty faces.. I don't get them out of a book (directly, I mean).

- Olive Kitteridge (Elizabeth Strout)
A compilation of short stories. I kinda like her Amy and Isabelle. Read the first chapter. Kind of like it.

So, there goes my list!
I want this year to be super productive. Carpe diem :)

New novel out in March!

2011-02-21T02:11:00.000-08:00

Honestly, I cannot wait for March.

Kenapa?

My novel is gonna be out next month!! *nari-nari girang*

Sebenarnya bukan novel baru sih, tapi novel lama yang diganti cover, ganti isi, dan mungkin ganti judul. Untuk teman-teman yang selama ini ngubek-ngubek toko buku dan belum menemukan Kenangan Abu-Abu, bisa ikut nari-nari bersama saya karena novel tersebut akan diterbitkan ulang oleh penerbit kesayangan kita semua, Gagas Media.

Berikut cover dan edisi lamanya:

Kenangan Abu-Abu adalah novel pertamaku yang terbit pertama kali di tahun 2007. Novel ini lama nggak beredar di pasaran, dan akhirnya mengalami perombakan cukup drastis untuk diterbitkan ulang. Beberapa adegan baru ditambahkan, beberapa adegan dipertimbangkan untuk dibuang, dan naskah lama tersebut mengalami proses editing, sekaligus penggantian wajah (cover dan judulnya). Mudah-mudahan lebih berkenan untuk pembaca semua. Untuk yang masih nyari dan belum dapat, silakan dicari di toko-toko buku bulan depan. Bagi yang sudah pernah beli dan sudah baca, mungkin edisi baru ini bisa melengkapi koleksimu, sekaligus menghidupkan kembali momen-momen Freya, Adrian, Moses dan Gia yang sempat pudar. Plus, isinya juga nggak persis sama kok :)

Rencananya, saya akan membuat kontes dan kuis berhadiah buku gratis, seperti biasa. Siapa mau?? :) Ditunggu ya di bulan Maret!

For now, mau bikin polling kecil-kecilan:

1. Apakah kamu sudah punya novel Kenangan Abu-Abu? Atau justru masih mencari?
2. Kalau belum punya, kenapa kamu ingin baca novel ini?
3. Kalau sudah punya, siapa karakter favoritmu dan kenapa?

Bagi jawaban yang menarik akan mendapatkan 1 paket hadiah pula ;) Quizzes start early this month!

Book Review: Dumont's Lexicon of Wine

2011-02-20T01:12:00.000-08:00

Beli buku ini waktu diskon 30% di Gramedia.
Tujuan awalnya seperti waktu beli buku-buku non fiksi lain; untuk belajar.
:)

Quite interesting, though this is an old edition, reprinted in 2006. Therefore there are 5 years for development and growth that the book does not cover.

The topic is quite extensive and quite easy to understand, even though it uses complicated vocabulary that does not always make it easy for readers to skim through. Each chapter covers the topic nicely, though not in so much details. The book itself covers the production of wine, regions, producers, taste, smell, appreciating wine, combining wine with food, articles from well known sommelier and even a bit of recipes.

Overall, fun and a nice short guide book. Does it make me know more about wine? Yes, but I've found more in other books and the Internet. Does it make me more fluent in elaborating about wine (in terms of theory)? Not so much.

Book blog

2011-02-19T03:27:00.001-08:00

Okay I've always been a huge geeky bookworm, and always this passionate, but it's the first time I'm actually doing something other than setting up a giant library, stocking up books I want to read but never really get the chance or time to, and writing.

This time, I'm not just setting a book club. I'm going as far as making a book blog. Okay for the hundreds or thousands of previous books I've read, this is not possible. And I don't like things to be too burdensome for me, so I'm doing a little at a time. I'll share my random blog posts with book reviews and movie reviews. These three things happen to be can't-pick-one-without-the-other kind of thing, but usually I'm too lazy to write proper book reviews and rely on my GoodReads widget instead. But now, I'm going to do the work and review the books I've read every once in a while.

Latest book purchase: Room by Emma Donoghue. Heard so many rave reviews, intrigued by the cover, enchanted by the synopsis. And this is a debut novel, yes? Count me in.

Book Club

2011-02-19T03:18:00.001-08:00

Berawal dari obsesi saya menghidupkan kembali kebiasaan baca, saya mulai rutin book shopping dan membaca mingguan, diselingi nonton film dan menulis. Tiba-tiba saja saya dapat ide untuk bikin book club, apalagi selama ini teman-teman baca dan menulis saya sudah mulai sibuk dan kami jarang bertemu, apalagi mengobrol.

Selain itu, saya butuh banyak asupan inspirasi, menyalurkan opini, mengkritik, memuji, membaca, apa saja. Selama hobi saya tersalurkan dengan baik, walau sendiri atau pun bersama teman-teman, saya senang.

So we're creating this book club. Sekarang membernya sudah 16 orang. Virtual, supaya nggak terlalu membebani mereka yang mungkin jadwalnya padat (yeah, tell me about it).

Jadi, yang berminat bisa ikutan untuk bulan Maret. Bacaannya Jane Eyre.
Find us on GoodReads or click this link: The Book Club

Updates! Member kami sudah 35 orang. Wow! Mudah-mudahan semua turut berpartisipasi ya. What does our book club do?

Kami membaca. Lalu berdiskusi. Bacaannya adalah 1 buku per bulan sesuai genre yang telah ditetapkan. Buku yang dibaca serempak dan seragam itu ditentukan secara voting, berdasarkan alternatif judul-judul yang diajukan oleh member. Kemudian, kami akan berdiskusi, dengan satu pemimpin diskusi yang bergilir setiap bulannya. Diskusi terbuka mengenai topik apa saja, yang berkaitan dengan buku, film maupun penulisnya. Dari cover, isi cerita, kesan dan pesan, quote favorit, apa saja.. Pemimpin diskusi yang nantinya akan membantu dengan memberikan list bahan diskusi dan usulan topik.

Sounds fun? Sounds too demanding?

Have a look and stick around. You might find it inspiring :)

Reading Target in 2011

2011-02-04T00:37:00.000-08:00

Belakangan ini ada fitur baru di Goodreads, mengenai target membaca di tahun 2011. Well, it's a good motivator, surely, only if I have the time to read the books I keep buying. Biasanya, saya bisa membaca 1 buku seminggu, atau setidaknya 1 buku setiap 2 minggu. Tapi untuk mengeset target yang lebih realistis, saya pun menuliskan 12 buku setahun, alias 1 per bulan.

Tapi, di bulan Januari saja saya sudah membaca 2-3 buku, belum termasuk komik. Awal Februari, sudah selesai 2 buku + 1 yang tidak mampu saya selesaikan. Sayang, beberapa buku lokal tidak ada di GoodReads, sedangkan saya terlalu malas untuk menambahkannya. Dan saya bertekad, komik tidak menjadi bagian dari 12 buku setahun itu.

I'm pretty sure I can beat the target. The question is: seberapa berani saya untuk meningkatkan target itu menjadi 24, 36, dan kelipatan dua belas lainnya?

Pertanyaan lain: bagaimana dengan target menulis (dan menerbitkan) buku? Di tahun lalu saya sama-sekali tidak menyelesaikan satu naskah pun, hanya memulai dan terus memulai sesuatu yang baru. Hibernasi sudah terlalu lama.

It's time to move on.

25

2011-01-07T23:25:00.000-08:00

I just turned 25. A quarter of a century. Reading all those wall posts on Facebook and Twitter made me realize how forgetful I've been of people's and friends' birthdays.. and how rare I've had the chance to really peruse the social networks online.

Okay, I have my arguments. I'm currently editing my very first published novel, and I've just completed the first phase. I need to work on it a bit more before sending the polished version to my editor. I'm also working on a compilation book - this current project from my publisher. I'm really honored to be given a chance to work with other famous writers :-)

I also have a couple of other personal projects to work on. Some are still unfinished ideas in mind, some are half written never finished.. I do hope I can finish them in my spare time.

I'm also working on our coffee shop project. Right now The U Coffee is selling books from Gagas Media/Trans Media.. and we're having membership programs, so discounts for book purchase and food and beverages.

Nevertheless, being 25 makes me reflect back on what I've accomplished, and what I haven't finished. It's kind of convenient that my birthday happens to fall on the first week of January each year, so that I can make a new year's resolution as well as a new age resolution.

Last year, 2010 and being 24, I had finally stepped out of my own shell and made decisions. That involved tears, sweat, arguments, emotions, sadness, happiness all at once. I think being in my mid twenties has somehow shaped me up to be tougher, to be better, to be wiser, to be just.. different. I've stopped being in my comfort zones, being exposed to heartbreaks and inevitable hurt, the things I've always thought that I'd never have to experience, being this sheltered, protected, much-loved person.

But this pain.. I needed that. I still am not strong enough to face it, and I'm not as mature as I'd like to be.. but I'm doing my best.

Not just in the personal development area. I quit my job of four years. I did not publish a book (to my dismay). I ran out of inspirations, scrambling for what was left of my sanity and ideas. But finally.. I emerged. I guess. I started having dreams that were different than the ones I used to have, and not just having them.. but fulfilling them, together.

Nearing the end of the year, I've thought out projects for the things I'd like to do in 2011. So my personal resolutions have come to be:

1. Book writing, book projects, book publishing
I don't think I'll be involved in lots of book-related events, like I did back in 2010. Even though I wasn't really writing, I was lucky to be invited to several gatherings and talkshows. This year, I'll focus on writing - short stories for print, articles, how-to books, novels, book compilations. Let's hope my inspirations won't go awry for me :-)

2. Personal development
Personal growth that involves self-love, self-worth, maturity, and love to everyone around me. I want to grow. I want to be better - though better has no target. I want to be more grateful, be appreciative of every little thing and person around me.

3. Business development
Career wise, I'm also going to try my best.

I know every resolution sounds a bit vague, but I don't want to set too high a target. I'm just going to do my best in every situation, regardless of everything else. So here's my late birthday resolution.

Here's to being twenty five :-) the above picture sounds narcissistic, but I'm 25 and I'm allowed to have a little fun.

And to add, this year's birthday celebration is small and secluded, but is one of the best I've ever had in my life, thanks to my lovely boyfriend with his endless surprises and warmth, my mother's 6-course cooking, and my dad.. (and my brother, who's sadly not home with us at the moment).

2011

2011-01-01T22:28:00.001-08:00

Time for a yearly review!!

Things I did, saw and watched in 2010 that were quite memorable:

Glee (I've always sort of been a musical geek)
American Idol 2010 (I didn't like it. Didn't find it interesting)
Some really good movies.. Inception, amongst the list
Some really horrific ones.. Gulliver's Travel, I'm talking about you
Not publishing a book at all
Several failed attempts of writing new drafts
Finishing a novella
in the process of editing another one
Attending writing seminars and gatherings and events, nevertheless
Opening The U Coffee Bistro and Library
Getting quite active in Twitter and Facebook after abandoning it for so long
Meeting my best friend again after 6 years
Following drama reviews instead of watching them

lots of things I need to reflect on, focus on, improve on, move on from..

Things I look forward to in 2011:

America's Next Top Model cycle 15 though I already know the winner
Glee season 2
Junior Master Chef
my birthday in January
new blockbuster movies
new K-dramas: SIGN, Dream High and My Princess

Resolutions:

for this year to help me shape up and become a better version of myself
learn from mistakes
be an adult
and have faith

Happy New Year, everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T05:28:00.000-08:00

Wishing everybody a very happy Christmas

Trivias to share:

My favorite Christmas song of all time is Sleigh Ride
my fave rendition is Michael Buble's A Grown Up Christmas List
favorite Christmas movies: Home Alone, Love Actually, Sleepless in Seattle (snow!)
fave Christmas album: In Love with Christmas
Christmas wishlist: to spend Christmas with my loved one(s)
Christmas tradition: mostly cuddling up on the couch, reading or watching a rerun of Christmas movie
What I'm doing right now: loading jazzy Christmas songs on YouTube after having family dinner and movie marathon with my hunie

This Christmas

2010-12-11T20:34:00.000-08:00

The things I'd like Santa to put on oversized socks or underneath the Christmas tree:

- a brand new laptop, in white, please.
- an iPad, maybe? just for fun.
- new Onyx, in white.
- lots of books from my Amazon wishlist.

Despite the gadget-oriented wishlist, actually I don't really need any of the above.
I have enough, and I'm grateful for that :)

So, this Christmas I'll just ask for a nice day with you.

:rindu:

2010-12-05T05:00:00.001-08:00

Perempuan itu dulunya sering menulis sampai malam. Menumpahkan segalanya di sana, di mana pedih menghasilkan deretan kata mendayu-dayu, dan bahagia menyisakan riang. Dalam lembaran-lembaran maya, mengisi kursor yang berkedip-kedip, ditemani secangkir teh hangat dan kudapan apa pun yang ada di atas meja makan.

Hari ini dia menyempatkan lima menit, yang kini sulit didapatkan untuk menulis. Lima menit dengan potongan es krim rasa butter scotch, membuka blog lamanya demi menuliskan beberapa paragraf yang mungkin tidak terlalu bermakna.

Semua karena ucapan seorang kawan lama mengenai tulisannya yang lama tak terlihat. Sebagian karena pembaca yang menanyakan kepastian buku terbarunya. Sisanya karena kekasihnya terus mendukungnya untuk menulis, dan menjadikannya inspirasi terbesar. Dan karena beberapa orang yang mengakui tulisannya indah menyentuh, walau lama ia sudah tidak merasakannya lagi.

Perempuan itu rindu menulis. Dan menulislah ia.

Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve CountDown Party at The U Coffee

2010-12-04T03:46:00.000-08:00

Celebrating an Enchanted December
spend Rp. 250 000,- and get: free dory steak, 25k voucher, and a gift from underneath the Christmas tree

Join our Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve CountDown Party
24 December 2010 / 31 December 2010
The more friends u bring, the more discounts u get!
free ginger bread
big-screen movies
fireworks
we’re open all night long!

The U Coffee, Bistro and Library
Jl. Tanjung Duren Barat 1 no. 12
West Jakarta
021-5664031
FB: The U Coffee Twitter: theucoffee

Our latest coffee house project: The U Coffee

2010-11-06T05:58:00.000-07:00

You might be wondering what I'm up to these days..

Here's our latest coffee shop project. Tempatnya asyik banget untuk hangout, nongkrong dan ngopi.. ada private library-nya juga dengan koleksi buku yang oke. Makanan dan minumannya enak dengan harga affordable :) cocok buat yang cari tempat untuk dinner date, semi fine dining, sampai business meetings dan gathering atau book signing.

There’s a new fun place in town!

THE U COFFEE

What is the U?

We are a coffee bar
We are a café
We are a library
We are altogether fun in one place

‘The U’ is a one stop entertainment place to relax, refresh and gather, exactly your kind of place for those who enjoy a good ambiance for gathering with friends, work colleagues, clients, loved ones, or simply to have a relaxing me time.

Where is the U?

You can find us at:
Jl. Tanjung Duren Barat 1 no. 12
Jakarta Barat
Phone, fax, delivery: 021-5664031

Follow us for latest updates and special promo:
Twitter: twitter.com/theucoffee
Facebook: The U Coffee
Email: service@the-u-coffee.com

Why the U?

#1: Are you a coffee addict or tea lover? Don’t dismay – we have both! Perk up your mornings with our white chocolate latte or caramel latte for those who love a bit of extra sweetness, or The U macchiato and americano if you'd like something a bit stronger. If coffee is not your cup of tea, do try our ice blends (we love Black Forrest Ice Blend!) or our selection of tea.

#2: Our food is to-die-for. If you're up for brunch, try The U Special Breakfast or The U Caesar Salad. We recommend Bolognaise pasta and Lasagna for Italian food lovers, or steaks and The U Ribs with caramel sauce for those who prefer a hearty meal. Don't forget to try our famous French Toast for dessert and you're in for a very tasty treat.

#3: Our library has vast collections, from rare vintage literature to bestseller books in both English and Indonesian. We also provide a wide range of games, from classic Monopoly to challenging Sudoku, and much more!

#4: Just want to sit back and browse? We also offer free Wi-Fi for your laptops. Just inquire our receptionist for password and details.

#5: Our service and ambiance. Feel like a fresh change after a tiring day, just to sip a cup of hot coffee and read? Our ambiance is cozy and homey. Make yourselves at home, ‘disappear’ temporarily in the pages of a good book and lounge music, and let our staffs spoil you with our best service.

#6: We love communities! We love to hold book signings, launchings, community gatherings, bazaars and book swaps. Need a venue for your campus activities and club gathering? Feel free to contact us and we will try our best to help.

Are you looking for a cozy spot for brunch with friends?
Are you looking for a place for your birthday or anniversary party?
Perhaps you are planning a romantic candlelight dinner date for your loved one and want us to help in making the moment more memorable?

Drop by The U for a visit and we’ll make sure you love the experience.

Sweet November promo: only this month! Enjoy 20% off on weekdays and 10% off on weekends - all food and beverages. Get our special French Toast for a minimum purchase of Rp. 250 000,-

:)

Refrain masuk Long List Anugerah Pembaca Indonesia 2010!

2010-11-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

Barusan seorang kenalan baru di Facebook memberitahu bahwa Refrain masuk long list Anugerah Pembaca Indonesia 2010, kategori fiksi sekaligus sampul buku fiksi. Wow. Nggak nyangka, karena saingannya adalah Dewi Lestari, Clara Ng, Andrea Hirata, dan penulis-penulis berbakat lainnya. Dan Refrain adalah satu-satunya teenlit yang masuk ke kategori tersebut.

Terima kasih banyak atas dukungan teman-teman sekalian, pembaca dan juga pihak Gagas Media, yang saya harapkan sampulnya menang saking kreatifnya :)

Mari ikuti poll-nya di sini, dan vote buku favorit kamu.

And if you vote for Refrain, thank you very much :) :) can't do this without you guys!

:night and day:

2010-10-31T02:48:00.000-07:00

Just like night and day
They exist on the same sky
and complement each other

:us:

2010-10-31T02:46:00.001-07:00

I am the whimsical dreamer
You are the logical realist

Kissing You (Miranda Cosgrove)

2010-09-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite songs at the moment
somehow it always reminds me of you :)

Sparks fly it's like electricity
I might die, when I forget how to breath
You get closer and there's no where in this world I'd rather be
Time stops like everything around me is frozen
And all that matters are theese
Few moments when you open my mind to things I've never seen

Cuz when I'm kissing you my senses come alive
Almost like the puzzle piece I've been trying to find
Falls right into place you're all that it takes
My doubts fade away when I'm kissing you
When I'm kissing you it all starts making sense
And all the questions I've been asking in my head
Like are you the one should I really trust
How clear it becomes when I'm kissing you

Past loves they never got really far
Walls of pictures I've got in my heart
And I promise I wouldn't do this
Till I knew it was right for me
But no one, no guy that I met before
Could make me feel so right and secure
And have you noticed I loose my focus
And the world around me disapears

Cuz when I'm kissing you my senses come alive
Almost like the puzzle piece I've been trying to find
Falls right into place you're all that it takes
My doubts fade away when I'm kissing you
When I'm kissing you it all starts making sense
And all the questions I've been asking in my head
Like are you the one should I really trust
How clear it becomes when I'm kissing you

I've never felt nothing like this
You're making me open up
No point in even trying to fight this
It kinda feels like it's love

Cuz when I'm kissing you my senses come alive
Almost like the puzzel piece I've been trying to find
Falls right into place you're all that it takes
My doubts fade away when I'm kissing you
When I'm kissing you it all starts making sense
And all the questions I've been asking in my head
Like are you the one should I really trust
How clear it becomes when I'm kissing you

Day 9: photos that I took

2010-09-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

I've been neglecting this blog for weeks, both intentionally and unintentionally. Been really busy these couple of weeks, so I apologize for any unreplied messages, ignored posts and unresponsive behavior of any kind.

Regarding my MEME challenge, yes I haven't been able to continue writing. Therefore rather than not finishing what I've started, I think I'll begin again, slowly this time. Whenever I have the time, I'll continue my MEME journals.

The next topic on the list is a photo that I took. I haven't taken lots of pictures recently, and I am not a very good photographer, even if I do enjoy photography and art. I've been on a trip to Taiwan recently, so I'll be posting some pictures that I took with my phone.

This is Shihlin Night Market, one of the most popular night markets in Taipei. A friend, Jean, told me that there are three popular night markets there, one famous for food (Gongguan, if I'm not mistaken), one famous for little knick knacks (Shihlin), and another famous for fashion.

Even though I only have one night to spend in Taipei, and I'd rather spend hours on an Eslite bookstore (where they film Au Revoir Taipei), I enjoyed Shihlin night market a lot. It was such fun to be on an overcrowded street, blending in with both locals and tourists. The smell of street stall food was in the air - we could have one of those red sticky round candies, or hot thick paste squid noodle soup. We could have barbecued beef or chicken or pork with sauce, and finish them off with refreshing frog eggs drinks (don't worry, they're not really frog eggs).

Shihlin Night Market consisted of long streets with lots of stores; trendy Korean style clothing, street stalls selling anything you could possibly think of, candies, snacks, food stalls.. it was so much fun roaming around, and the price range varied from downright cheap to really expensive.

The crowd started from around 6 in the evening and subsided when it got closer to 9 or 10. The market opened till midnight though, and it was such a hip place that everyone looked so trendy :)

Bargains: I got a French lounge music CD for only 2 bucks, some snacks and mouth watering food (loved the stinky tofu), a solar lucky cat stand, and my mom got a lime colored blouse.

Day 08 - a photo that makes me sad

2010-08-01T23:41:00.000-07:00

Not going to post any photos here, but I will tell you a story about the photo that makes me sad.

Just flicking around the photos in my digital camera a while ago when I stumbled across the last one. It was of my family, on Chinese New Year around 4 years ago. My grandfather was on a wheelchair, not quite looking at the camera. He looked so frail and so old, it brought tears to my eyes.

He died 3 years ago. It was during the early weeks of Eid Mubarak, and I remember sitting on the hospital cafeteria, waiting. And then he was gone.

It was the first time a close family member died.

So when I looked at the photograph, I was constantly reminded of how it used to be, the trip we took to the zoo and arcade, the things he'd done when we were younger, the things he said, and the look on his face.

Day 06 - a photo that makes you happy

2010-08-01T04:55:00.000-07:00

Photos of flowers, the sky, the ocean, lights, and Ferris wheels especially make me happy. So here's one from a website. I think it looks beautiful.

Out of every flower in the world, daisies are my favorites in a photograph. They look so spunky, energetic yet innocent. Not as elegant as lilies, not as beautiful as roses, not as strong as sunflowers, not as carefree as dandelions, but there's something so sweet and pure about daisies..

-muse-

2010-07-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

I think of you..
and I write

:)

Day 06 - cerita mengenai langkah

2010-07-31T01:20:00.000-07:00

Alkisah, ada seorang lelaki dan kekasihnya seorang perempuan. Sang lelaki terbiasa berjalan sangat cepat, langkahnya panjang, mantap dan tegas. Sedangkan sang perempuan, seberapa berusahanya dia untuk melangkah, seringkali tidak mampu sejajar dengan sang lelaki.

Suatu hari, sang lelaki dan sang perempuan sedang berjalan berdampingan. Sang lelaki mencoba berjalan lebih lambat, namun langkah-langkahnya yang panjang tetap menciptakan jarak antara ia dan kekasihnya. Sedangkan sang perempuan mulai tertinggal di belakang.

Sambil memandang ke depan, sang perempuan mendadak berhenti berjalan.
Sang lelaki menoleh ke belakang, kecewa karena perempuan itu berbuat demikian.
Sang perempuan hanya ingin tahu, apakah lelaki itu akan menunggu atau terus berjalan menjauh.

Malam itu, sang lelaki bercerita mengenai kisah sepasang kakek nenek yang sudah tua.

Sang kakek berjalan dengan sangat cepat, sedangkan sang nenek berjalan dengan sangat lambat. Suatu hari mereka terpisah cukup jauh. Namun sang kakek terus berpikir.. "Dia pasti tidak akan berhenti berjalan untuk menemukan aku" dan sang nenek juga berkata dalam hati, "Dia tidak akan meninggalkanku, dia pasti akan memperlambat langkahnya dan terus menunggu sampai aku datang."

Sang lelaki berkata, kepercayaan adalah segalanya yang membuat mereka demikian. Dan sejak saat itu, sang perempuan tidak pernah berhenti lagi.

Menulis yang seperti itu

2010-07-30T03:24:00.001-07:00

Belakangan ini saya sungguh berhenti dari sejurus rutinitas yang biasanya jadi bagian besar dalam hidup saya. Baik itu menulis, membaca, menonton DVD tengah malam sambil mengemil apa pun yang tersedia di meja makan.. Yang paling saya rasakan adalah, betapa kesibukan demi kesibukan menghimpit dan menjadi prioritas saya.

Tidak salah, memang. Prioritas-prioritas tersebut pun adalah hal terpenting yang saya pilih dan menjadi komitmen saya.

Kadang, jujur saya kangen pada menulis blog dan cerpen-cerpen mellow.
Kadang, saya kangen duduk di balik meja kayu saya di kantor, menerima telepon, browsing dan BBM di sela-sela kerja. Di mana saya masih berangkat jam 8 dan pulang jam 5 teng, kadang lebih awal dari itu.
Kadang, semuanya terlihat mudah dulu.

Tapi tidak ada yang saya sesali. Rindu-rindu kecil tersebut adalah nostalgia. Mereka adalah fragmen masa lalu yang menjadi bagian dari hidup saya, dulu. Sekarang adalah sesuatu yang lain. Masa kini adalah saatnya saya membangun cita-cita saya sendiri, bersama dia, bersama orang-orang yang saya kasihi. Masa saya untuk beranjak dewasa dan meninggalkan sedikit jejak-jejak usang yang sudah sepatutnya ditinggalkan.

Mudah maupun tidak, itu adalah proses, dan saya tidak mengeluh.

Belakangan, saya mulai panik karena sudah lama berhenti menulis. Jari-jari saya belum kaku, walau kalimat kadang berhenti di tengah jalan dan otak saya tidak lagi berlari lebih cepat dari jemari saya di atas keyboard. Seringnya, saya kehabisan ide. Kehabisan karakter. Berhenti di tengah jalan.

Apa yang saya cari, sebenarnya?

Jujur, saya masih menunduk kepada stereotype - apa yang saya kerjakan dengan sangat baik, yaitu menulis teenlit. Kisah-kisah pahit manis remaja dan lika-liku cinta persahabatan, bukankah saya sangat familier dengan itu? Bukankah memang keahlian saya adalah meramu kisah Nata-Niki yang serupa?

Lalu bicara mengenai perkembangan kepada sesuatu yang serupa namun setingkat lebih tinggi - chicklit. Ah ya, saya sudah terbiasa menciptakan karakter yang savvy, independent walau centil, suka belanja, metropolitan. Baru-baru ini seorang Grace Aria menjadi karakter utama proyek terbaru saya, seorang wanita tigapuluhan, single dan mencari jati diri. Hey, mengapa dia terdengar seperti Maybella dalam Glam Girls yang saya tulis?

Apakah kamu percaya pada writer's block? Apakah kamu percaya bahwa kamu benar-benar berhenti menulis di saat kesibukanmu sedang menggunung, dan kamu ingin mencari tantangan baru, ide baru?

Alasan-alasan itu benar adanya. Untuk saya, saya bisa mengakui bahwa saya sedang ingin bersemedi. Saya tidak ingin menulis menjadi beban yang saya sempilkan di antara jam kerja, hanya karena saya harus menghasilkan sesuatu, apa saja, yang bisa membuktikan eksistensi. Saya tidak ingin menganggap menulis adalah sesuatu yang harus mendefinisikan saya dan menjadi tanggung jawab saya. Saya tidak ingin tunduk pada karya populer yang itu-itu saja.

Menulis adalah bagian dari saya. Dan seperti hari ini, entah mengapa saya diam dan ingin menghasilkan sesuatu. Cerita mengenai seorang gadis yang termenung di pinggir jendela, bergumul dengan isi pikirannya yang sendu. Secangkir kopi di atas meja, tidak tersentuh. Dan sisanya berlanjut begitu saja..

Seperti cerita Lola sang pelukis jalanan. Sumire yang wajahnya rusak dan terkena amnesia. Seperti Georgia yang dibunuh ayahnya karena melihat ibunya terbakar sampai mati.

Seperti.. seperti.

Day 05: favorite quote(s)

2010-07-30T02:57:00.001-07:00

Saya seorang pengumpul quote. Kalau ada yang bagus, selalu saya tulis di status BBMlah, di FBlah, sampai punya buku sendiri khusus quote. Dari yang temanya persahabatan sampai cinta-cintaan, dan belakangan, hidup. Self reflecting. Cara pandang.

Smile, even though it's a sad smile, coz sadder than a sad smile is the sadness of not knowing how to smile.

Nggak begitu relevan, sekarang :)

Kalau dulu, beberapa quote favorit saya adalah yang bermakna khusus untuk saya, misalnya, love is a merry little elf dancing a jig, and then suddenly he turns on you with a machine gun. Nggak banyak temen-temen saya yang menangkap artinya seperti saya mengartikannya. Meanings to quotes are very personal.

Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakes - Carl Jung. Ini mengenai introspeksi diri dan pengenalan diri. Juga beberapa mengenai keindahan hati seseorang dan bagaimana untuk judge less, feel more, misalnya the best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen by the eyes, but can only be felt with the heart - Hellen Keller.

Belakangan, quote-quote indah datang dari pujaan hati yang senang sekali membuat quote versinya sendiri, yang kadang lucu dan unik tapi sebenarnya sangat bermakna, kalau kita benar-benar menyesapinya.

Life is not perfect, so fill it with as many perfect moments as possible.

Waktu pertama kali di-SMS begitu oleh sang pacar, saya sempat bingung. Gimana, maksudnya? Tapi belakangan, bersama dia saya mengerti.. perfect moments have to be built. There are moments that we need to catch and make them ours.

Dan yang paling kami sukai - segala sesuatu indah pada waktunya.

:)

Day 04: Favorite book

2010-07-29T02:06:00.000-07:00

Bolos sehari. Ga apa-apa lah ya, yang penting masih lanjut :) Favorite books sebenarnya banyak banget. Tapi yang dibaca di tahun 2010 dan benar-benar menyentuh hati cuma satu.

The Last Summer (of You and Me)
by Ann Brashares

Sebenarnya saya agak ragu dengan Sisterhood series-nya, tapi belakangan saya jatuh cinta setelah baca bukunya dan nonton filmnya. Bukan pada idenya, tapi seberapa besar pembaca bisa merasakan keterkaitan dengan karakternya. Dan menurut saya pribadi, The Last Summer ini adalah buku terbaik Ann Brashares. Saya belum baca buku terbarunya, My Name is Memory.

Kalau ditanya, saya suka baca buku seperti apa sih, yang lucu kah, adventure kah, yang chicklit kah.. jawabannya adalah, saya suka buku yang mellow. Buku mellow itu kayak apa? Ya seperti the Last Summer ini. Juga seperti Dogs of Babel. Seperti the Myth of You and Me. Nggak banyak saya menemukan buku-buku mellow yang bagus.. dan biasanya kalau menemukannya, saya akan betul-betul menyukainya.

The Last Summer adalah buku dewasa Brashares yang pertama. Dewasanya pun untuk kalangan 20an. Ceritanya mengenai Alice, Paul dan Riley yang tumbuh besar bersama. Alice adalah sang adik yang menggemaskan, cantik, lembut dan penyayang. Riley adalah sang kakak perempuan tomboy yang bekerja sebagai lifeguard di pantai, kuat, punya kepemimpinan tinggi, cuek. Paul.. laki-laki di rumah sebelah yang sensitif dan merupakan kawan baik Riley sejak kecil.

He had missed two summers. She couldn't imagine how he could do that. Without him, they had been shadow seasons. Feelings were felt thinly, there and then gone.... In some ways, she was always waiting for him.

Begitu dewasa, semakin Paul dan Alice merasa saling memiliki. Ketertarikan mereka pada satu sama lain makin kuat, sampai akhirnya mereka berpacaran tanpa sepengetahuan Riley. Dan Riley punya penyakit berbahaya yang bisa membunuh kapan saja.

It was the same beach, the same sun. The same shirt and pants. The same girl walking beside him. And yet somehow different.

Ini hanya cerita biasa. Tapi bukan juga cerita biasa.

Bahasanya sangat indah. Prosa demi prosa mengalir lembut, subtle, penuh makna, tanpa harus ribet dan berat. Setiap dialog punya arti di baliknya yang benar-benar bikin mikir. Alice dan Paul punya off screen chemistry yang bikin kita merasa.. how can two people feel like that about each other?

Day 03: Favorite TV Program

2010-07-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Baru hari ketiga, tapi udah hampir absen dan bolos satu entry. dan edisi hari ini nggak pake (s) alias plural alias banyak. Hari ini temanya: satu TV program favorit.

I'm thinking of a lot of programs, from the silly ones and cartoons like Upin and Ipin (love!), Doraemon, Dexter's Laboratory, Sailor Moon.. TV quizzes as Who wants to be a millionnaire, Family 100 (old times!).. and dramas like Sex and the City, House, Lipstick Jungle.

Tapi kayaknya hari ini saya hanya mau membahas satu: America's Next Top Model.

Kenapa?

It's fun! Nonton remaja-remaja berlomba-lomba jadi model, catfights and arguments, photoshoots, challenges.. Saya paling suka proses pemotretannya, dan waktu judging di mana kita bisa melihat hasil pemotretannya. Saat photoshoot mungkin terlihat sulit, tapi hasilnya kelihatan flawless. Dan sebaliknya.

And we're never sure who's gonna win. That's the best part.

Biasanya saya akan punya favorit di setiap season. Belakangan, kandidat favorit saya di season 13, Nicole Fox, menang menjadi petite model Amerika yang pertama. Dan lucunya, biasa favorit saya selalu masuk setidaknya Top 5 atau Top 2.. misalnya Natasha Galkina, Marjorie Conrad, Chantal Jones..

Marjorie

Season pertama yang saya tonton kalau nggak salah adalah season 6 atau 7.. I'm not exactly sure. Pemenangnya adalah Caridee English, dengan Melrose di posisi kedua, dan si kembar Michelle dan Amanda. Konsep pemotretannya high fashion, semua kontestannya berbakat, dan konflik 'domestik'nya juga berasa.

Chantal

Sejak saat itu saya menonton back to back episodes-nya di YouTube. Agak kecewa juga karena belakangan episode-nya semakin membosankan, dan kadang ada kesan judge favoritism seperti pada gadis Asia (yang sampai sekarang belum pernah menang ANTM), plus-sized model (Whitney, misalnya, yang menang walau menurut saya season ini kontestan Top 5-nya nggak menarik), dan beberapa orang yang seharusnya lanjut tapi tereliminasi.

Natasha

Tapi sejauh ini saya menilai para judge, terutama Tyra, cukup fair. I love her concepts, and even though she and the rest of the judges can get so quirky and corny sometimes.. it's in a good way.

And till today, watching the final runway never fails to give me goosebumps.

Day 02: favorite movie(s)

2010-07-25T20:04:00.000-07:00

Berhubung saya cukup cinta nonton film, saya agak kebingungan memilih film mana saja yang pernah saya tonton dan saya suka setengah mati. Tapi rasanya, saya akan menulis tentang film-film yang sudah saya nonton beberapa kali dan sama-sekali nggak pernah bosan, dan sampai sekarang masih membekas di ingatan.

1. A Little Romance (1979) - Laurence Olivier, Diane Lane, Thelonius Bernard

Film jadul yang saya tonton di tahun 90an, di sebuah stasiun TV lokal. Masih teringat sampai belasan tahun kemudian, betapa saya suka adegan terakhirnya di mana Diane Lane dan Thelonius Bernard yang masih berumur dua belasan, berciuman di bawah Bridge of Sighs di Venice. Akhirnya saya menemukan DVDnya di Amazon dan sampai sekarang merupakan koleksi favorit saya.

Ceritanya mengenai seorang remaja Amerika (Diane Lane) yang tinggal di Perancis mengikuti ayah angkatnya, lalu bertemu dengan pemuda Perancis penyuka blockbuster (Thelonius Bernard). Karena karakter Diane Lane akan pindah ke Amerika, mereka berdua memutuskan untuk melarikan diri ke Venice. Menurut legenda yang diceritakan oleh seorang pria paruh baya (Laurence Olivier), sepasang kekasih akan mendapatkan cinta abadi saat berciuman di bawah Bridge of Sighs.

Kedua karakternya begitu hidup, dan cerdas. Mereka sama-sama berpikir, bagaimana di antara sekian banyak orang, mereka bisa menemukan the one? Bagaimana mereka yang tidak fit in dengan teman-teman sebaya mereka yang kekanakan, bisa menemukan seseorang yang benar-benar cocok?

Memorable quote: BINGO!

2. Titanic (1997)- Leonardo di Caprio, Kate Winslet

Masih ingat saya nonton film ini sekeluarga saat baru pindah rumah, dan setelahnya saya berbaring di atas kasur dan tumpukan koran, memikirkan betapa tragisnya kisah tersebut.

Romance yang dipadukan dengan tragedi epik semacam ini berhasil. Karakternya juga bukan hanya tipikal Romeo Juliet biasa. Setiap adegannya bermakna. Dan Leonardo di Caprio di sini ganteng sekali :)

Memorable quote: You jump, I jump.

3. A Moment to Remember - Son Ye Jin

Pertama kalinya sungguh-sungguh menyukai film Korea dan Son Ye Jin selalu menjadi aktris favorit saya. Ceritanya tidak terlampau dramatis, justru menurut saya sedikit whimsical dan sinematografinya indah sekali. Semakin ke belakang, karakter-karakternya semakin tergali, menunjukkan ketakutan terbesar mereka, apa yang menyakiti mereka, dan bagaimana mereka bereaksi saat panik dan ketakutan.

Endingnya juga dibuat menggantung - happy ending kah, walau kita semua tahu sebenarnya akhirnya akan tragis?

4. When Harry Met Sally (1989) - Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal

Lucu! Komedi romantis yang satu ini belum ada yang bisa mengalahkan, kalau menurut saya. Dialog demi dialog sangat manusiawi dan cerdas, karakter keduanya sangat natural dan chemistry-nya juga dapet (walau saya lebih suka Meg dengan Tom Hanks di You've Got Mail dan Sleepless in Seattle). Rasanya kita bisa mengerti ketakutan dasar dan perasaan keduanya, bagaimana rasanya mencari soulmate, kehilangan mereka, jatuh cinta lagi, suka tapi benci, man-woman friendship..

I have a good time watching this one, really.

Memorable quote: I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.

Film-film lain yang saya suka, berdasarkan genre:

romance: Closer, If Only, Wicker Park, the Painted Veil, Forget Paris, Sleepless in Seattle
drama: the Reader, Juno
action: Minority Report, Eagle Eye, the Transformers (yang pertama, bukan yang kedua), Inception
foreign: (chinese) Painted Skin, A Time to Love, So Close, (japanese/chinese) Longest Night in Shanghai, About Love, (french) Love Me if You Dare
comedy: the Hangover

Day 01: favorite song(s)

2010-07-24T22:56:00.000-07:00

Dalam rangka memulai hari-hari dengan MEME, maka inilah posting pertama saya, yaitu mengenai lagu-lagu favorit (karena memilih satu sangat susah, dan memilih beberapa pun harus dibantu dengan seleksi lewat iTunes) :)

1. One and Only - Teitur

Lagu wedding proposal yang sangat.. unik. Saking inspiratifnya lagu ini, saya membuatnya menjadi judul sekaligus isi utama song fiction saya dari seri Saya, Kamu dan Dia episode ketiga, di mana Laura memberikan lagu ini sebagai kado cintanya yang terbesar untuk si lelaki, yang akan melamar teman baik Laura.

Laura adalah seorang karakter yang merupakan hopeless romantic, sekaligus penyendiri. Dia kontradiktif - pembenci keramaian, namun rela berdesakan demi konser Coldplay. Tidak suka boyband, namun gembira alang kepalang saat melihat CD Kings of Convenience satu dolaran dari pasar loak. Dan lagu inilah yang dipilihnya, di antara ratusan lagu love confessions lain yang romantis.

I've been wishing on a star but I never could have imagined
I would land just where you are after all this lonesome travelling
Took one look in your eye, reached out to hold your hand
This is when I realized what I could never understand

Do you want to be my one and only love?

2. Shape of My Heart - Backstreet Boys

Mengalahkan puluhan lagu favorit saya dari band yang sama. Entah mengapa. Dan liriknya terasa begitu honest, begitu real, dan disandingkan dengan video klip serba biru, rasanya pas banget.

I'm here with my confession
Got nothing to hide no more
I don't know where to start
But to show you the shape of my heart

3. Hazy - Rosi Golan

Saking cintanya dengan duet Rosi Golan dan William Fitzsimmons dengan suara mellow keduanya yang saling melengkapi dengan sempurna, saya membuat satu playlist khusus di iPod yang hanya memuat satu lagu ini saja, sehingga lagunya berputar berulang kali sampai saya bosan. Dan saya jadi ingin belajar gitar demi memainkan lagu ini.

Liriknya pun sederhana. Seperti pertanyaan-pertanyaan inosen yang diajukan kepada sang kekasih, yang bersumber dari ketakutan terdalam dari diri sang penanya.

What if I fall and hurt myself?
Would you know how to fix me
What if I went and lost myself?
Would you know where to find me
If I forgot who I am,
Would you please remind me oh?
Cause without you things go hazy

4. She's My Kind of Rain - Ryan Cabrera

Versi favorit adalah saat seseorang menyanyikannya secara akustik, dengan gitar, sehari sebelum saya berangkat ke luar negeri. Katanya ini adalah lagu yang dinyanyikan Tim McGraw dan ditulis untuk istrinya, Faith Hill.

She's the sun set shadows
She's like Rembrandt's light
She's the history that's made at night
She's my lost companion
She's my dreaming tree
Together in this brief eternity
Summer days, winter snows
She's all things to behold

5. I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman

The kind of song played on weddings. Liriknya sederhana saja.. I will be here, no matter what. Itu intinya :)

Masih ada ratusan lagu favorit saya, sesuai dengan mood.. so I'm categorizing based on genre:

oldies and mushy songs: Have I Told You Lately that I Love You, (Rod Stewart), It Might Be You (Steven Bishop), Fallen

pops and mellows: Iris (Goo Goo Dolls), John Mayer, James Morrisson, William Fitzsimmons, James Blunt

lagu-lagu penyemangat: It's My Life/My Confessions (Glee OST), Imitation of Life (REM), Save Tonight (Save Ferris), I'll Be Alright (Anggun)

songs that remind me of you: When you say nothing at all (Ronan Keating), Don't know much (Aaron Neville and Linda Ronstadt), You're Beautiful (James Blunt), Vanilla Twilight (Owl City) and loads more

-dan inilah akhir dari posting pertama saya, untuk MEME-

30 days of MEME

2010-07-24T21:43:00.000-07:00

Berawal dari blognya Marie Olive yang menganjurkan saya untuk ikutan 30 days of MEME.. idenya adalah menuliskan satu topik yang berbeda setiap harinya di blog, kurang lebih seperti 30 hari menulis blog *iya, secara rutin, nggak pakai lompat sehari atau lupa hehehe*

MEME sendiri adalah ide yang ditularkan. Dengar-dengar 30 days of MEME sedang booming di MP, dan saya tertarik untuk mencobanya karena:

1. Saya sudah terlampau sering menelantarkan blog.
2. Saya butuh alasan untuk menulis lagi, apa pun jenisnya.
3. Idenya menarik.
4. It's gonna be fun *and errrr, hard, too*
5. I'd like to be part of it.

Jadi, berikut adalah list MEME:

Day 01- Your favourite song
Day 02 - Your favourite movie
Day 03 - Your favourite television programme
Day 04 - Your favourite book
Day 05 - Your favourite quote
Day 06 - Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 07 - A photo that makes you happy
Day 08 - A photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 09 - A photo you took
Day 10 - A photo of you taken over ten years ago
Day 11 - A photo of you taken recently
Day 12 - Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 13 - A fictional book
Day 14 - A non-fictional book
Day 15 - A fanfic
Day 16 - A song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - An art piece (painting, drawing, sculpture, etc.)
Day 18 - Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 19 - A talent of yours
Day 20 - A hobby of yours
Day 21 - A recipe
Day 22 - A website
Day 23 - A YouTube video
Day 24 - Whatever tickles your fancy
Day 25 - Your day, in great detail
Day 26 - Your week, in great detail
Day 27 - This month, in great detail
Day 28 - This year, in great detail
Day 29 - Hopes, dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - Whatever tickles your fancy

Sounds fun? Ikutan, yuk.

News Flash

2010-07-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ookay I have not updated this blog for ages, it seems. I apologize. Do miss writing dearly.
Some news flashes:

I was on TV One on July 11, talking about my books and writing.

Was on Pesta Buku Jakarta the week before that, also talking about inspirations and writing. Met a couple of readers there, and got to meet my writing partner for Pink and Black, Layla. I wasn't expecting it, so I was ecstatic.

Was on an interview with Cosmo Girl last month, talking about writing, writers' block, etc with Arlin, one of their journalists. It was fun. Plus, I was wearing Vilici design by Vilia, it was a wonderful creation of a necklace :) thank you, Vilia.

Am going to be a judge in Gagas Media Romance Writing Competition :) have you joined yet?

Without you things go hazy

2010-04-28T01:50:00.000-07:00

what if I fall and hurt myself,
would you know how to fix me
what if I went and lost myself,
would you know where to find me
if I forgot who I am
would you please remind me
oh cause without you things go hazy

:happy couple secrets:

2010-02-17T22:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Couples: What It Takes to Be One
Love alone won’t see you through, say the experts
By Elizabeth Heubeck
WebMD Feature
Reviewed by Cynthia Dennison Haines, MD

The sight of a couple sharing a joke and walking hand in hand, their faces lined with wrinkles, and their hair gray, begs the question: How did they remain a happy couple for so many years? Given that about half of all first marriages for men and women under 45 end in divorce, it's a legitimate question. So at WebMD, we asked the experts to reveal the secrets of happy couples. Their revelations may surprise you.

"It's not about how much you love each other, or how much money you have, or even if your personalities mesh," says Howard Markman, PhD, leading marriage researcher, co-director of the Center for Marital and Family Studies at the University of Denver, and author of Fighting for Your Marriage: Positive Steps for Preventing Divorce and Preserving a Lasting Love.

Far more significant than these factors -- yes, even more important than heart-pounding lust, which, let's face it, often fades over time -- is communication, says Markman. How well you and your spouse communicate with another? The second most significant factor that happy couples share, he says, is a strong friendship.

While you can't necessarily teach a couple how to be friends, you can teach good friends how to communicate better. Markman regularly tackles this task, using a research-based method derived from data that he and his colleagues at the University of Denver have collected over decades of systematically observing unhappy and happy couples.
Happy Couples: Developing Healthy Habits

Markman offers three important ingredients of happy couples:

* Avoid blowouts.

"The first is to learn to talk without fighting about inevitable conflicts," Markman says. Making a concerted effort to see the other person's perspective, and avoiding the blame game of "she said" or "he did," goes a long way.

When things appear to be hedging toward a blowout, Markman urges couples to do what parents often tell young children: Take a "time out." It's a tactic he calls "exiting out of destructive fighting."

* Recall the positive.

As parents often ask a child stewing in the time-out corner what she could have done differently, Markman suggests that couples in conflict take time to consider what brought them together in the first place. Then, he says, make room for those factors in your life again. "You've got to protect and preserve those positive connections -- the friendship, the fun," Markman tells WebMD. These are aspects of marriage that happy couples keep intact.

* Look to the future.

While turning the clock back can help couples rekindle lost connections, Markman urges couples to simultaneously look forward. "You've got to have a long-term vision of the future, shared dreams, and plans that represent a commitment to one another and your family," he says.

just wants to share this article.

:scents:

2010-02-03T01:22:00.001-08:00

I have developed a new obsession.

Scents.

I've always been curious about scents - the smell of newly published books and glossy magazine covers, the scent of clothes, food, nature in general.
But my curiosity with fragrances is rather new. And late, I should say.

I'm always on the lookout for a fragrance that could describe me perfectly. Roughly, the perfect scent would be one in which there is no headache when I (or other people) sniff it, sheer, slightly floral, the slightest bit powdery, and not overwhelming. Something simple, perhaps. Not one that exuberates power, or feistiness, or masculine, woody or overly musky scents, because I'm not either of those adjectives. Not too fruity or too sweet either.

The thing is, I'm easily bored. I used to have a bottle of DKNY Apple that my friend adored so much, only to pass it on before I emptied the whole bottle. I used to wear Mark and Spencer's waterlily fragrances, the Body Shop white musk and cassis rose and lotus petal, Burberry London (much too strong, to my dismay), Lacoste, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea, and a couple forgettable others.. but I haven't found the one, yet.

I fall in love with Bvlgari Voile de Jasmin though, during a short trip to the department store, accompanied by this highly skilled salesman aka perfumista. I hope I'm not getting bored of the whole 100ml soon :) so far I have never restocked a perfume just because I love it too much.

Others I'm happy about: JLo Glow
The ones boyfriend loves: Clinique Happy and Bath and Body Works Sweet Pea

:man:

2010-01-26T18:55:00.000-08:00

” I, with a deeper instinct, choose a man who compels my strength, who makes enormous demands on me, who does not doubt my courage or my toughness, who does not believe me naive or innocent, who has the courage to treat me like a woman.”

- Anais Nin -

:at the crossroads:

2010-01-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

My life has always been at crossroads. It is extremely rare that I know exactly what I want in life. I'm almost always consumed by emotions such as anger, curiosity, confusion - all of which contribute nothing and are powered by my insecurity and uncertainty about my choices.

I've had chances and choices, most of which I neglect because of my risk aversion tendencies. I always fear getting hurt, getting blistered, losing (trust, love, people, things, money, freedom) that I position myself as having no choice. Perhaps that is why I never learn. People who learn are those who have been through difficult things, not those who thwart problems in the other direction or ducking, evading, barely making it possible for them to learn something from their problems.

I'm that person that ducks. I'm too busy ducking to realize why.

He just makes me realize that.

I'm now at another crossroad - I'm not sure what I am doing. And instead of running away, I think I'm going to stick around now. Just in case.

I should be the one who's in control of my own life, and every condition involved in it.
Another mission - if I don't know what I want, I should be on a journey to find it.

It's going to be a long and tough journey, but it should be worth it.
I have someone by my side, anyways :)

2009: Lost and Found

2009-12-29T22:11:00.000-08:00

2009 is a year when:

- I don't update my blogs as much as I'd like.
- I publish three novels in a row and get sick just as much because of the deadlines (and cheer three times louder when they hit the shelves).
- I go through an emotional turmoil.
- I grow a back bone and then some.
- I make adult decisions.
- I decide to go in search of myself and discover a lot of things in the process.
- I try to figure out what it is I want in life, relationships, career, and myself.
- I let other people know that what we expect is sometimes unexpected.
- I break hearts and get my heart broken over and over again.
but then trying to love like I've never been hurt before.
- I finally decide deadlines aren't worth it and that I need to create my own pace. Thus, the long absence and the break.
- I gain weight
and take up tennis lessons. and stop.
- I don't meet a lot of new people but maintain relationships with old friends.
- a year of change, both good and bad.
- I meet someone and fall in love hard.
- I say goodbyes.
but also hellos.
- I change.
and grow up.

It is time I say goodbye to 2009. Bittersweet moments - they will forever be memories.

Glam Girls Unbelievable - coming soon this December!

2009-11-16T00:20:00.000-08:00

Buku keempatku akan segera terbit di awal Desember 2009 :) judulnya Glam Girls Unbelievable, instalasi ketiga serial Glam Girls, versi Maybella.

Ini sinopsisnya:

In the world of popularity, being perfect is everything. Kamu adalah pusat perhatian, jadi pastikan kamu memang layak mendapatkannya.

Kamu juga harus mengerti, tujuan tampil sempurna adalah demi dibenci. Di dunia kami, dibenci dan dicemburui adalah sebuah pujian. So true, Dahling! Orang-orang seperti tak bosan bergosip tentang Paris Hilton, tetapi apa yang dia dapat di kemudian hari? Kontrak reality show sendiri dan signature perfume yang dijual di seluruh dunia.

Cantik itu wajib hukumnya dan kesempurnaan adalah segalanya. Pastikan kau selalu tampil memesona dan bungkam mereka dengan senyuman terbaikmu. Satu kesalahan kecil saja - voila! - bibir-bibir ber-lipgloss itu pasti ramai menghabisimu...

**

:D

Months After

2009-11-09T03:29:00.000-08:00

Soo.. what's up with me?

Haven't been online for nearly weeks. Been busy with this new project, which turns out pretty well because next month my fourth book will hit the stores. It's the latest installment to a series by Gagas Media, my beloved publisher.

Other things that revolve around my life lately are work, work, work. I'm more immersed in my job lately.

A lot has changed. Not just my relationship status. Not just matters of the heart, dreams, obsessions, needs and desires. Not just my personality. EVERYTHING changes - my life changes, hopefully to the better.

Overall, I am doing okay. I am happy. I am alive.

It feels good to be back :) how are you guys?

a small reminder

2009-10-02T04:51:00.000-07:00

Rule of Thumb

May 19, '09 1:30 AM
for everyone

Writing rule # 1..
write only what you like. what you want. what you love.

Looked back to what I wrote a couple of months ago.
Now I realized how wrong I had been.
Mistakes, mistakes.
You learn from them, don't you?

Dapatkan Refrain di toko buku online (discount up to 25%)

2009-09-10T22:26:00.000-07:00

Berhubung Refrain sudah masuk toko buku Jakarta dan sekarang sedang didistribusikan ke luar Jakarta, saya juga menemukan beberapa link toko buku online yang menjual Refrain, dengan harga diskon tentunya :)

Lebih mudah dan nggak perlu keluar rumah untuk beli hehehe. Berikut linknya (langsung klik di nama tokonya ya):

BukaBuku.com (discount 25%!!)

Media Buku

Toko Buku Taro

Selamat berbelanja, dan terima kasih jika kamu membeli Refrain :)

Meet Refrain - my third novel, now in stores :)

2009-09-01T05:08:00.001-07:00

Aahhhhhh baru dapet kabar kalau novel baruku sudah duduk manis di Gramedia :) senangnya.
Meet my third book - Refrain.

Ini sinopsisnya:

Tidak ada persahabatan yang sempurna di dunia ini, yang ada hanya orang-orang yang berusaha sebisa mungkin untuk mempertahankannya.

**

Ini bisa jadi sebuah kisah cinta biasa. Tentang sahabat sejak kecil, yang kemudian jatuh cinta kepada sahabatnya sendiri. Sayangnya, di setiap cinta harus ada yang terluka.

Ini barangkali hanya sebuah kisah cinta sederhana. Tentang tiga sahabat yang merasa saling memiliki meskipun diam-diam saling melukai.

Ini kisah tentang harapan yang hampir hilang. Sebuah kisah tentang cinta yang nyaris sempurna, kecuali rasa sakit karena persahabatan itu sendiri.

**

Novelku kali ini tone-nya lebih ceria :) I think it's the most cheerful book I've ever written. Hihihi. I really hope my readers will like (love!) it.

Pemenang Kontes #3 dan #4

2009-08-27T01:30:00.000-07:00

Setelah telat seminggu *maap!!*, pemenang kontes TREAT YOURSELF dan TREAT A FRIEND diumumkan juga. Jreng jrengg.... drumrolls.

Pemenang kontes #3 alias TREAT A FRIEND adalah Regina yang ingin memberikan novel Ai kepada sahabatnya, Monica.

Pemenang kontes #4 alias TREAT YOURSELF adalah Lifang.

Kedua pemenang akan mendapatkan novel Ai yang sudah ditandatangani :) novelnya akan kukirim ke alamat masing-masing paling lambat minggu depan ya.. Selamattt!

*mikir ide baru buat kontes lain ahh* :P

Pemenang Kontes #1 dan #2

2009-08-17T04:24:00.001-07:00

Berhubung kedua kontes sudah ditutup, saya akan mengumumkan pemenangnya :)

Kontes #1: FIND THE PERFECT TITLE

Novel ketiga saya sudah resmi dinamakan. Judul yang dipilih oleh penerbit adalah REFRAIN. Karena itu, pemenang kontes #1 saya pilih berdasarkan favorit dan yang memenuhi syarat ya :)

Pemenangnya adalah: Alexa Fia dari Jakarta, yang mengusulkan judul Dream on Your Song

Kontes #2: KISS AND TELL

Banyak yang sudah mengemail saya dengan kisah mereka.. fiuh, bingung memilih karena semuanya seru.. tapi karena harus memilih satu, pemenangnya adalah: Lyna dari Denpasar

Selamat untuk kedua pemenang... novel ketiga saya beserta 1 surprise akan dikirimkan ke alamat masing-masing. Pemenang akan dihubungi via email. Karena novel ketiga belum terbit, hadiah baru bisa dikirim setelah saya mendapatkan bukunya dari penerbit (maaf ya nggak bisa langsung..).

Terima kasih buat semua yang udah berpartisipasi yaa.. dan kontes TREAT A FRIEND juga TREAT YOURSELF masih berlangsung sampai tanggal 20 Agustus lhoo :)

Upcoming and Anticipated Movies

2009-08-08T23:58:00.000-07:00

A few movies I can't wait to see:

The Last Airbender

I have yet to watch the entire animation series but have watched a few and loved them. There's something creative about the whole series, and the animation is really lovely. They're casting Dev Patel, the star of Slumdog Millionaire, Jackson (Jasper from Twilight!) and a few newcomers for the live action movie. The boy who plays Aang looks very much like the animation character does :) Plus, M Night Shyamalan is directing!!

Flipped

My favorite young adult book by Wendelin van Draanen made into a movie. I wish they're making Stargirl and Love, Stargirl too! This movie is about a girl who is slightly obsessed with Bryce, her neighbor. Bryce, on the other hand, tries to avoid her dutifully, and might just be intimidated by her quirkiness. This is a nice story of love and friendship.

Shutter Island

I always love pyschological thrillers such as this. Just saw the trailer the other day and thought it might be interesting, even though the whole movie's review will depend almost entirely on how the ending turns out. Even if it's disappointing, let's hope the process of watching is enjoyable and scary.

My Sister's Keeper

One of my favorite Jodi Picoult's books, although I like the Pact and Nineteen Minutes better. I hope they're making Nineteen Minutes the movie soon, it'll be heartbreaking and very complicated, bringing back painful memories of school shootings that have happened a few years back. The Pact and the Tenth Circle are already made into movies, so fingers crossed. I am pretty happy they're casting Abigail Breslin instead of the Fanning sisters, and that (SPOILERS, but I'm going to make it subtle) -- they're altering some parts of the book.

the Book Thief

Ah. I was blown away by the book. Much like The Boy in Striped Pajamas, I have a feeling the movie is going to be beautiful. I hope they're casting a newcomer for the part of Liesel. Can't wait! This is coming out in 2010-2011, I suppose?

Crossing Over

I've already seen the trailer. It looks neat. The dillema, the complication, and various related characters. Overall I'm happy to see old faces back - Harrison Ford, Jim Sturgess, Ashley Judd, and a few rather new faces.

Haeundae

This is a Korean disaster movie. I think this might be the first one for Korea, since Japan has its own Sinking of Japan.. starring the much-missed Ha Ji Won, this movie has already hit box office. It's gonna be interesting, I can tell.

Nine

This is supposed to be a musical. Nicole Kidman, Marion Cottilaard, amongst others.

Coco Avant Chanel

Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel. There hasn't been a lot of good fashion movies lately, so this one must be it. I'm happy they're casting Tautou instead of Keira Knightley, and that this is a French movie.. I haven't seen one for ages :)

What about you? What's your version of upcoming, anticipated movies?

More contests to win autographed copies!

2009-08-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

Iseng mau bikin kontes lagi ah, sekalian buat ngerayain naik cetaknya Ai :) thanks buat semua temen-temen yang bikin kesampean..

Contest nomor 1 FIND THE PERFECT TITLE masih belum bisa diumumkan pemenangnya (walau sudah ada calon juara), karena penerbitannya agak diundur berhubung masih mencari judul yang tepat dan belum diputuskan judul mana yang akan dipilih.. Contest nomor 2 KISS AND TELL masih berlangsung hingga 15 Agustus, jadi bagi yang mau ikutan masih ada waktu :)

Bukan berarti nggak ada pemenangnya ya untuk kontes sebelumnya.. jadi jangan ragu ikutan kontes lagi, iseng-iseng berhadiah :D

CONTEST #3: TREAT A FRIEND

Suka novel Ai dan pengen ngasih Ai ke temen, pacar, atau someone special? Pengen kasih surprise manis buat seseorang?

Treat a friend to a book - saya akan mengirimkan 1 novel Ai yang sudah ditandatangani, gift-wrapped, berserta pesan khusus dari kamu untuk sang penerima - be it a love letter, a thank you note, anything! kepada seseorang yang ditunjuk oleh satu pemenang kontes ini. Caranya gampang kok, cuma kirimkan email berisi alasan kenapa kamu ingin memberikan Ai kepada orang tersebut.

Kirim emailnya ke: winna.efendi@gmail.com sebelum tanggal 20 Agustus 2009 :)

Kepingin menghadiahi diri sendiri novel Ai? Boleh kok.. CONTEST #4: TREAT YOURSELF, cukup kirimkan email jawaban atas pertanyaan:

- Karakter mana yang paling kamu sukai dalam buku Ai dan kenapa?
- Apa yang paling kamu suka, dan tidak suka, dari novel Ai?

Kirimkan ke winna.efendi@gmail.com
1 pemenang akan mendapatkan paket berisi novel Ai yang sudah ditandatangani :)

Semua kontes berlaku untuk daerah Sumatra-Jawa-Kalimantan-Sulawesi saja ya.. terima kasihh..

Misantrophe

2009-08-06T06:54:00.001-07:00

Let’s say we’ve never met. Let’s say you, or I, never bought a ticket that brought us to a fateful day. Fateful. I scowl at the word; it sounded so corny, and I don’t like being called that.

But let’s say I was never there, on a small red bus to Tokyo, along with twenty other over-enthusiastic tourists in Hawaiian shirts and straw hats.

I was minding my own business. You were, too, slouching and leaning against the cracked window, your sunglasses perched down on your nose. Your skin was too tan, your face too plain, that at first I did not take notice. And then you took off those glasses and looked straight at me.

I didn’t expect you to smile. I let you glance at me and formulate a first impression, as I was doing the same thing. My stomach lurched out of habit, and it was not because of the breakfast I missed.

I didn’t invite you to sit on my chair the next time we were on the wheels again, after a lengthy and fussy toilet stop. You smiled easily and said hi. I was flustered but I knew I did not look so clumsy. I just looked at you, and when you did not make an apologetic gesture or go away, we started talking.

It was easy talking to you. We had nothing in common, for that I was glad. You were a stranger on a strange trip, something I took out of sheer insanity. I did not plan on being fired. I did not plan on going to Japan. I did not plan meeting you.

You called me a misantrophe. I knew what the word meant. Dislike of people in general. Maybe that is true, I never really have a fondness for people. But the grace with which you said that made me smile, as if it was a joke.

Jokes are often the truth, though.

We spent nights in bars at Ginza, slugging down overpriced cocktails until I began laughing uncontrollably. You told me I loosened up, and I laughed more. At least I remembered that part, and the part in which I desperately wanted to kiss you – wrap my fingers around yours – ripped off your clothes – uncharacteristic thoughts that made me blush in shame.

We just talked, though. Spent the night in my hotel room, just talking under warm blankets. The warm air suited my mood. Sometimes you said something funny, and I remembered not having laughed in a very long time. Sometimes I was able to say my own jokes out loud.

I wasn’t myself, but I didn’t let you see that. Who knew, that girl back there might have been the girl I was deep inside, whom I never let out in public.

You were the best thing that happened to me that year. Between losing a job I was in for five years, between finding out my life was a big fat lie, you were the only thing good, even if just for ten days.

We did say goodbye, though. You were waving kind of sadly at me. I was smiling, but let that smile be my sadness. You took your duffel bag and slung it over your shoulder, looked back twice, before disappearing into the crowd. I turned on my heels, never looked back, poof, a shadow in your past.

Let’s say we’ve never met. Let’s say you, or I, never became friends.

Misantrophe. The word hangs in the air. I smile. And remember you.

6 August 2000 - inspired by the song in Lock and Key, a word I looked up in the dictionary