One thing we’re passionate about at Teaspoon Publishing is giving works written by Malaysian authors a boost. Under our publishing hub, we’ve given advice to many authors on how to publish their ebooks online. We’ve also provided both editorial, formatting, and setup services to help them do just that.
Yet, the biggest problem Malaysian authors face is the fact that almost all these publishing platforms are based overseas, usually in the USA. Which gives us (and them) a lot of headaches in the form of tax forms and overseas bank accounts. Plus, that pesky 30% withholding tax. There is one ebook distributor that’s based locally: e-sentral. But it’s also full of books from overseas, plus textbooks, so it feels like everything is all over the place. (Or maybe that’s just us.)
And then there’s also the problem where local readers cannot buy ebooks from Amazon because of regional restrictions. So what’s an author to do? Create a website and sell online? Sure—but not everyone has the tech know-how or the time and funds to set up an e-commerce store. How la, like that?
We’ve thought about this for a long time and come up with a solution: Tablespoon.
Tablespoon is a specially-curated selection of ebooks published by people other than us. Curated, meaning that these ebooks have been vetted by our team for quality and content. Selection, meaning that they are of all genres. And people other than us*, meaning independent Malaysian authors who have an ebook they’re really excited to share with readers.
Overall, what this means is that the Tablespoon category in our store will now be carrying ebooks that fit into Teaspoon Publishing’s bigger overall vision to promote Malaysian authors and to give them a platform to sell their books—even if they’re not fantasy works.
*If you’re one of these people other than us who’d like us to consider carrying your ebook, drop us an email at ebooks@tablespoon.teaspoonpublishing.com.my and let us know all about you and your work!
Ooo so what you got?
Check out our first batch of offerings!
Angelina Bong was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2012. Fibro Takes Flight is her first solo collection of poems. A vivid account of living with fibromyalgia, these poems are honest expressions of her intimate struggles, her raw emotions, her challenges as an artist and a writer and her views of life through myriad perspectives. They also explore how art and poetry help her cope with her invisible illness and how she finds treasures through these periods, finding peace and acceptance in overcoming the darkness in her life.
Her contemplations celebrate life in all its colours, including grief, identity crisis and the simple pleasures of daily living.
This is a book where chronic pain in mind, body, heart and soul meets meaning, purpose and hope.
Christians are called to live as the “salt of the earth” and “light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14). How does this translate into practical daily living and working for the welfare of our nation and fellow citizens? The essays in this book discuss what living as “salt” and “light” means and how Malaysian Christians can contribute to nation-building in a multiethnic and multireligious society. The subjects include biblical, Catholic and Protestant teachings on our socio-political responsibility, issues like building a compassionate society, corruption, religious liberty and political engagement, as well as distinctive Sabah and Sarawak concerns. This book challenges Christians to take seriously the teachings of the Bible and our faith, and to work with all of integrity and goodwill to build our nation firmly on the foundations of compassion, equality and justice. Effective nation-building requires participation by all.
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” asks Sheryl Sandberg, author of the book “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will To Lead”.
Sandberg was the catalyst for this book that chronicles two dozen women in Penang who questioned themselves at some point in their lives.
Through their deeply personal stories and experiences, you’ll discover how to:
- navigate family, career and life with candid advice and strategies
- temporarily step out of the workplace and still make a career comeback seamlessly
- become the person you want to be without losing your way
- make it in a man’s world and still retain your femininity and authenticity
- integrate your values and principles into the home, career, business and life
It doesn’t matter if you’ve just entered college or if you’ve been a homemaker for ages or you’ve been in business or career for a while now, these stories can help you define yourself and show you how to ‘Step In’ to your work, family and leadership roles as a 21st Century Asian woman.
Sampaguita: A Condensed Poetry-Travelogue Chapbook of Manila and Baguio is the condensed version of Wilson’s travelogue on his travels in the Philippines back in pre-pandemic 2020—a culmination of his promise made to a friend, as well as his dream to set foot in and write about her country.
In addition to a summarized documentation of his travels and over 100 photographs, Sampaguita features a collection of poetry written during and after the trip—most of them inspired by the haiku in Basho’s famed Oku no Hosomichi travelogue.
Teaspoon, tablespoon, what’s with all the spoons?
At Teaspoon Publishing, we believe that there is room for your work, room for your voice, room for your passions. And we believe that by adding this special sales category to our website, we’re inviting more people to the table.
Also, it’s just a bigger spoon.
