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| Margaret Lim, seated second from right, next to Sharnaz Saberi, host of Kuppa Kopi |
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In May 2010, I met Margaret Lim,
a Malaysian-born Canadian
children’s book author, while we were waiting to be made-up for our
TV appearance on Kuppa Kopi, a talk show
with Sharnaz Saberi.
We exchanged books; in fact she generously gave me all
four of her
Payah books.
She autographed them for my two children
Jason and Justin.
Afterwards we
went out for tea. Her son asked me to
give her a ride while he picked up another friend and the four of us spend the
afternoon getting to know each other while talking about books and blogs and
exchanged tips about Sarawak.
Later, while
watching myself and Margaret Lim on TV1 (her segment
followed mine), my son Jason, who was six at the time, pointed to the TV screen
at Margaret Lim’s children book series about Payah, and said, “Daddy, that’s my
book!”
He called over Justin, who was
three and a half, and they both stood in front of the TV, excitedly pointing at
their four newest books.
“Is that the woman who gave me the books?” Jason asked me.
“Yes, and she wrote the books, too!”
He studied her with awe.
I’m sure he’s
going to remember Margaret Lim and that moment for a long time.
But me, I’m just his daddy who happens to be a
writer, though I was also on TV—not that he gave a hoot!
In fact he and Justin were both upset with me
for changing the channel until he noticed Margaret Lim’s books were on TV.
The power of books!
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| Georgette Tan, Robert Raymer and Sharnaz Saberi |
The following May, I was sad to hear that Margaret Lim Hui
Lian had passed
away from cancer. Although we had kept
in contact via email and commented on each other’s blogs, I never saw her
again.
Her Payah series, however, still live on in our house. In fact, I made this past week Margaret
Lim week! I had Justin, now ten, reread
the books (he’s the reader in the family and had read them before, even though
they were meant for children age 12 and above).
I then had Jason, who turned thirteen, read all four of the books to me
while I drove him to school (he’s now in Form One, attending the afternoon
session), while I reread all four waiting for a couple of doctor’s appointments—I
was glad I had them in the car! I had
also read them to the children seven years ago.
The Payah series, consisting of four hard bound books, were based on
recollections of Margaret’s childhood, which she spent with the native people
deep in the interior of Sarawak on the Island of Borneo. The books were beautifully illustrated by
her daughter Su Jen Buchheim and published by her own company Fairy Bird Children's Books, where I believe they can
still be ordered.
The
Borneo Post called
Payah, “A uniquely Sarawakian children’s
book that will fire a child’s imagination. A must read for all!”
Payah
Payah is about a fearless Kayan
girl called Payah, who has a soft heart for small helpless creatures. Deep in the rainforest of Sarawak, Payah rescues
a hornbill and a mouse deer, while still taking care of a baby orangutan.
Four Eyes
Payah makes a surprising discovery,
and takes on a responsibility that becomes almost too much for her to bear when
she befriends a run-away.
Precious Jade and Turnip Head
Payah celebrates Chinese New
Year with her classmate, Precious Jade, and her little brother Turnip Head, who
keeps getting himself and Payah’s friend into trouble.
Nonah, or The Ghost of Gunung Mulu
Payah befriends Nonah, after
she joins her parents who teach in the rainforest. They win a trip to Mulu Caves, where they
help to unravel a plot to steal rare orchids.
Thank you, Margaret, again for your precious books, a gift that our family will
continue to treasure.
I’m sure when
Jason and Justin grow up and have children of their own, the
Payah books will be waiting for
them.
In fact, I’ll probably be the one
who’ll introduce them during another round of Margaret Lim week…
—BorneoExpatWriter
Interview with Golda Mowe, author of
Iban Dreams and Iban Journey, another Sarawakian writer
who has also written a book for children.
