Under the Starry Night That is Ours features the winning pieces of our short stories and poems competitions from 2020 to 2022. It is the first collection of students’ English work ever published in Hin Hua High School, containing 82 poems and 63 short stories. It is hoped that the collection will inspire more to write.
Leading up to the grand book launch, Mdm Boo, the vice principal and head of ELC promoted the book launch at the senior and junior assembly, unveiling the captivating book cover of Under the Starry Night That is Ours which was marvellously designed by Tan Yan Yee from S3 Berlin. The cover of this book is a mesmerizing portrayal of a night sky ablaze with stars that symbolize the brilliance of the students' creative works. Against this celestial backdrop stands the iconic school building, illuminated softly by the radiant moonlight with a heartwarming scene of students and teachers joining hands in a united gesture. This portrays a sense of community, collaboration, and shared aspirations. All the artworks and illustrations in the book were designed by 13 students.
On top of that, ELC also partnered with the school library to host a thematic book exhibition, recommending some good books such as Love and Loss by Malachi Edwin Vethamani, Have you eaten Grandma by Gyles Brandreth, and Short Stories in English by Olly Richards. All are related to the use of the English language.
Before the start of the event, a photo booth with props was set up and a selection of delectable refreshments was served. The participants had the opportunity to take pictures and connect with each other while savouring the snacks and pastries. After that, Mdm Boo kicked off the event with a heartfelt welcome speech. She congratulated the writers for the publication of their work and also expressed her gratitude to all the English teachers who tirelessly encouraged their students to write, Emeritus Professor Edwin Malachi and Dr Too Wei Keong who conducted inspiring workshops, The Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay and Puan Sri Tan Kai Yong Aided Hin Hua High School English Language Teacher and Student Training Charitable Fund for funding the workshops, as well as Percetakan Advanco Sdn Bhd for sponsoring the printing of this book.
A main highlight of the event was a sharing session by Joshua Lim, an alumni of Hin Hua High School and an inspiring writer who has got two pieces of his written work featured in The Big Book of Malaysian Horror Stories. Joshua shared insights into his writing process, specifically on his story Klang Crow, which is one of the stories published in the aforementioned book. The audience also had the privilege of engaging in an interactive session with him, enthusiastically asking questions about his thought processes when writing a story, what sort of future a writer can have, and what he does in the event of writer's block, which is a very common scenario.
The "Under the Starry Night That is Ours" book launching event was a resounding success, marked by a blend of elegance, literary appreciation, and community engagement. The event not only celebrated the release of a remarkable literary work but also fostered connections among individuals passionate about literature.
Under the Starry Night That is Ours is currently on sale. Get your copy now at RM10 at the school bookstore.
I feel honoured that my design was selected for the cover of Under the Starry Night That is Ours. When designing, I aimed to come up with a cover that would not only grab people’s attention from afar but also arouse their curiosity about the book. Seeing this cover come to fruition has been a true labour of love. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank ELC for inviting me to the event.
I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that I had been selected to design the cover through what seemed like pure chance. My concept revolved around astronauts venturing through space, but unfortunately, it wasn't the chosen design. Nonetheless, the opportunity to unleash my creative ideas remains a remarkable experience. I want to express my gratitude to ELC for hosting this fascinating tea party; I savoured every moment of it!
I am beyond thrilled to see my story come to life within the pages of this book. Winning the school writing competition and having my work published is a dream I never thought would come true. I hope that anyone who reads my story feels the same sense of inspiration and connection. Thank you ELC for this precious opportunity.
Firstly, I would like to thank the English Language Center for inviting me to the Book Launch ceremony. I was very honoured to be selected as one of the entries in the collection of students’ works! Although I missed a part of the event, I was fortunate enough to hear the rest of Joshua Lim’s sharing of his work. He really did give us some excellent tips on writing and did a fantastic job of sharing his short story. I also had an excellent time making use of the photobooth after the event and took lots of photos capturing this memory!
It was lovely getting to see everyone who contributed to the making of this book in one place. I didn’t anticipate seeing so many of my friends there, but that made it all the more fun. I really enjoyed the sharing from Joshua Lim. It’s not every day you get to hear such a success story from someone who shares the same roots as you. I really enjoyed experience overall. My only regret is that I wish I had got to the food earlier. It was totally gone by the time I got there.
《兴华月报》2023年8月号
https://www.hinhua.edu.my/ebook/2308hinhuamonthly/mobile/index.html
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