Kimono figurines

Well, this is interesting, but expensive. You can order your face for the doll(s). Again, the face of the models here are not beautiful enough :(

This is Yuki and partner (Yuki is wearing Yukata)

Three choices of kimono

The old one suits Yuki's father and the other one I think is meant for groom? (not too sure though)

Figurines for Takuya Tosha

Well, I would explain in more details when I finish writing the supplementary novel of Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama. (No promise when I will finish writing it). Takuya Tosha is Yuki's childhood sweetheart, when both of them did not realize the mutual attaction was there. He is well versed in all sorts of martial arts... from kempo, taekwondo, karate, etc.

Too bad the faces of the figures here are not handsome (later, if this novel is filmed, it should be replaced with a much more handsome man as Takuya-san).

Testing: Available @ Lulu.com

I'm testing Lulu.com for publishing Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama in the US. If it works, I will buy a new ISBN to publish it worldwide so that semua orang yang ngerti Bahasa Indo bisa menikmati karya saya *hahaha*

This international version has 228 pages, 6" x 9", perfect binding, 60# cream interior paper, black and white interior ink , 100# white exterior paper, full-color exterior ink. Different font types inside - I hope my choices of fonts would facilitate readers' imagination...

Content wise, all typos (hopefully I don't miss anything) have been amended. And there is one page of selected reviews (Pantene, Pak Harry's review in Riau Pos, Mbak Nunik's in Batam Pos, Mbak Illydea's in RSI Malay) and Dr Dede's congratulatory comment. My author's profile is on the final page (coz there is no flap cover this time around).

PS: The blank space on the bottom right of the back cover is for the new ISBN later on (hopefully).

Which guy is your favorite character?

Merry Christmas for those who celebrate it (like me), and Happy Holidays for those who do not celebrate Christmas.

I was asking several people who is their male favorite character in my novel as I am in the slow progress of translating it -- hence I recall whom / what I base my imagination for each character / scene. Here some of my thoughts of three young men in Yuki's life.

Shinichi Serizawa -- Michael Chang's two dimples and great hair (ingat iklan "Ketombe? No way!" Itu shampoo Rejoice di Indo taon 90-an awal?) Definitely he has the most prominent dimples on a guy! Hence I also named my main male lead as Michael *LOL* Shinichi is an improved version of Michael Chang. He is tall, a type who wears glasses to look "serious" (Clark Kent - Superman), sings and plays music as well (in real life, one of my church friends is in choir and church pianist, but he is not handsome at all hahaha). I think Shinichi is definitely every girl's soft spot and every man's dream to be one!

Takuya Tosha -- Takeshi Kaneshiro. He is definitely the most handsome pure Asian guy (Asian parents 100%). He does not need any dimple to look good hahaha... He masters all kinds of martial art (jagoan), macho and yet very cultured. He is understanding (he allows Yuki to visit Shinichi in the hospital) and yet he kept his grumbles to himself -- except the scenes with Dr Toru. (Photo is a courtesy of Jemmy Soenjaya's friendster. It is a screenshot of a PS game).

Dr Toru Toshiyuki -- can't recall which Japanese drama I watched that time -- probably Takuya Kimura's type or there was this good looking guy (I don't know his name) who acted as an antagonist-turned into-the good guy, hence it inspired me to suddenly create this character. A bad boy type who repents to be a good guy at the end.

Polling result
Shinichi Serizawa comes first (even my lil sis Martha Rinna also likes him). However, my other sisters: Riana - she likes Toru Toshiyuki. And Mayrinna likes Takuya Tosha. So who do you like more?

The looks

Fig. 1. Front cover

Size: 12x18 cm
436 pages+ xii
First print, March 2006
My first novel in Indonesian language: Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama (literally it is translated as Cherries Blossom in Yokohama).
ISBN: 979-25-0631-4
Price: Rp 39.000,-
Publisher: Theriza Books, Bandung
Tel: 62-22-91144469 / 62-85220234275, Fax : 62-22-5205603 (in case you want to ask them more about my book). First print run is only 1,500 copies.


Fig. 2. Front cover with folded wing for Author's comment

My publisher apparently is still negotiating with three big book stores, i.e. Gramedia, Gunung Agung, Kharisma. That is why for those who have tried to find my novel in Jakarta, you guys have not found it although it is scheduled to be distributed in Jakarta, Bandung (fully available), and Surabaya... Hopefully, by May, my novel is really displayed on the shelves everywhere!

Fig. 3. Back cover

Currently I only have very limited copies in Singapore after blood and tears shed to convince my mom that my novel is worth sending... Thank God that my father surprisingly cares enough to read my novel and loves it, and promotes it to everyone drops by at our home in Jogja... and he makes my sisters there almost cry because he insists to give their copies to his friends! (And I'm still getting difficulties to order extra copies. Sigh!)

Fig. 4. Back cover with folded wing for Author's Profile

I will only distribute these few copies to VIP list in Singapore first; the rest, sorry, it's a loan and reservation needed! haha... Please keep supporting! Thanks!

Blurb

Blurb is a short synopsis on the back cover.

With a background in the time of Meiji Restoration, Yuki, the baby who was exiled in the middle of the snowstorm, found her first love for Shinichi Serizawa.
However, Shinichi decided to accept the arranged marriage with Masako Satsuma in order to repay the help from the Satsuma family that rescued the Serizawa company from closing down.
Though in fact Yuki was...

The involvement of Keiko Hattori, Shinichi's former fiance, the appearing of a well-known playboy, Dr Toru Toshiyuki, as well as an old friend, Takuya Tosha who also fall in love with Yuki, made the situation increasingly complicated...

Blurb adalah sinopsis versi pendek di sampul belakang
Berlatar belakang pada zaman Restorasi Meiji, Yuki, bayi yang dibuang di tengah badai salju, menemukan cinta pertamanya pada Shinichi Serizawa. Namun ternyata, Shinichi memutuskan untuk menerima perjodohan dengan Masako Satsuma demi membalas budi atas bantuan keluarga Satsuma yang menyelamatkan perusahaan Serizawa dari gulung tikar. Padahal sebenarnya Yuki adalah...

Keterlibatan Keiko Hattori, mantan tunangan Shinichi, munculnya seorang playboy kawakan, Dr Toru Toshiyuki, serta seorang kawan lama, Takuya Tosha yang juga jatuh hati pada Yuki membuat situasi semakin pelik...

Author's Profile

(Written on the folded back cover wing)

Yunisa, was born and raised in "gudeg" city Jogja. Her education from Primary School-Senior High School was completed in her place of birth. Starting to write "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" in the semester holiday in 1999 as a means of venting her feelings of being lost in Mathematics major, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore. Having obtained a Master's degree in Business from The University of Newcastle, Australia made her forget her ambition and motivation during High School to beat Chiung Yao. Fortunately, a kind word "Really think you have a word for prose," from Dr Dede S. Sutedja, National University the Hospital succeeded in ignating the 'old passion' and reminding this Gemini girl-- that previously also aspired to become a doctor -- that her language teachers had also told her to try out her luck in the literary world.

Profil Penulis (lipatan sampul belakang)
Yunisa, lahir dan besar di kota "gudeg" Jogja. Pendidikan dari SD-SMA diselesaikan di tempat kelahirannya.
Mulai menulis roman "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" pada liburan semester tahun 1999 sebagai pelampiasan ' rasa kesasar' di jurusan Matematika, Fakultas Sains, National University of Singapore. Gelar Master Bisnis yang didapatkan dari The University of Newcastle, Australia membuatnya melupakan ambisi dan motivasi semasa SMA untuk mengalahkan Chiung Yao.
Untungnya, ucapan "Really think you have a word for prose ," dari Dr Dede S. Sutedja, National University Hospital berhasil membangkitkan 'gairah lama' dan mengingatkan gadis Gemini yang dulunya juga bercita-cita menjadi dokter ini bahwa guru-guru bahasanya juga pernah menyuruhnya untuk menjajaki peruntungan di dunia sastra.

Author's Word

(written on the folded front cover wing)

"The plot of this romance is made intentionally to deviate from the storyline expected by public. Warning from the first reviewers: Once you pop, you can't stop! Not suitable for readers who have felt sleepy."
Cheers,
Yunisa

Kata Penulis
“Jalan cerita roman ini sengaja dibuat menyimpang dari jalur yang diharapkan khalayak. Peringatan dari para reviewer pertama: Once you pop, you can’t stop!
Tidak cocok untuk pembaca yang sudah mengantuk.”
Cheers,
Yunisa