Pentastic

REAL STORY

One day, upon reaching home after taking me to school, had been restored back. I exchanged hugs with Mama and
Mama and Ah Hui were shocked to find that Papa was Ah Hui. But it was not over yet.
delirious with pain on the floor. They called an ambulance, Papa was in a coma for eight days while in ICU. Just as the
which came after forty minutes due to some confusion with doctors had started to show signs of giving up on him, he
directions. came around. We found out that he had had a stroke, the
Upon arrival at the emergency unit, Papa lost outcome of the strenuous rounds of CPR and defibrillation.
consciousness, and to the horror of both Mama and Ah Hui, Upon learning that the left side of his body could no longer
his heartbeat stopped. CPR was immediately performed on move like normal, Papa was crestfallen, but we managed
him. to reassure him that he would recover. Many friends and
When I arrived at the hospital, Papa had been revived twice relatives visited him, giving him hope.
but was still not out of danger. He was on life support, with We took turns taking care of Papa. Dominic, my younger
many wires dangling from his body. A young female doctor brother, and his family flew in from Kuala Lumpur to help
told us that her team might not perform CPR again on him with the job of looking after Papa at night. We sponged
should his heartbeat stop a third time: “Even if he were Papa, cleaned his faeces, and dressed the bedsores he
to make it,” she explained, “his mind would be seriously developed during his coma.
damaged from the lack of oxygen.” The day Papa was discharged, he smiled, a very weak smile,
When Papa’s heartbeat stopped for the third time, the at the sight of our house and his ten cats.
doctors surprised us by performing another round of CPR. Two months had passed, and Papa was slowly regaining his
I could not describe how devastated we were at the time. strength. Regular massages and exercise were able to
My tears fell at the sight of the doctors trying to revive restore mobility to his left arm and leg. He could now
Papa. Ah Hui and Mama kept praying, and the only thing I walk around and defecate on his own. But he had not fully
could beseech God was “Lord, have mercy on Papa.” recovered his ability to swallow, and he had to be fed Ensure
In the midst of the chaos, a doctor came to us asking if we milk and porridge with a tube inserted through his nose.
wanted them to continue rescuing Papa. One evening, Papa told us that he had seen our
“Even if he survives,” stressed the doctor, “he won’t be the grandparents during his coma.
father you knew before.”

Getting her drift, and without batting an eyelid, Ah Hui told “They smiled at me in a bright light,”
the doctor very firmly to her face that she wanted them to he recalled, “and told me to return to
revive Papa the best way they could. all of you because my time on earth
Looking at how Papa’s body shook and jerked from the use was not over yet.”
of a defibrillator, many memories of Papa and me flashed
before my eyes. We had quarreled many times in the past,
and was this the last of him? Hiding my face behind a door,
I burst into fitful sobs.

At this very critical hour, suddenly the old man next to Papa
breathed his last. All his family members broke into wails.
Ah Hui and Mama patted their backs, consoling them.

The next few hours were full of waiting, waiting and more
waiting.

Suddenly, we heard shouts of jubilation from the medical
team. I dried my tears and rushed to Papa’s bed. Breathing

49



REAL STORY

NO PAIN, NO GAIN
IN PHYSIOTHERAPY

By Jane Ng
Physiotherapy is a treatment injury, disease or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment and exercise. I
suffered pain during the process of physiotherapy, and I was disappointed when I did not see any improvements after attending
the sessions.
I was born premature and have a condition called “Cerebral Palsy”. Cerebral palsy is a condition marked by limited muscle
coordination and or other disabilities, typically caused by damage to the brain at birth. As a result of the brain damage during
brain development, my body muscle control and coordination greatly limited. For this reason, physiotherapy has become a part
of my life.

“EMBRACE THE
CHALLENGE”

51

REAL STORY

I have to learn to control and used my muscles. As far back as I can remember, I never liked
attending physiotherapy. When I was young, I would cry every time I had to attend my physiotherapy
sessions. The exercises were painful, even unbearable. Thus, I would not stop crying until the
sessions ended even though I knew the exercises would help prevent my muscles from being
deformed and it was actually good for me.

At the age of nine, I had hip surgery because my hip joint has dislocated as a result of my bad
walking posture. This episode changed my life in ways I could never imagined. Soon after the
surgery, I had to use a wheelchair. I could barely sit up without any back support and needed
assistance standing as well. My immobility made me lose hope that I could not do anything
anymore. Before that, I was able to stand with some assistance, walked with a walking frame,
swim, play on the swing and rid the roller coaster at theme parks.

One day, the words “embrace the challenge” came across my mind. I wanted
to be more independent as well as improve my life. So, I have started attending
physiotherapy again. The exercises were very difficult for me because my
muscles were already stiff. Also, I found it more difficult to move than usual.
Although there were moments when I felt like giving up because I did not
know how to overcome the pain. I started to feel that the small changes with
the exercises had improved my movements. Exercises such as lifting the
dumbbell to strengthen my arms, and the bridge exercise had reduced my
lower back pain and improved my posture.

Exercising frequently had also improved my mood by making me happier. I feel more relaxed.
Also, physiotherapy has increased my self-confidence and I feel good about myself. These
exercises have help to improve my muscles strength and help me to breathe better to overcome
my sleepless nights. Before that, I had trouble sleeping.

I also took up drawing. It helped to improve my hand and eye coordination which helps me to
control my hands and fingers better. Furthermore, drawing also helps me to perform my daily
tasks easier, such as buttoning my clothes, grabbing things, opening my lunch box and writing.
Besides, drawing has also taught me patience, made me notice the world around me and help me
feel calm. Consequently, drawing has become my hobby.

I always spend two to three hours exercising every day to keep my body active. In addition,
physiotherapy exercises have also maintained my weight by losing excess fat and prevent me
from being overweight or obese.

The more I exercise, the easier it is to handle the pain. I met Dr.Barry Kluner, who is a chiropractor
in 2015. He is a kind man who would always take the time to explain the steps of an exercise, in
order to make sure I understand and followed them correctly. Dr. Kluner would often answer my
questions and help me learn about my bad posture.

My parents are the pillars of my strength during the moments of weariness. They would always
encourage me to keep going. My family believes in me. They give me the courage to conquer my
fears and help me to believe in myself and make everything possible. My family has help me to
live better life.

I attend my physiotherapy regularly and I work hard to achieve what I want.
There is a famous saying., “No pain, no gain”. Nothing comes easy. Life is
full of surprises and joy, when I believe in myself. I have been able to achieve
more than I thought.

52

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

HOW DID NAZRI NOOR TOP
AMAZON BEST SELLERS LISTS
THROUGH SELF-PUBLISHING?

The 37-year-old Sabahan born Nazri Noor is the
author of the Darkling Mage series. All five of his self-
published books have topped numerous categories
on Amazon’s Kindle stores in three countries:
Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
If this doesn’t floor you, this will: The urban fantasy
author wrote all five books within a year. What’s the
Filipino-Malaysian descent’s secret? Read on.

53

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

“AND IF THE BOOK FAILS? MOVE ON. to be seen. I’m not one of those writers
TRY SOMETHING ELSE. IF THE BOOK who’s happy just writing, even if no one
SUCCEEDS? WONDERFUL. JUST REPEAT sees it. I want my books to be read by
THE PROCESS AND KEEP PUMPING as many people as possible. I have faith
OUT THE BEST BOOK YOU CAN MUSTER in my abilities as a writer, and if writing
UNTIL THE EARTH CRUMBLES TO DUST fiction is something that can earn me a
AND THE SUN EXPLODES – WHICHEVER living, so much the better.
COMES FIRST.”
I’ve had this conversation with friends
so often recently: I really wish that the
romanticization of the “starving artist”
would just die. It’s unhealthy, promoting
the idea that all art is suffering, that it is
impossible and in fact frowned upon
for someone in the arts to sustain
themselves through the sale of their
work.

Hey Nazri! The Darkling Mage is a nine great people who are more than happy I wish prosperity on all creative people
part series which concern angels and to lend a helping hand, whether it’s to who want to work in the arts full-
demons. Good and bad and the gray. exchange tips and talk shop about the time, whether they’re actors, writers,
What inspired you to write this series? genre, or to give each other a little extra musicians, what have you. Isn’t that
marketing push. what so many of us want at the end of
I’ve always been fascinated by the the day, to create the things we love,
concept of morality, and in my books So what sets your series apart than the and still be able to put food on the table?
a lot of that stuff tends to get turned rest out there?
around. The good guys aren’t always You published four books in 2018 alone.
what they seem, and sometimes, there When I first started out, I wrote in my bio Apart from sheer determination, what
are friends to be found even among on my website that my books basically were some of the techniques you utilized
those who may be considered evil. involve “sass and class, while kicking to optimize your writing process?
ass.” I thought I’d cringe reading that
Weird as it sounds, I know I write about a again, but it turns out to be true. I tend I do this full-time, actually. This is basically
fictional fantasy universe, but that helps to use plenty of humor in my writing, my day job – or night job, considering I
ground the stories in a bit of reality. and a lot of my characters like to crack generally work at night and sleep during
No one is truly good or evil. There are jokes, whether they’re in the company of the day. Very much like a vampire, which
always gray areas, even among gods friends or confronting insane sorcerers I suppose works wonderfully with the
and angels and demons. It’s a common bent on ending the world. genre I primarily write. Indie publishers
trend in the books as well, that often, tend to produce so much because
humans can be the worst of all. I like to think that the books have a we don’t have the marketing reach or
distinct sense of style as well, in terms of budget that the big publishing houses
Why urban fantasy? the magic and the version of our world do. Larger catalogues means we have
and its mythologies that they carve out more to advertise, and more ways to be
Urban fantasy is the intersection of for readers to explore. That’s what the discovered by prospective new readers.
all the things I love, honestly: magic, Darkling Mage books are, essentially: Each new book essentially builds a
supernatural creatures, thriller and funny and fast-paced, with plenty of new road leading home to the hub: the
mystery storylines, horror, a little bit of action, magic, and drama. author’s backlist.
humor, and more. I’ve been consuming
urban fantasy media for as long as I can You’re currently working on your sixth That’s how I find the time to write. I’m
remember, even before knowing what book. What keeps you going? my own boss, sure, but I’m also the
the genre was actually called, whether only employee, so if I don’t produce,
it was movies from my youth like Big I can’t remember who said this, exactly, there are no books to sell, and if I’m not
Trouble in Little China or The Craft, TV but it always made me laugh in a grim selling books, I starve to death. As for
shows like True Blood, or video games kind of way: poverty is a great motivator. discipline, that’s tougher. Working from
like the Persona series. I’ve been writing professionally for years, home means that all the distractions of
mainly as a journalist and as a public home are right there: a long soak in the
It was meant to be, I suppose, and it’s relations copywriter, but the industry is bathtub, Netflix, video games, books
a happy coincidence that the market is famous for being one that doesn’t exactly written by literally anyone else but me?
very active and the readers are extremely pay very well. I wanted to explore my Everything is a trap. It’s a matter of
voracious. I’m happy to report that I’ve options, and indie publishing happened sticking with something long enough
been very warmly welcomed by both to look extremely tempting. until I finish.
readers and writers of the genre, too.
I’m in touch with a lot of my fellow indie And that brings me to my other motivation: I actually run on a schedule that allows
urban fantasy authors. They’re all just wanting my voice to be heard, my words me to write and publish six books in
a year, although I need to step up
54

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

production in 2019 as I’m also working When do you intend to finish writing the to read everything else you’ve got.
on a parallel series that I’m hoping to entire series? And will they be available I’m a huge nerd when it comes to indie
introduce towards December. I mainly in paperback? publishing and could go on forever
rely on two things to help me work quickly about this, but I’ll stick to the basics.
and efficiently: an outline I can roughly All nine books in the Darkling Mage As mentioned above, it pays off to
follow for every book, and sprinting. series will have been published by the write a series in a market that’s filled
Sprinting means breaking up writing end of the year, though I do have plans with busy, hungry readers. After that,
into chunks, and committing to 15- or for spin-offs, so it won’t be the last that the book needs a fantastic cover, and
20-minute “sprints” of doing nothing but readers will be seeing of characters an attractive blurb to go with it, one that
writing. I’ll play an instrumental song on a they’ve learned to love. The entire series piques just enough of a reader’s interest
loop for that amount of time, then push has been available in paperback from and hooks them into peeking at the first
out as many words as I can manage, the beginning, though the popularity of page and outright buying it. Once that’s
according to the outline I’ve set for a reading in print really varies from genre complete – once the product is perfectly
particular novel. to genre. Young adult and epic fantasy packaged, because as an indie author,
readers buy lots of paperbacks, for you’re running a business, and every
Nothing is set in stone, though. I do allow example, but urban fantasy moves very book is a product – you throw as much
myself to deviate if better ideas come few physical copies. Most of my readers advertising as you can reasonably afford
along, but for the most part, outlines let are far more interested in ebooks and at it, targeting readers through channels
me know where the story starts, where audiobooks. like Facebook and Amazon’s advertising
it goes, and where it ends. So when I’m platforms, or the various advertising
writing, which typically happens over the Your hard work has clearly paid off newsletters that promote books to their
course of two weeks for every books, I’ll because you’ve topped multiple thousands of reader subscribers, such
do about six to eight of those sprints in Amazon bestsellers lists. What were as Robin Reads and Book Barbarian.
a day, aiming to write 5,000 words total. some marketing methods you used to
Each of my books are about 60,000 promote your books? And if the book fails? Move on. Try
words in length, so two weeks of writing something else. It’s incredibly difficult
sounds about right. Those two weeks I think the best resource I can point to to find any kind of success in pub-
are generally the toughest to get through is the book Write to Market by author lishing, and even a great book can
of every given month. Chris Fox, who has been earning a fail to hit the mark for any number of
six-figure income from publishing his reasons. If the book succeeds? Won-
It honestly surprised me that I can fiction independently for years now. derful. Just repeat the process and
work at this pace, but it really differs for His philosophy is built around authors keep pumping out the best book you
everyone. And it gets easier with every writing in a genre that they love writing, can muster until the earth crumbles to
book, sort of like a muscle. It’s also the one that is currently marketable. In my dust and the sun explodes ­– which-
advantage of writing a series, because case, that’s urban fantasy, which is a ever comes first.
it’s like coming home to spend time with great mix of things that I love to write
family, with old friends. I’d encourage and that readers love to read. It’s also
writers to give sprints a shot. You never strongly recommended for indies to write
know what you’re capable of until you in series. It’s easier to market them, and
try. I know authors who can put out to recoup the cost of doing so, because
one book a month, some even more if you get a reader hooked on the first
– and they’re good books, too, with book, chances are good that they’ll want
great storylines and covers, properly
polished by professional editors and
everything. It’s all about time and energy
management, and developing your own
system.

As for how I planned the series, it was ‘Darkling Mage Series’, by
similar to following an outline for each Nazri Noor
book, only on a larger scale. I know how
everything ends, and I know that I need
to channel all of the stories towards that
one grand finale, but in the course of
writing I’ve been struck by bigger, better
ideas that I was always happy to fold into
the narrative. I know roughly what needs
to happen in books seven, eight, and
nine, for example, but if more interesting
twists come along, hey, I’ll use those,
too. They can only help make a book
even more richly layered, and therefore
more satisfying to read.

55

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

If you write these books full time, how the mix – T-shirts, tote bags, mugs, Several genres thrive in Kindle Un-
do you sustain yourself financially? that sort of thing – but that’s taking limited, urban fantasy being one of
a little longer than expected as I’m them. The profit is worth centralizing
This is my main source of income, ac- still looking at samples from various all my books on a single platform, and
tually! Everything is set up so that my print-on-demand suppliers. As I men- in any case, publishing online pays
earnings from various channels get tioned before, this is essentially a full- back in royalties that are much more
deposited into my checking account. time job. At times it feels like two jobs, attractive than anything a traditional
It’s quite convenient in that sense, honestly. But I’m having a ton of fun. publisher can offer, short of a very
and it also means that I can basical- Indie publishing lets me use all of my large advance, which aren’t typically
ly work from any place in the world skills, but also allows me to develop offered to newer authors.
that has an internet connection. That new ones. I’m not just an author, but
might make it sound like I only need a business owner, and those are two Last and final question. How do you
to write and edit my books, but indie roles that I never, ever thought I’d be deal with a writer’s block?
publishing involves so much more. I’d able to fill at the same time.
say that getting the book done is only Writer’s block is a myth. It’s almost
about 20% of the work. Why did you choose Amazon to sell always a problem of plot, of not know-
your books and would you move away ing where the story needs to go next.
I still need to network with other au- from it any time soon? In my case I even recognize it as a
thors, coordinate with my cover de- problem of motivation: laziness, in
signer and beta readers, format my I don’t see myself moving away from short.
paperbacks, tweak and handle online Amazon in the immediate future.
advertising on generally a daily basis, The 70% share of royalties going to When I do get stuck, I do one of
engage with my readers through so- authors is standard across most of two things. Either I’ll allow myself
cial media and our private Facebook the other online sellers such Kobo, some time to work through the prob-
group, write newsletters for my read- iTunes, and Barnes & Noble. But be- lem mentally by doing more manual
ers that go out every couple of weeks, ing exclusive with Amazon gives my things like marketing, or drawing, or
and listen to the audio versions of books additional exposure through even baking, or I’ll sit down and keep
my books as my narrator completes their Kindle Unlimited subscription writing until the knots and tangles of
them, prior to actually uploading service, which allows readers to “bor- whatever story problem was there
them to sales channels. row” as many books as they can read gets unraveled through brute force.
in a month, and pays authors by the Both ways have worked pretty well.
I’m also throwing merchandise into number of pages they read.

56



IINNTTOO TTHHEE
UUNNKKNNOOWWNN

TASTIC

ISSUE 01 | MAY 20
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