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KUCHING, July 1: Young local author Malcolm Mejin makes a splash with his latest book, ‘Lost in Space’.
According to a press release, ‘Lost in Space’ is part of the ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ series, conceived in 2017 and has spawned three titles, becoming a national success.
‘Lost in Space’ is the latest title picked up by Penguin Random House, which has a wide global presence across countries such as the US, the UK, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
“I’ve previously self-published, so my works are only available in Southeast Asian countries such as Malaysia and Singapore. With Penguin Random House as the publisher now, my works will enjoy a wider reach internationally,” he said.
The ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ series revolves around globetrotting adventures in various locations. However, Mejin decided to take it up a notch by using outer space as the setting behind his latest title.
In the book, the characters embark on a journey to space to celebrate the birthday of the main character, Robin Jin.
“People don’t usually celebrate birthdays in space. So, I thought, why not give Robin the wildest surprise of a lifetime—a birthday in space,” he said.
He added that he was pondering where to bring his characters on their next adventures, which was how he thought of space.
“I thought of space. And that’s how ‘Lost in Space’ was created, focusing on a thrilling adventure in the cosmos,” he said, adding that it took about two months to complete the story.
As with all Mejin’s ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ books, which contain elements of suspense, the book will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
“There’s always the calm before the storm. The characters must find a way to deal with the obstacles and challenges thrown in their way.”
Even though ‘Lost in Space’ is brimming with adventure, suspense and a dash of humour, the author tries to weave some emotional moments into the story when the characters show their vulnerable sides amid tribulations.
“Emotions are a powerful thing. The story can be wildly adventurous and imaginative, but I also wanted to show the readers that these characters are human beings capable of feeling sadness, anger, and anxiety.
“By making these characters more vulnerable and relatable, I hope to invoke a sense of intimacy between reader and characters through emotional connections,” he said.
In a twist of creativity, the author crafted a newfangled, fictional space phenomenon in his story and coined a special term for it.
“This strange space phenomenon, which is purely fictional, just popped out of my imagination. So, I decided to weave it into the story to give it a unique twist.
“I can’t reveal much, but I can promise you’ll be hooked once you discover what it is,” he said.
The author, who conceived the ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ series in 2017, initially wrote it for fun and never intended to publish it.
“I was going through a phase back then and wanted to write something light and fun. and cathartic. I didn’t even think of publishing it, but when my friend saw my draft, he gave me advice I will never forget: ‘If you don’t do it now, when will you do it?’
“His words struck me deeply. He was right. I’ve wanted to do this for as long as I can remember.
“I started writing stories when I was six years old, and I’ve been putting my publishing dreams on the back burner for a long time. For one thing, everyone has a limited lifespan on earth, so I want to make the most of it while I’m still breathing,” said Mejin.
In 2018, Malcolm self-published his first ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ book, which has enjoyed national success.
Due to the book’s success in 2018, the ‘Diary of a Rich’ became a series, spawning two more titles, ‘Road Trip’ in 2019 and ‘Secret of the Sea’ in 2021.
Mejin’s dream came through in 2022 when he signed a deal with Penguin Random House to publish two new titles.
“All my hard work and effort paid off. I believe that dedication and perseverance are crucial to achieving your dream. I’ve never given up, even though I’ve faced pitfalls. I just got back up and squared my shoulders, ready to take on the next challenge.”
Mejin submitted his manuscript to Penguin Random House, which receives thousands of submissions every month, and was thrilled when they picked his manuscript and offered to publish his book.
“I believe that if you keep doing what you love, wonderful things will happen. I’ve loved writing all my life, and I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing,” he said.
The author is also a regular fixture at schools across Malaysia and Singapore, where he strikes a chord with young readers, who are big fans of his books, and he encourages and inspires young readers through his talks.
“I never thought I would be doing this (going on a tour) when I started writing the first ‘Diary of a Rich Kid’ book in 2017. My sole focus was on my passion—writing stories.
“Publishing my first book in the series has led me to many wonderful experiences, from mingling with fans to seeing the bright smiles on the students’ faces when they share their passion for reading my books. I’m deeply humbled by the love shown by fans.”
The author also revealed that when he published his first book back in 2017, there were some naysayers who didn’t believe that he could flourish and succeed.
“I proved them all wrong. Instead of listening to the naysayers, I followed my gut instinct and forged ahead with my dream.”
‘Diary of a Rich Kid: Lost in Space’ is now available in all major bookstores. — DayakDaily
