By UK/Indonesia 2016-18 team

01 November 2018 - 13:54

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Norman Erikson Pasaribu at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival
‘I am excited to find out how Indonesian literature will connect with English speaking readers and how it will attract discussions between two cultures.' Norman Erikson Pasaribu – An emerging voice in poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.

Twelve Indonesian authors will be heading to London to represent Indonesian literature at The London Book Fair in March 2019.

We went to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival to catch up with some of these authors. We also spoke to UK based author Will Buckingham who is here in Indonesia as part of the UK/ID Festival 2018. 

Dewi Lestari standing against a stone wall.
'Indonesia has a lot of exciting things to offer the UK, there are so many stories to tell. The London Book Fair 2019 will be the start of this.’ Dewi Lestari is a bestselling novelist, songwriter and short story writer whose six-volume Supernova series has been adapted into several hugely popular films.
Agustinus Wibowo at Ubud writers and readers festival standing against a stone wall.
'I don’t really wish to be framed as a travel writer. The purpose of my travelling was me trying to see a reflection of myself. I found the reflection among the people I met and from the experiences I had.' Agustinus Wibowo's best-selling travel-memoir, Zero: When Journey Takes You Home, will soon be made into a film.
Leila S. Chudori at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in front of a stone wall.
‘It’s very important for us to go to the London Book Fair and represent Indonesian literature because it’s not that well known in the international arena.’ Leila S. Chudori is an award-winning novelist and journalist. Her best-selling novel, Home, has been translated into six languages.
Will Buckingham at Ubud writers and readers festival standing infront of a tree
‘It’s been 23 years since I was last in Indonesia so I’ve come back to talk about the book I wrote from my previous visit.’  UK based author Will Buckingham is in Indonesia as part of the UK/ID Breaking Boundaries festival. He has taken part in a series of talks with Agustinus Wibowo.
Tiffany Tsao at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival standing in front of a tree
We also met Tiffany Tsao who has translated some of the authors selected for London Book Fair 2019: 'Translating is an exercise in sublimating yourself in the service of someone else’s words and that’s a really important perspective to have as a writer’ 

The London Book Fair Cultural programme will be delivered by the British Council and the Indonesian National Organising Committee. It will celebrate the best contemporary Indonesian writing, including events to meet authors and hear them discuss their work in front of international audiences at The London Book Fair from 12-14 March 2019.
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