ROJAK is in the running!

These 10 books were chosen by the Popular chain based on sales figures for last year. This contest is now being held for the 4th year.

In 2010, Yasmin Ahmad's Films got 2nd place (Non-Fiction), while Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things (Vol 1) got 3rd place (Non-Fiction) in 2008.

These are the nominees for the Popular - The Star Readers Choice Awards 2011 in the Fiction category:

Rojak - Amir Muhammad
Madness Abroad - Yvonne Lee
The Rice Mother - Rani Manicka
Kebaya Tales - Lee Su Kim
Orans Asli Animal Tales - Lim Boo Liat (editor)
The Embrace of Harlots - David TK Wong
Inspector Singh: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul by Shamini Flint
Sweet Offerings - Chan Ling Yap
Under The Sun - O Thiam Chin
A Bit of Earth - Suchen Christine Lim

Voting will be by coupons in The Star and Popular bookstores in June & July, with the results announced at the KL Convention Centre in late August. Ada can ker? Ntah ler ... Either way, I am grateful for the support that has been given to Rojak. The first print run of 3,000 copies sold out months ago, and the one selling now is the 2nd print. Syukur!

It was a fun book to do; thanks to Chin Yew, Liza Manshoor, Ezra Zaid and Lori Lee. 

20 buku ROJAK (Edisi BM) kini boleh dibeli

Buku Rojak (Edisi BM) boleh dibeli terus dari saya! Tapi 20 keping sahajork (seperti dalam gambar).

Saya tak dapat jual lebih daripada itu sebab saya bukan penerbitnya ;-)

Jika nak, sila deposit RM20 ke Maybank 014105120512 (Amir Muhammad) dan emel nama, alamat & nombor telefon anda ke info@mataharibooks.com. Penghantaran akan dibuat dengan City-Link courier. RM20 ialah harga pasaran buku ini; kos pengeposan disponsor oleh saya untuk mana-mana destinasi di 1Malaysia. 

Di samping itu, kalau nak beli mana-mana buku Matahari Books sekaligus, saya OK asalkan anda OK.

Sedangkan lidah (dan bibir) lagi tergigit...

Salah satu filem komedi kegemaran saya, arahan mendiang Paul Bartel:

The Rolling Stones bukanlah kugiran favorit saya, tapi kalau depa buat konsert kat sini sudah tentu saya tidak akan pakai serban dan buat protes di depan; inilah logo mereka yang cukup terkenal:

Saya tak pernah baca mana-mana karya Chuck Palahniuk (filem The Fight Club pun belum tengok) tapi ini merupakan salah satu bukunya:

Dan yang terkini, kulit buku Rojak (Edisi BM) rekaan Liza Manshoor. Akan dilancarkan malam ni di MAP KL. Datanglah! Kami tak ada MJ (Mick Jagger) tapi kami ada MJ (Mohd Jayzuan).

KISS & Rojak (Versi BM). Semua dijemput hadir.

Tuesday 22 February.
8pm onwards.
The Black Box, MAP @ PUBLIKA, Dutamas KL.

Screening of new (mostly Malaysian) films! All under the theme of KISS (Keep it Short, Stupid).

Entrance is free. Many of the directors will attend. Best of all, there will be Walls Ice-Cream!

Screening order:

buang, the lost malay scientist / isabelle desjuex / 6 min / singapore-france / 2011
kiamu!!! / anwari / 10 min / malaysia / 2010
harap tenang, ada ujian / ifa isfansyah / indonesia / 15 min / 2006
outing / jow zhi wei / 17min / singapura / 2009
creatures / bernice chauly / 8 min / malaysia / 2010

INTERMISSION:
Launch of the book Rojak (BM) by Amir Muhammad (ZI Publications)

bila cinta sudah melekat, tahi kucing rasa cokelat / ridhwan saidi / 9 min malaysia / 2010
play / idora alhabshi / australia-malaysia / 27 min / 2010
shrivel / oliver husain / 8 min / germany-indonesia / 2005
ameen / sanif olek / 14 min / singapura / 2010
cin-ntah / mohd jayzuan / 2 min / malaysia / 2011

*

This event is held in conjunction with LiFest, to raise funds for Yayasan Kurang Upaya Kelantan (YOKUP). You may confirm on Facebook.

#1 in Kinokuniya!

The first time this has ever happened to me, so Alhamdulillah! (I've been #1 at MPH as writer twice, but never at Kinokuniya). The list combines local and foreign, so this is also a rare instance where I can be on top of the likes of Mr. Brown, Mr. Grisham, Mr. Follet, Mr. Archer and Ms. Picoult.

And thank you, lovely Christians, for making book-buying and book-giving a very acceptable part of your holy celebration. (Book sales in December are by far the highest of the year.)

ROJAK returns to #1 in MPH!

This is two and a half months after debuting there!

MPH Local Authors Bestseller List

For the week ending 19 September

1. Rojak: Bite-Sized Stories
Author : Amir Muhammad

2. Found in Malaysia
Author : The Nut Graph

3. Indahnya Amalan Doa
Author : Dato Ismail Kamus

4. Nasib Melayu di Bumi Melayu
Author : Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah

5. Jadi 'Cool + Positif: Psikologi Suka-Suka (Kompilasi Ruangan Psikologi Majalah Remaja)

6. Pemilik Cintaku Setelah Allah dan Rasul
Author : Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

7. Mencari Pasangan Hidup

8. Mama, Saya Lapar: Berkongsi Pengalaman Mengenai Pemakanan Berkhasiat untuk Anak-Anak
Author : Wardina Saffiyah

9. Senjata Mukmin
Author : Haji Muhidir Haji Tamjis

10. Iskandar Malaysia: A Story of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
Author : Ho Chin Soon

#6 (as writer) and #10 (as publisher) in MPH

MPH Bestseller List: For week ending 8th August 2010


Local Authors


1 Indahnya Amalan Doa
Author : Dato Ismail Kamus


 2 Like Me, Follow Me: Using Facebook & Twitter to Boosts Your Business
Author : Oon Yeoh; Chris Leong


3 Pemilik Cintaku Setelah Allah dan Rasul
Author : Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin


4 Jadi 'Cool + Positif: Psikologi Suka-Suka (Kompilasi Ruangan Psikologi Majalah Remaja)
Author : -


5 Top Money Tips For Malaysians
Author : KC Lau


6 Rojak: Bite-Sized Stories
Author : Amir Muhammad


7 Shafee Yahaya Story Estate Boy to ACA Chief
Author : Kalsom Taib


8 Kaum-Kaum Yang Pupus (Edisi Promosi Istimewa)
Author : Harun Yahya


9 Mama, Saya Lapar: Berkongsi Pengalaman Mengenai Pemakanan Berkhasiat untuk Anak-Anak
Author : Wardina Saffiyah


10 What Your Teacher Didn't Tell You: The Annexe Lectures (Vol. 1)
Author : Farish A. Noor

Sandwiched between tasawuf and tarikh lahir

MPH Best-Sellers List for Week Ending Aug 1, 2010

1. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Safiyyah

2. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato’ Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen

3. Indahnya Amalan Doa by Dato’ Ismail Kamus

4. Life is an Open Secret: Ramadan Special – 25 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary Life Experiences by Zabrina A. Bakar

5. Jadi Cool + Positif: Psikologi Suka-Suka (Kompilasi Ruangan Psikologi Majalah Remaja) by Editor-Wan Erni Liza Mat Izatzi

6. Murabbi Cinta: Andai CINTA Ingin Dibawa Ke Syurga, Kenapa Dibiarkan Cinta Itu Ada Noktah dan Hujungnya? (Aku Terima Nikahnya # 3) (Kemudi Rumah Tangga) by Hasrizal Abdul Jamil

7. Perubatan Islam Menangkis Kejahatan Makhluk Halus by Sharhan Shafie, Fakhrul Ridzha Abd Rahman

8. Tasawuf Kontemporari: Implementasi, Tasawuf dalam Dunia Kini by Mohammad Midzam Abd Kadir

9. Rojak: Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad

10. Bongkar Misteri Tarikh Lahir Anda by Rozzani Din

Sandwiched between fardu ain and kaum pupus

MPH Bestsellers for the Week Ending 25 July

Local Authors

1. Perubatan Islam Menangkis Kejahatan Makhluk Halus by Sharhan Shafie, Fakhrul Ridzha Abd Rahman

2. Life is an Open Secret : Ramadan Special – 25 Inspirational Stories from Ordinary Life Experiences by Zabrina A. Bakar

3. The Quran and I by Anas Zubedy

4. Engkau Memang Cantik: Kerana Kamu Tidak Pernah Tahu Betapa Cantiknya Dirimu by Burhan Sodiq

5. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato’ Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen

6. Rojak : Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad

7. Kaum-Kaum Yang Pupus by Harun Yahya

8. Pemilik Cintaku Setelah Allah dan Rasul by Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

9. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Safiyyah

10. Diari Sufi by Siti Munazakiah

Sandwiched between makhluk halus and Dr. Mahathir

MPH Bestsllers List for Week Ending July 18, 2010

Local Authors

1. Perubatan Islam Menangkis Kejahatan Makhluk Halus by Sharhan Shafie, Fakhrul Ridzha Abd Rahman

2. Rojak : Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad

3. Through My Lenses by Mahathir Mohamad

4. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato’ Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen

5. Palestin tak Pernah Gentar! Fatwa Kontemporari dan Penyelesaiannya (Memburu Menang atau Syahid) by Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri; Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

6. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Safiyyah

7. Kaum-Kaum Yang Pupus by Harun Yahya

8. Pemilik Cintaku Setelah Allah dan Rasul by Fatimah Syarha Mohd Noordin

9. The Secrets of a Young Millionaire: How to Build a Successful Multi-Million Dollar Business from Nothing, Even During an Economic Downturn by Ray Ling

10. Bila Allah Menduga Kita by Syed Alwi Al-Atas

ROJAK debuts at #1 in MPH!

MPH Local Authors Bestsellers

For the week ending 4 July

1. Rojak: Bite-Sized Stories by Amir Muhammad
2. Indahnya Hidup Bersyariat (Panduan Fardu Ain Lengkap Bergambar) by Dato' Ismail Kamus & Mohd Azrul Azlen
3. Kaum-Kaum yang Pupus by Harun Yahya
4. Mama Saya Lapar by Wardina Saffiyah
5. Jadi 'Cool + Positif: Psikologi Suka-Suka (Kompilasi Ruangan Psikologi Majalah Remaja) edited by Wan Erni Liza Mat Izatzi
6. Bila Allah Menduga Kita by Syed Alwi Al-Atas
7. Diari Sufi by Siti Munazakiah
8. Jika Anda Ingin Berjaya, Bersolatlah: Solat Penghubung Kecemerlangan Dunia dan Kebahagian Akhirat by Muhammad Rusli Amin
9. 40 Questions You Should Ask Your Lawyer Before Buying a Residential Property in Malaysia by Khairul Anuar Shaharudin
10. You Can Become Rich in Property (Revised Edition) by Peter Yee

*

This is the first time I've had a #1 bestseller to my name since Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things (Vol 1) way back in November 2007. That, too, had not many words, but many funny drawings. 

In the meantime, I also had a #1 as publisher when Farish A. Noor's What Your Teacher Didn't Tell You (2009) was on top for a few weeks. That had many words and no funny drawings.

So there's a lesson here. Or not.  

Either way, thanks for the support yo!

ROJAK in The Sun & NST today

(click to enlarge and read it properly.)

The Sun interview can be read here.

The book is not even in shops yet! Will keep yawl updated ;-)

Thanks to everyone who came to the launch! It was hectic and fun, as usual.

My very first book of short stories

It is a cute little hardcover!

It launches at 12 pm, 12 June, at the KL Alternative Bookfest at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market, Kuala Lumpur. Launching together is Tapai by Hishamuddin Rais. Entrance is open to all.

Rojak is published by ZI Publications, with design & layout by Liza Manshoor, and illustrations by Chin Yew.

Chin Yew also created this flip video:


ROJAK - BOOK FLIP from chinyew on Vimeo.

I am quite psyched, actually.