Missing Publisher, Talent Release Form

I have just returned from my hometown after 1-week holiday. I tried to contact my publisher before I went back and during my holiday. The numbers are all invalid!!! No longer in use. FYI, I haven't received a single cent royalty for this novel. (Dikatai Pak Harry: wah kamu kerja bakti deh hahaha)... I don't need the Rp, it's very small sum for me. I just want to know HOW MANY BOOKS SOLD... as simple as that!

Dr Dede said...

• Today Dr Dede SS assured me that he has asked everyone to vote for me @ PanteneShine (I think he has done so as his nurses are super nice to me today, unlike what happened a week ago before my flight, in which I wrote a short complaint via SMS & e-mail to him, typical Yunisa) -- Thank you, koko doc! I know you are always action oriented to all of my requests! Really appreciate that.
• Regarding the missing publisher, Dr Dede asked me whether I can change publisher? He's not sure, but he thinks I can do that. (And he's right. I think, I can change publisher). He also asked me whether I signed any contract? (No, I haven't signed any contract with Theriza Books). The copyright (hak cipta) belongs to me, anyway. It is stated on the book.
• And Dr Dede hopes that I can win the Pantene Shine Award so I can get the fund to publish my English version of Sakura. His nurse, Hasnah also asked me to update all of them - hahaha, not sure whether they really vote for me although I'm sure Dr Dede has also asked them to vote for me.
• Surprisingly, I also met several Indonesian patients of Dr Dede today and at the end, we talked about my novel and Pantene Shine Award competition -- I expressed to them my concern that I am Indonesian (yes, I'm still holding the green passport) -- I can join this competition because I have a PR status here -- and other competitors are Singaporean... it would be quite difficult... I am aware that if I win this Award, people would say: huh, foreign talent! hahaha... *Dr Dede has been in my position*

Talent Release Form

Hi all,

My name is Steven Xie , assistant brand manager for Pantene in Singapore. I'd like to thank all of you for applying for the Pantene Shine Award, we were very impressed by your entries. The 5 of you were selected by our panel of advisors as finalists for the award, congratulations!

I attached a form below that each of you must print out, sign and send it back to me by mail to the address below. Please do this by next week. Voting has already started online at the Pantene website, good luck! If there are any further queries, please feel free to call me personally at XXXX.

Cheers,

Steven

P&G Singapore Pte Ltd

238A Thomson Road, #21-01/10

Novena Square Tower A

Singapore 307684

And here is the terms and conditions: I think it's almost like a modelling contract!

1. I grant P&G the right and permission to use my name and/or the initials representing my name (my “Name”),my photos or likeness (my “Likeness”) and the materials I submitted for the Award (my “Entry”) for use in advertising and promotional materials. I agree that P&G may use my Name, my Likeness and my Entry in advertising and promotional materials in all media now known or hereafter invented, throughout the world, without further compensation, consideration, review or consent.
2. I grant P&G the worldwide ownership and copyright of my Entry and all the cinematograph film(s)/video tape(s)/sound recording(s)/ photograph(s)/interview transcript(s) or adaptation(s) thereof taken of me for the purpose of the Award and The Pantene Website (www.panteneshine.sg) produced by P&G.
3. P&G may, in its full power or via its assigns use, reproduce or dispose of my Entry, the cinematograph film(s)/video tape(s)/sound record(s)/photograph(s)/interview transcript(s) or adaptation(s) thereof taken of me in such manner and at such time it deems fit, including any use for any and all advertising, promotional and editorial purposes.
4. I covenant not to withdraw from The Award from 6 Nov 2006 to 1 Dec 2006.
5. I covenant that for the duration of 6 Nov 2006 to 1 Dec 2007, I shall not appear in any advertising or promotional material other than for P&G unless written consent has been granted by P&G.
6. I warrant that I have not appeared in any advertising or promotional material for any product in competition with P&G’s products prior to the Award.
7. I undertake to indemnify and hold harmless P&G and its assigns against any legal suits, costs, expenses or any event calculated to be prejudicial to P&G and its assigns as a result of my actions, negligence or violation of any of the foregoing.
8. I agree that I will not hold P&G responsible for any liability resulting from the use of my Name, my Likeness, my Entry, and the cinematograph film(s)/video tape(s)/sound recording(s)/ photograph(s)/interview transcript(s) or adaptation(s) thereof taken of me in accordance with the terms of this release. I hereby waive the right to inspect and approve any finished materials in which my Name, Likeness, my Entry and the cinematograph film(s)/video tape(s)/sound recording(s)/ photograph(s)/interview transcript(s) or adaptation(s) thereof taken of me are used. Nothing in this Release shall obligate P&G to use my Name, my Likeness, my Entry and the cinematograph film(s)/video tape(s)/sound recording(s)/ photograph(s)/interview transcript(s) or adaptation(s) thereof taken of me for any purpose at any time.

Another Online Bookstore!

Hmmm, is my book getting enough publicity? I really have no idea about its sales in Indonesia. I need to contact my publisher. But based on my googling once-in-a-while, there are more bookstores carrying my book *_*

Here is a new one I found, called Wijayawiyata aka Seputarkita.com

Meanwhile, please do vote for me @ Pantene Shine Award!

Vote for me, please

This is a surprise news. I make into Top 5 Finalist for Pantene Shine Award. Vote for me please! If I win this, I'm going to publish my novel Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama in English. At least, please pray for me =)
Thank you.

http://www.panteneshine.sg/award.asp

Yunisa started writing a novel while she was studying in Singapore called "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama", a life dream for her which came to fruition when it got published and distributed in her home country Indonesia with rave reviews. She graduated with an MBA and now works and lives in Singapore, what she aspires to do with the $10,000 Pantene Shine Award is to translate her novel from Bahasa Indonesia into English to have it published locally. She believes "Sakura Blossoms in Yokohama", a romance story set in Japan during the Meiji period about the protaganist Satsuma searching for the life she wants, will be enjoyed by readers in Singapore and around the world.

Quiz to win my novel!

PENGUMUMAN / WORO-WORO
Mbak Illydea akan menyiarkan ulang acaranya Book Review ttg SBdY hari Jum’at tgl 3 November 2006 mulai jam 6.45 pm. Trus setelah acara itu dia akan bikin quiz dengan hadiahnya novel Sakura. Kalo mau denger, bisa di Website RSI

ANNOUNCEMENT

Ms Illydea will rerun her Book Review program on my novel Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama on Friday, 3 Nov 2006 at 6.45pm SGT. Then it will be followed by a quiz to win my Sakura novel. (There would be 5 autographed copies to be won).

If you want to hear the program, please go to RSI's website (Malay)

Brand New Look!

Hello readers,

Esp those who keep checking this blog... Here you can see that I have changed the display. Hope it is more organized and more pleasant for you to enjoy... Now the side bar contains vital info of my book.

The comments from Helloscan -- since I am unable to paste the code (don't know why, the new beta blogger is not compatible with Heloscan, and I can't be bothered to change it) -- so I decided to put it into the sidebar.

Hazy greetings from Singapore,

Yunisa

"Request of the Day" for Pantene Shine

Up^: The package

Below: Peeking the inside of the container

If you were an MTV watcher in the past, I'm sure you are aware that most of the time, the "Request of the Day" was won by Indonesian. We were supposed to send something to MTV (bahasa Indonya, bikin prakarya). And as Indonesian, we are fairly creative as we are trained to make those things during Primary school...
So I were doing such thing for the Pantene Shine competition. Here are some pictures for you to see...

Comparing the English container (left) vs. the real Indo novel (right)
Photographer: Mayrinna Dewi

Front view of the essay (inserted in the pocket of the container)

Bedah Buku oleh Mekar Sari

Resensi oleh: Mekar Sari Sutedja (sahabatnya adikku, Mayrinna Dewi, tidak ada hubungannya dengan Dr Dede Selamat Sutedja walau nama keluarganya sama hehehe)

Kayaknya bakal dimuat di harian Kedaulatan Rakyat (koran tertua di Indonesia, yang berada di kota kelahiranku, Yogyakarta). -- to be updated if it is published.

Belajar dari Sebuah Romantika Kehidupan

Judul: Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama

Penulis: Yunisa

Penerbit : Theriza Books, Bandung 2006

Tebal : 436 + xii

Harga : Rp. 39.000

Dalam hidup, ada tiga hal yang tidak bisa ditebak oleh manusia. Pertama, kelahiran. Orang tidak bisa memilih dimana dia akan dilahirkan, dalam keadaan apa, keluarga apa, sebagai pria atau wanita. Kedua, jodoh. Dia tidak akan tahu bagaimana, kapan, siapa dan dimana dia akan bertemu seseorang yang benar-benar menjadi cinta sejatinya. Dan yang ketiga, kematian. Dia tidak akan tahu kapan dan bagaimana dia akan berpulang. Berkutat pada tiga hal itu, tidak sedikit orang yang mencoba mencari jawaban dengan membaca banyak buku, mempelajari ilmu perbintangan, tahun kelahiran atau bahkan peruntungan nasib karena merasa tidak puas dengan jalan kehidupannya.

Lewat buku ini, pembaca diajak merenungi arti sebuah kesempatan, kejujuran, pilihan, dan penyesalan dalam hidup maupun perjalanan sebuah cinta. Buku ini merupakan salah satu Novel yang bersifat fiksi yang mampu mengangkat karya sastra anak Jogjakarta, mengingat penulisnya lahir dan besar di kota Jogja. Walaupun ini debutnya yang pertama, tetapi pengetahuan dan kecakapannya dalam bidang sastra dan banyak bahasa cukup membuktikan bahwa karyanya mampu menggelitik rasa emosional dan ketertarikan bagi si pembaca.

Buku ini merupakan Novel Roman yang alur ceritanya jelas, dan terbagi-bagi dalam beberapa subbab didalamnya. Jalan cerita roman ini sengaja dibuat menyimpang dari jalur yang diharapkan khayalak dan memberi kebebasan berpikir bagi para pembacanya. Berlatar belakang zaman Restorasi Meiji, buku ini menceritakan perjalanan hidup seorang gadis cantik dan cerdas bernama Yuki, bayi yang dibuang ditengah badai salju, yang menemukan cinta pertamanya pada Shinichi Serizawa, seorang pria rupawan dari keluarga terpandang yang pernah merasakan pahitnya cinta. Namun ternyata, Shinichi memutuskan untuk menerima perjodohan dengan Masako Matsuma demi membalas budi atas bantuan keluarga Satsuma yang menyelamatkan perusahaan Zerizawa dari ancaman gulung tikar. Keterlibatan Keiko Hattori, mantan tunangan Shinichi, munculnya playboy kawakan Dr. Toru Toshiyuki, serta seorang kawan lama, Takuya Tosha yang juga jatuh hati pada Yuki, membuat suasana semakin pelik…. Siapakah sebenarnya Yuki dan bagaimanakah akhir kisah ini ??

Dengan susunan kata-kata yang indah dan tepat, buku ini mampu menarik minat pembaca untuk terus menerus membacanya, “Once You Pop, You can't Stop!” Penggunaan kosakata - kosakata baru, penggalan – penggalan percakapan dalam bahasa Inggris, sepatutnya membuat para pembaca merasa lebih dilatih dalam berbahasa. Tersiratnya nasehat-nasehat didalamnya yang bukan sekedar Novel Percintaan belaka, membuat buku ini layak untuk dibaca karena bersifat mendidik.

Learn from Life Romance

Reviewer: Mekar Sari Sutedja (my sister Mayrinna Dewi's bestfriend. Despite having the same surname as Dr Dede, both of them do not know each other hehehe)

Title: Sakura Blossoms in Yokohama

Writer: Yunisa

Publisher: Theriza Books, Bandung 2006

Pages: 436 + xii

Price: Rp 39,000

In life, there are three things unpredictable by man. First, birth. One could not choose where he/she will be born, in what kind of situation, to which family, as what sex/gender. Second, life partner. He/she will not know how, when, who and where he/she will meet someone who really becomes "the one". And the thir is the death. He/she will not know when and how he/she will die. In regards to those three, there are a number of people tried to look for the answer by reading many books, studied astrology, the birth year or even fortune reading because of feeling dissatisfied with his / her life path.

Through this book, the reader is asked to ponder the meaning an opportunity, honesty, the choice, and the regret in life and a journey of love.
This book was one of the novels shaped like a fiction, that could lift fellow literary work of Jogjakarta, as in fact, the writer was born and raised in Jogja city.

Although this is her first debut, but her knowledge and skillin literature and languages really proves that her work could intrigue the emotional curiosity and attract the interest of the reader.

This book is one of the novel with clear plot, and it's divided into parts in several sub-chapters inside.
This novel plot deliberately was made deviated from the expected storyline , hence it gives the readers a freedom to think.

With a background of Meiji Restoration time, this book told the life journey of a pretty and smart girl named Yuki, the baby that was exiled in the middle of the snowstorm, who found herfirst love for Shinichi Serizawa, a handsome man from the family, who had felt the bitterness of love.
However, Shinichi decided to accept the matchmaking with Masako Matsuma in order to repay the help from Satsuma family that rescued the Serizawa company from closing down.

The involvement of Keiko Hattori, ex fiance of Shinichi, the appearance of a veteran playboy, Dr. Toru Toshiyuki, as well as an old friend, Takuya Tosha who also fell in love to Yuki, made the situation increasingly complicated... Who is Yuki actually? and how will the end of this story be??

With the beautiful and exact wording, this book could attract the interest of the reader to continuously read it, as “Once you Pop, you can stop!" The vocabulary usage - the new vocabulary, the pieces of conversation in English, would make the readers feel getting trained in using languages.
The many advices implied inside make this book is not just a love novel, as this book is appropriate to read because it is also educational.

Sakura in English (my dream)

Of course I have a dream for my writings, including this novel. I would like some day, to see it filmed. Before it happens, I would want to see it published in English. My colleagues (and ex colleagues) would love to read that!

I am going to enter a "Shine" competition sponsored by Pantene. If I get the $10,000, I would publish an English version of the long-awaited Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama, English version $_$

Well, yes, I have my own money, but my parents would definitely kill me if I spend my hard-earned full-time job money for this... Even getting this novel published by a real publisher was a teary-bloody-sweaty struggle I went through back in 2005. However, God opened a way, and I believe He will always open a way!

PS: I just realize that people who love reading -- and eventually lead to "so called" higher understanding level (it is biased opinion of me), they really like my novel despite they have different expectation for the ending (haha, I am just so cruel to twist it). But those who are not trained in reading, they would think that Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama is heavy. Actually, if you are into soap operas, telenovela, sinetron -- this novel is not complicated at all, you just need to follow faithfully page by page.

Well, it also confirms that my writing's segmentation should be of certain sophistication standard. Yea, baby, way to go!

Another online bookstore for Sakura

Halo, halo
Been a long time never update this blog. Mr Harry is right, I've been busy at work and writing new novels (kalau terbit, ntar aku bikin blog khusus buat cerita soal each novel), baru tadi pagi dikurir ke penerbit... (plus masih batuk2 terus -- coughing all the way, mungkin perlu ketemu my usual mighty doctor rather than going the second time for the same cough to the office GP / dokter umum).

Anyway, hari ini iseng googling around and find this Tandaku Toko Bagus, lihat bagian buku terbaru (latest book)

(Jadi ini alternatif toko buku online selain Surga Buku yang jual novelku di bagian best-seller).

PS: And we are still in progress for RSI quiz buat Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama. Stay in tune!

National Library: fully on loan, NUS CL: ready (14 Sept 06)

9 September 2006 -- Yes, my book is fully on loan @ National Library in Singapore!

14 September 2006: Two books in NUS Library (Central Library) are ready for loan!

Mr Harry Suhartanto's Review in Riau Pos (1)

Mr Harry informed me that his review has been published in Sumatra Ekspress / Sumeks (Palembang, South Sumatra) last week, either Tuesday or Monday, still can't find it [to be updated]
and today in Riau Pos.

Ckckck yang Riau Pos gak diedit sama sekali sama editornya! Keren banget ya Pak Harry :P

Surgery, question by Andriani

Hehehe, I was very happy to know that my bestfriend in Batam has finished reading my book in 2 days! And she said it's impressive and giving lessons to her :) --"mengesankan & memberi pelajaran..."

She has one question that I think, most readers would also ask, esp if you seldom liaise with doctor(s). Not everyone can freely ask your doctor ;) There is a character who had a surgery. The surgery was successful, but at the end, it is said that he's died due to complication of the surgery. If the surgery was successful, then why he's still dead at the end?

If you don't operate, he had 0 (zero) chance of living. But we never know how much the result of the surgery will help a patient to prolong his life. It's case by case basis. This is a bitter and painful fact of a doctor's life. He has to explain to the patient's family (and the concerned patient sometimes) that we have to operate, but we don't know how long it will last...

Resensi Pak Harry Suhartanto

Resensi dari Pak Harry Suhartanto, akan dikirim dan/atau dimuat (pasti hehe) oleh:
a. Pikiran Rakyat - Bandung
b. Riau Mandiri - Pekanbaru
c. Sumatera Ekspress - Palembang
d. Sumut Pos - Medan
(Kalau yang meresensi sudah berpengalaman, nulisnya emang beda yah hehehe)

Resensi

Novel "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama"
Karya : Yunisa Gunawan

Buat para novel addict yang sudah lama menanti kehadiran sebuah novel love story yang khusus mengambil setting Jepang di masa lalu, mungkin karya perdana novelis muda Yunisa Gunawan ini bisa menjadi penawar kerinduan itu. Selama ini memang boleh dibilang sangat sedikit para novelis muda Indonesia yang punya keberanian untuk "lari" dari unsur kekinian dengan segala kemewahan di dalamnya. Apalagi jika target pembacanya adalah kaum ABG (anak baru gede). Ya, mirip seperti tema-tema sinetron lah!

Meski novel "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" berlatar belakang jaman kekaisaran Meiji namun jangan harap pembaca akan disuguhi adegan-adegan heroik yang sedang ngetrend pada jaman itu, seperti pertarungan hidup mati antara dua samurai untuk memperebutkan seorang gadis.

Jika Anda pernah menonton film "Titanic"-nya James Cameron yang menempatkan fakta sejarah tenggelamnya kapal pesiar itu hanya sebagai latar saja, maka demikian pula halnya dalam novel "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama". Jaman kekaisaran Meiji dengan kebijakan restorasinya yang kemudian membuka isolasi Jepang dari dunia luar tampaknya dipilih Yunisa untuk memberi "aroma" lain dalam khasanah tematik novel-novel Indonesia saat ini.

Barangkali boleh diakui bahwa di sini terasa ada kesan "berani" dalam diri seorang Yunisa Gunawan untuk sedikit "nyleneh" dan tidak tunduk dan mbuntut saja pada popularitas genre novel love story yang kerap memamerkan kemewahan dan gemerlapnya kehidupan di kota besar seperti Jakarta.

Walaupun dalam novel ini Yunisa memunculkan banyak nama dan episode, sebenarnya alur cerita yang hendak disajikan Yunisa ternyata simple saja. Yakni tentang kehidupan tokoh sentralnya Yuki Satsuma yang hidup menderita pada awalnya tetapi kemudian menemukan kembali kehidupan yang sesungguhnya menjadi miliknya.

Kegetiran hidup Yuki berawal ketika ibunya meninggal saat melahirkan dia. Yuki, bayi mungil yang sengaja disingkirkan oleh ibu tirinya di awal kisah, kemudian ditemukan dan diasuh oleh para rohaniwan klan Fransiskan London yang mengabdikan diri di sebuah gereja di Yokohama.

Yuki, yang dibaptis dengan nama Michaela, mengabdikan sebagian masa hidupnya menjadi guru sekolah Minggu di gereja tersebut pada usianya yang masih belasan tahun. Padahal biasanya dalam kebanyakan genre novel love story, khususnya yang ditargetkan bagi kaum ABG metropolis, tokoh sentral seperti Yuki sering digambarkan sebagai anak baru gede yang hidupnya penuh hura-hura, seakan tanpa beban hidup dan jauh dari penderitaan.

Romantika dan konflik mulai mewarnai kehidupan Yuki bersamaan dengan masuknya Shinichi "Michael" Serizawa, seorang pemuda Jepang berpendidikan Barat ke dalam kehidupan Yuki. Shinichi sebenarnya sudah bertunangan dengan Keiko Hattori, seorang wanita yang pernah sama-sama kuliah di London. Namun ternyata Michael alias Shinichi ternyata lebih memilih Yuki sehingga membuat Keiko patah hati, kemudian menjerumuskan diri dalam kehidupan "liar" yang akhirnya membuatnya hamil dan bunuh diri.

Untuk memberi kesan dramatis, sebelum mati Keiko, yang menjadi tokoh antagonis bagi Yuki, mengutuk orang-orang yang paling dibencinya termasuk Shinichi yang disumpahi agar tidak bisa menikah dengan Yuki.

Di tengah liku-liku perjalanan hidupnya yang penuh cobaan, secara tak terduga Yuki bertemu dengan ayah kandungnya Takahito Satsuma, seorang pengusaha dan bangsawan kaya di Yokohama, yang akhirnya membuat hidup Yuki berubah drastis 180 derajat. Ayahnya pun akhirnya sadar bahwa Yuki telah menjadi korban kedengkian dan kerakusan istri keduanya, Rika, yang ternyata mengganti Yuki bayi dengan keponakannya sendiri yang kelak diberi nama Masako.

Kebencian Masako dewasa terhadap Yuki gara-gara ia dan ibunya, Rika, diusir oleh Takahito setelah kedok mereka terbongkar meledak menjadi luapan balas dendam berdarah yang akhirnya justru menewaskan Shinichi dan sekaligus menggagalkan niat Shinichi bersanding dengan Yuki.

Unhappy ending? Jawabannya, mungkin "ya", tapi mungkin juga "tidak". Sebab pada akhirnya Yuki Satsuma menikah dengan Takuya Tosha, seorang kawan lamanya, tepat di saat bunga-bunga Sakura bermekaran dengan indahnya di Yokohama.

Meski alur cerita novel "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" terkesan begitu sederhana namun Yunisa Gunawan berhasil menyelipkan berbagai episode dan konflik dalam kehidupan Yuki yang bak masakan malah menjadi "bumbu penyedap”. Misalnya tentang Shinichi yang terpaksa menerima pertunangan dengan Masako agar "ayahnya" Takahito Satsuma mau membantu perusahaan milik keluarga Serizawa yang berada di ambang kehancuran.

Atau tentang Keichi, teman senasib Yuki sewaktu di Panti Asuhan Gereja, ternyata diam-diam menaruh hati kepada Yuki.

Selain itu Yunisa juga tampaknya sengaja menyisipkan sense of humor a la Indonesia untuk membuat dialog-dialog dalam novel ini menjadi lebih "hidup" dan semakin nikmat untuk dibaca. Misalnya ketika Yuki setengah bergurau memplesetkan nama Shinichi Serizawa dengan "Serigala". Atau ketika mantan tunangan Shinichi yakni Keiko Hattori suatu saat memanggil Shinichi dengan "Shin-chan", tokoh kartun Jepang yang nakal tapi menggemaskan.

Di penghujung bagian Sinopsis-nya Yunisa Gunawan menulis, "... ada banyak hal yang terjadi di luar perhitungan manusia. Banyak hal pula dalam kisah ini yang tidak diduga pembaca." Ini yang membuat pembaca jadi ingin lebih tahu apakah novel itu berujung pada unhappy ending atau sebaliknya?

Nah, jika Anda penasaran tentang apa yang dimaksud Yunisa dalam penggalan kalimat di atas, silahkan nikmati halaman demi halaman novel "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama". Seperti tertera di sampul depannya, "Once you pop, you can't stop!" (Sekali asyik menikmati, Anda tidak dapat menghentikannya!!")

++++
Note to Editor:

1. Yunisa Gunawan now works at a multi national company in Singapore.
2. Keterangan Novel
Judul: Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama
Penulis: Yunisa Gunawan
Penerbit : Theriza Books, Bandung 2006
Tebal : 436 + xii
Harga : Rp. 39.000

Review from Mr Harry Suhartanto

The review from Mr Harry Suhartanto , will be sent and/or published (for sure hehe) by:
A. Pikiran Rakyat - Bandung
B. Riau Mandiri - Pekanbaru
C. Sumatra Ekspress - Palembang
D. Sumut Post - Medan
(If the reviewer is experienced, it does make a difference, yeah? hehehe)

Review
Novel: "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama"
Author: Yunisa Gunawan

For those novel addicts who have been waiting for a long time for a love story novel with a setting in the pastime of Japan, probably this first work of a young novelist Yunisa Gunawan could become the antidote for the yearning. Until now, indeed there might be very few young Indonesian novelists who have courage to "run" from the current trend element with all luxury inside. Moreover if the target reader is teenager. Yes, similar to the themes of the Indonesian soap opera!

Although "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" has a background in the time of Meiji empire, readers please don't hope to be offered heroic scenes that was "in" during that time, e.g. the struggle between life and death between two samurai to fight for a girl.

If you had watched "Titanic" of James Cameron that placed the history fact of the sinking of that cruise ship only as the background, so is "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama". The Meiji empire time with his restoration policy that afterwards opened the Japanese isolation from the outside world apparently was chosen by Yunisa to give the other "aroma" in the thematic world of current Indonesian novels.

Perhaps it needs to acknowledge that there is a sense of "bravery" in Yunisa Gunawan herself to be a little bit "different" and did not submit and follow the popular genre of love story novels that often exhibit the luxury and sparkling life in big cities like Jakarta.

Although in this novel Yunisa shows many names and the episode, in fact the plot served by Yunisa is just simple. That is about the life of the leading figure: Yuki Satsuma who lived in suffering initially but afterwards she found again the real life that actually belonged to her.

Yuki's bitter life started when her mother died when giving birth to her. Yuki, the little baby was deliberately thrown away by her stepmother in the beginning of the story, then was found and taken care of by the London's Franciscan clan who dedicated themselves in a church in Yokohama.

Yuki, baptised by the name of Michaela, dedicated some of her life period by becoming a Sunday School teacher in that church during her teenage years. Usually, in most genres of love story novels, especially those aimed at metropolis teenagers, the leading figure like Yuki is often depicted as glamorous teenager, as though without the burden of the life and far from the suffering.

Romance and the conflict began to influence Yuki's life along with the entry of Shinichi "Michael" Serizawa, a young Japanese man with Western education into the Yuki's life. Shinichi in fact had ever been engaged to Keiko Hattori, a lady who had been together studied in London. However, Michael alias Shinichi chose Yuki and that made Keiko brokenhearted, afterwards plunged herself into a wild life that resulted in her pregnancy and finally, suicide.

To give the dramatic impression, before she died, Keiko, who became the leading antagonist for Yuki, condemned people whom she hated the most, including Shinichi -- who was cursed not to be able to marry Yuki.

In the middle of the intriques of her life journey, unpredictably Yuki met his biological father, Takahito Satsuma, a businessman and the rich noble in Yokohama, who finally had made the Yuki's life changed drastically, 180 degrees. His father then realised that Yuki was a victim of the hatred and greed of his second wife, Rika, who had replaced baby Yuki with her own niece, which later was named Masako.

Grown-up Masako's hatred to Yuki -- because she and her "mother", Rika, were expelled by Takahito after their cover-up was exposed -- exploded becoming a overflowed bloody revenge that in the end, killed Shinichi and at the same time, thwarting Shinichi's intention to tie a knot with Yuki.

Unhappy ending? The answer is, maybe "yes", maybe "no". Because in the end, Yuki Satsuma married Takuya Tosha, her childhood friend, precisely when Sakura's flowers blossomed beautifully in Yokohama.

Although the story plot of "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" apparently is so simple, Yunisa Gunawan succeeded in slipping various episodes and conflicts in Yuki's life -- like cooking, it even became the "spices". For example, about Shinichi who was forced to accept the engagement with Masako so that "her father" (Takahito Satsuma) would help the Serizawa's company that was almost bankrupt.

Or about Keichi, a friend who shared the same destiny as Yuki when she was in the Church Orphanage, secretly was falling for Yuki.

Moreover Yunisa is also apparently deliberately inserting some sense of humour a la Indonesia to make dialogues in this novel to more "lively" and increasingly enjoyable to read.

For example when Yuki half joked calling Shinichi Serizawa's name with (Serigala) "Wolf". Or when Shinichi's ex fiance named Keiko Hattori at one time called Shinichi with "Shin-chan", the naughty and cute Japanese cartoon figure.

At the end of her synopsis, Yunisa Gunawan wrote, "... There were many matters that happened apart from human calculation. There are also many matters in this story that would not have been expected by the reader." This is what makes the readers are more curious whether the novel has unhappy ending or is it the reverse?

So, if you are curious about what Yunisa means to say in the above piece of the sentence, please enjoy page by page of "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama". As being put in the front cover, "Once you pop, you can't stop!" (Sekali asyik menikmati, Anda tidak dapat menghentikannya!!)
++++

Note to Editor:

1. Yunisa Gunawan now works at a multi national company in Singapore.

2. Novel's information

Title: Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama

Author: Yunisa Gunawan

Publisher: Theriza Books, Bandung 2006

Pages: 436 + xii

Price : Rp. 39.000

Available in Medan

One friend from my mailing list (and now Friendster and Multiply) told me that finally Gramedia Medan Mall has my book Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama, but they put it under foreign fiction (fiksi asing) hahaha...

She said yesterday when she bought SBdY, there were 5 books on display, but today there were only 2 books left :-D Credit: Maggie Loe, Medan

Interferer

Today I had lunch with Mr Harry, and he has finished reading my book. Komentarnya rahasia hehehe... But one thing for sure, I know that I enjoy trapping the readers to a certain mindset (purposely mislead them) hahahha :D

In life, we have to be guarded and flexible at the same time. There are many people (interferer), who were not of any significance before, but suddenly they mess up with our life by their interference in our life. That interference can be both positive or negative. Complicated? OK, ganti ke Bahasa Indonesia. Dalam hidup tuh tiba2 sering ada perubahan drastis karena perbuatan seseorang (sebelumnya kita gak kenal, or kenal tapi gak kita anggap penting). Tapi begitu mereka berbuat sesuatu, rusak semua rencana kita atau malah semua yang ruwet jadi lancar.

So, Yunisa's message is: Always expect for the best coz God will always give you the best thing, you never know when that interferer comes to color your life! *God never tells you when*

Novel Review in Batam Pos

Hurray, my novel's review is published in Batam Pos. Kindly refer to my posting titled "Review from Nunik Utami"

From: NUNIK SUSILO
Sent: Wednesday, July 19, 2006 14:20 PM
To: Yunisa
Subject: Resensi Sakura

Dear Yunisa, pa kabar? Cuma mau kasih tau, resensi Sakura Bersemi udah dimuat. Wahh, lama juga ya pemuatannya, ternyata ada kesalahan teknis dari editornya. Kemarin udah aku tanya sih, dan akhirnya muncul juga...Met menikmati ya...

Benang Kusut Diluruskan

Senin, 17 Juli 2006
Oleh: Nunik Utami A

Hebat. Itu kata pertama yang muncul di benak saya untuk penulis buku ini. Di usianya yang masih muda ia mampu menciptakan novel yang berlatar belakang Jepang pada zaman Restorasi Meiji (tahun seribu delapan ratusan). Ini membuktikan bahwa menulis novel memang harus memiliki pengetahuan yang luas agar novelnya terasa “berisi”.

Yuki, tokoh utama dalam novel roman ini adalah seorang gadis Jepang yang dibuang oleh ibu tirinya. Ia ditemukan oleh seorang Pastur di depan kapel, di tengah badai salju. Yuki adalah gadis pintar. Ia bekerja sebagai pengajar di sekolah minggu yang bahasa pengantarnya adalah bahasa Inggris. Dalam hidupnya, banyak pria yang menaruh hati padanya, membuatnya menjadi gadis yang beruntung. Dan sekaligus gadis yang malang karena kisah hidupnya tak selalu berjalan mulus.

Shinichi Serizawa alias Michael, seorang pemuda dari keluarga kaya jatuh cinta pada Yuki. Menurutnya, Yuki adalah gadis yang berbeda dari yang lain, apalagi dengan Keiko, mantan kekasihnya. Ternyata Yuki juga mencintai Mike. Ia melihat Mike sebagai pribadi yang baik, dan bukan memandangnya sebagai putra keluarga terpandang.

Namun cinta mereka mengalami berbagai halangan. Mulai dari Keiko yang ingin kembali bersama Mike juga Keichi (asisten Yuki di Sekolah Minggu) yang juga jatuh hati pada Yuki. Sepertinya Keiko benar-benar tidak rela kalau Mike akhirnya menikah dengan Yuki. Maka Keikopun merancang rencana jahatnya. Berhasilkan Keiko? Bukan Cuma itu, Ibu Mike juga ternyata tak setuju anaknya menikah dengan Yuki… Padahal…

Belum cukup sampai disitu, cinta antara Mike dan Yuki juga terus diterpa badai, hanya karena Mike adalah anak tunggal keluarga Serizawa, juga karena Mike bertanggung jawab atas sesuatu hal yang sangat berat. Ditambah lagi Rin, sahabat dekat Yuki yang ternyata juga mencintai Mike.

Dalam kesedihan yang terus datang bertubi-tubi, Yuki juga tak pernah berhenti berharap bahwa suatu saat kelak ia akan bertemu keluarganya. Akankah ia bertemu? Berbagai konfik demi konflik diciptakan oleh penulis. Membuat novel ini terasa padat dan jauh dari membosankan. Bagaimanakah akhir dari novel ini? Siapakah pria yang akhirnya menikahi Yuki? Akankah ia menemukan kebahagiaan di akhir cerita? Silakan temukan jawabannya di novel ini. Kepiawaian penulisnya menjadikan novel ini berhasil ditutup dengan manis, seperti benang-benang kusut yang akhirnya berhasil diluruskan.

keterangan buku
Judul : Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama

Pengarang : Yunisa

Jenis : Novel Roman

Penerbit : Theriza Books

Tebal : 436 hal + xii

Harga : Rp 39.000

Best Seller @ Surgabuku.com???

Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama is a best seller in Surga Buku! (Just google "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" and we can find this!)

Hahaha, someone mistook my novel as a translated novel!He/she thinks "Yunisa" is a Japanese name? Come on! ^_^ (for those who don't know, ^_^ is the Japanese version for :) -- I am so used to the US emoticon haha)

@ National Library Spore + NUS Library

Hi, hi, hi...
Sorry for not updating and replying your messages. Been very extremely busy both at work and family life. Temporarily, I am not sure whether my copies here are available for sale :P *ngitung jumlah stock yg terbatas* Coz I still owe some friends and VIPs, plus I want to donate my novel(s) to Spore libraries. So far, NUS library (2 copies) and National Library Singapore (5 copies) have responded :) Awating replies from libraries of NTU (Nanyang Technological University) and SMU (Singapore Management University). If there are other libraries would like to obtain some copies, kindly let me know. Thanks.

Saran buat yang di Singapura n ingin beli, either kamu nitip temen yang ke Jkt or nunggu kamu sendiri balik ke Jkt and beli novelku, atau ntar silakan pinjam di NLB or NUS library... By this week, I'll go to those libraries. Sorry yah... Tapi kalau kamu sudah punya novelku dan mau autograph, feel free to leave msg in multiply atau friendster, nanti aku japri - jalur pribadi :)

-----Original Message-----
From: Tye Sek Kuan,Paul
Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 9:09 AM
To: Yunisa
Cc: Central Library TS (Receiving); Teo-Phoon Moi Ying; Hashimah Bte Johari; Loo Lay Yen; Yeo Puay Chay,Dora
Subject: RE: Do you accept Indonesian novel as a gift to NUS library?

Dear Miss Yunisa,

Congratulation on your first novel. We are happy to receive your gift of your first Indonesian novel. Please sent the 2 copies to me at the address listed below.

Thank you and with warmest regards,
Tye Sek Kuan, Paul
Central Library
Technical Services (Purchasing) NUS Libraries
12 Kent Ridge Crescent
Singapore 119275

-----Original Message-----
From: CommonAC G&E
To: Yunisa
Date: Jul 18, 2006 3:37 PM
Subject: Re: My Indonesian novel gift to NLB

Dear Ms Yunisa

Thank you very much for your kind offer to donate books. We find that thefollowing publication might be suitable for our library collections upon our first review: 5 copies Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama

We hope that you can autograph one of these 5 copies - the autographed copy will be kept as part of our autographed collection at Lee Kong Chian Reference Library.

Best Regards
Kong Leng Foong (Miss)
Librarian

Gifts & Exchange Section
National Library Board

Sold out in Batam?

One of my best friends, she works in Batam, told me that last week she was looking for my book in Kharisma Mall. The shop attendant told her that Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama is sold out, they are still waiting for new stocks to be sent over. (I told her, no need to buy, I'll give her an autographed copy once I can afford the time to visit her in Batam coz I'm getting new author's copies, udah diembatin orang2 di rumah sebelum dibawain ke Sg :P Anyway, best friends and anyone whom I owe, will get their shares!)

I'm not sure whether Kharisma, Gramedia, Gunung Agung spread up the distribution thoroughout Indonesia coz my publisher said currently the distribution is only available in Java island (Pulau Jawa) due to expensive postage handling fee??? *pelit amat*

SMS from RSI listeners, 8 June 2006

Credit goes to Mr Harry for compiling the SMSes. It was phone interview on Thursday night :)

TAMBAHAN KOMENTAR DARI PENDENGAR RSI MENGENAI NOVEL “SAKURA BERSEMI DI YOKOHAMA” AS PER JUNE 8, 2006

LENNI M,SUMUT.KAK YUNISA APAKH BUKUNY HANYA D TULIS DLM BENTUK NOVEL,KNP TDK DLM BENTUK KOMIK KAN LBH MNRK ADA GMBRNY.

JITO RIMBOBUJANG JAMBI#MBAK YUNI,APKH DLM MNULIS NOVEL MMERLUKAN SITUASI KUSUS?KNAPA MNGAMBIL SETTING DI JEPANG?DAN BKN "MELATI BERSEMI DITEPI KINTAMANI"

IDA FARIDA PAGAR ALAM.KAK YUNISA BISA GAK KASIH ALAMATNYA ATAU NO HPNYA.IDA JG SKARANG LG BLAJAR JD PNULIS SIAPA TAU SBULAN LG DIMUAT DIMAJALAH...KJUTAN.

Serik pdgpnjg. Assalamu'alaikum,mbk yuni. Proses pembuatan novel ini berapa lama?

CEMARA. HI,HELLO..ADA PERTANYAAN CEMARA YG BELUM DIJAWAB SM BINTANG TAMUNYA MAS HARRY:. "TAMI TAKADA" NAMA CEWEK ATAU COWOK?. TRIMAKASIH....

CEMARA. TAMI TAKADA ITU PENULIS KOMIK.YG PRNAH BACA KOMIKNYA SPT FLOWER BONQUET

SBdY happens in real life!

Inilah kisah nyata yang mirip ending novel Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama! Hahaha, I think I am quite good in imagining stories!!!

Detikhot, Kamis, 15/06/2006 09:22 WIB

Rizky Hanggono Siap Naik Pelaminan

Setelah lima kali gonta-ganti pacar akhirnya aktor muda Rizky Hanggono menemukan tambatan hatinya. Dalam kurun waktu kurang dari satu bulan, bintang 'Ungu Violet' ini pun menyatakan cintanya pada seorang gadis. Saat ditemui Rabu (14/6/2006) malam, Rizky menggandeng Hesy, kekasihnya yang bertubuh mungil. Usut punya usut, ternyata ada kisah seru di balik keluarga mereka. Kakek dan nenek mereka dulu juga merupakan sepasang kekasih. Sayang, hubungan itu tak berlanjut dan kandas di tengah jalan. Hal ini lah yang kemudian membangkitkan motivasi Rizky menjalin hubungan serius dengan Hesy."Kalau satu tahun ini tidak terjadi apa-apa, maka kami akan merencanakan langkah selanjutnya," ujarnya mantap. Pria yang punya hobi menggambar ini menuturkan bahwa ia dan Hesy juga memiliki banyak kesamaan. Salah satunya, mereka sama-sama berasal dari Malang, Jawa Timur. Para penggemar Rizky nampaknya harus siap-siap patah hati. Karena mungkin tak lama lagi, aktor yang pernah mencium Dian Sastro ini akan segera naik pelaminan.

RSI Malay link for my intvw

http://www.rsi.sg/malay/reviu/view/20060602100941/1/.html
Radio Interview

If you have the bandwidth (it's Gallup's culture to say "bandwidth"), you can listen to my RSI interview on the above link. (Aku belum dengerin sih hehe). My lil sis must be very happy coz I give her credit :P

Coretan Kreatif - Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama, karya Yunisa Gunawan
Jun 2, 2006
Hello saudara! Dengan irama pengenalan itu, anda bersama saya sekali lagi dalam Reviu Coretan Kreatif.

Saya rasa kan, setiap minggu Reviu Coretan Kreatif telah membawa anda menyelami alam fiksi, kisah reality, misteri dan sebagainya, Saudara, saya nak tanya sikit, pernah tak anda bercinta? Kalau jawapan anda ya, Aha, itulah genre buku yang akan direviu minggu ini.

Saya diberi kesempatan bertemu dengan seorang penulis muda ini di studio kami di Bukit Caldecott baru-baru ini dan yang saya boleh janjikan ialah, anda pasti akan terhibur dengan bukunya ini. Kita bersama Yunisa Gunawan membicarakan bukunya sendiri, Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama. Jika anda sudah bersedia dengan secangkir kopi, teruskan bersama Reviu Coretan Kreatif.

(Wawancara bersama Yunisa Gunawan)

Jadi bagaimana seorang editor yang bertugas dengan Pertubuhan Gallup, yang mempunyai latarbelakang dalam bidang matematik dan statistik ini mula berjinak-jinak dengan dunia penulisan? Siapa yang menjadi pendorong utamanya?

(Wawancara bersama Yunisa Gunawan)

Siapalah sangka idea seorang anak kecil yang penuh imaginasi boleh mencetuskan inspirasi bagi Yunis sehingga menjadi novel romantis? Apa yang bermula sebagai projek seorang kakak untuk menghiburkan adik-adiknya kini laris dijual di Jogja, Jakarta, Bandung dan lain-lain Bandar di Indonesia. Yang pasti ini bukan kali pertama dan terakhir anda mendengar tentang Yunisa Gunawan.
Sehingga di sini saja kehadiran saya dalam Reviu-Coretan Kreatif minggu ini. Sekiranya anda berminat untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang novel ini, atau membaca novel yang ingin dikongsi, atau sekadar ingin memberi maklumbalas tentang rancangan ini, emelkan kepada illydea@mediacorpradio.com. Saranan atau emel terbaik akan menerima cenderahati RSI.

Sehingga bertemu lagi di udara RSI di lain minggu, saya Illydea Ishak, salam manis hujung minggu, byeeee!

Rekap SMS hari Sabtu

Pak Harry berbaik hati memilah SMS Sabtu kemarin. No pengirim sudah dihilangkan... Tapi tidak semua dijawab sih :P

DARI DAHLIANI NASUTION.DI SOSA TAP-SEL.SLM KENL TUK KA'YUNISA .MO NANYA NIH!KNP KAKAK MEMILIH JDUL SAKURA BERSEMI...

JITO RIMBOBUJANG JAMBI#BACKGROUND APA YG MENGINSPIRASI SAKURA BERSEMI DI YOKOHAMA,BERKECAMUK DL RUANG IMAGINASI SEORANG YUNISA GUNAWAN? SALAM KENAL YA!?#

Karlina Almt :Rt.4,No.12,Talangbukit unit6,Seibahar,Muarojambi,Jambi,36365 Apa tema "Sakura di Yokohama"

IDA FARIDA PAGAR ALAM.HALLO KAK YUNISA PA KBR,SALAM KNAL DARI IDA.MEMBUAT SBUAH NOVEL PA KITA TRJUN DULU KDALAM CRITA ITU ATAU HANYA CRITA HAYALAN SAJA

DARI PUTRI BUNGSU DI TAP-SEL.BUAT SINICHI-SAN.APA KBR?MOGA-MOGA KAMU SLALU DLM LINDUNGAN NYA.

JITO RIMBOBUJANG JAMBI# APAKAH MBAK YUNI TEMAN DEKATNYA ZARAZETIRA?APA PENDAPAT MBAK YUNI TENTANG KARYA2 KAHLIL GIBRAN DAN PRAMUDYA ANANTA TOUR?

UMI SERANG. SLM KNAL BT KAK YUNI, GMANA CRANYA BIAR DAPAT NOVELNYA, TAPI YG GRATIS LHO KAK.

JITO RIMBOBUJANG JAMBI#MBAK YUNI APAKAH FAMILIER DG "PETANG PULUHAN DAN MALIOBORO" KESAN MBAK YUNI TENTANG SOSOK YB.MANGUNWIJAYA SEPERTI APA?#

JITO RIMBOBUJANG JAMBI# RASA SEPERTI APA YG MBAK RASAKAN PERTAMA KALI KETIKA MENDENGAR BAHWA JOGJA DITERJANG GEMPA?BISAKAH KELAK MBAK YUNI MENOVELKANYA?#

MUNIPTO BENGKULU UTARA SEORANG NOVELIS SELALU MENCARI KHAYALAN2

DARI DAHLIANI NASUTION.DI SOSA TAP-SEL.APA LATAR BLAKANG DR NOVEL YG KA' YUNISA BUAT

MURIATI PE KANBARU/RIAU. Klo ada masa ce ritakan dikit isi novel nya mbak! Please.

CEMARA HI,HELLO.BOLEH NANYA GA,TAMI TAKADA ITU NAMA CEWEK OR COWOK?CEMARA JATUH CINTA SAMA SEORANG TOKOH PANGERAN YG ADA DI KOMIKNYA TAMI.TRIMAKASIH

CEMARA. OH YA, NAMA PANGERANNYA ABE SEIMEI. SEDANGKAN TAMI TAKADA ITU PENULIS KOMIKNYA.

RSI Indo on Sat nite live

Sorry for not telling you. Saturday nite live show (3 June 06, 8-10pm SGT) www.rsi.sg/indonesian, I was with Mr Harry Suhartanto in RSI studio again. The invitation just came on Thursday nite, and I completely forgot to inform anyone (but my sister Mayrinna here) due to my other work-play activities. This time around I read out smses from the listeners. And answering some questions on Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama :) Thank you for RSI listeners who have sent the sms(es)... Funny questions dan banyak salam kenal juga :-D. That's right, being a novelist, you have to use your imagination!

What I have to learn in reading smses is the culture of abbreviating the words (membuat singkatan2)... Jadi bacanya gak lancar karena nama orang, nama kota semua disingkat (weleh2). Given the nature of my daily work is dealing with formal human / business research reports, I seldom encounter such abbreviations. *Personally, that's why sometimes I find difficulties to interpret smses from my lil sis Martha Rinna and Dr Dede coz mereka juga suka menyingkat sesuka hati* Menurutku, main tebak singkatan di sms itu kayak ngisi TTS (cross word), you have to guess what the missing letters are :P

PS: I may become a part-time radio broadcaster in RSI siaran Indonesia in the future. Well, if that's the case, I can't afford sore throat :P Last week, I had one and it made me completely mute. That's why Mr Harry wrote in his e-mail (see my previous e-mail on Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama being broadcasted in Reviu www.rsi.sg/malay ) : "suara tersayangmu" (your beloved voice) hahaha

Radio Interview will be on air today

Updated: Sorry readers, this is the first and last time I will post my personal correspondence in this blog. Apologize for Mr Harry :)

---

From: Harry Suhartanto
Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 15:10 PM
To: Gunawan, Yunisa
Subject: RE: RSVP -- Mark your calendar please
Sensitivity: Private


Mbak Illydea informs that her program on Yunisa and "Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama" will be on air this evening at 6.40 pm.

Seperti biasa: buka aja www.rsi.sg/malay. Tapi aku juga udah minta dia agar acara itu di-burned ke CD for you. For file lah. Kalo kangen sama suara tersayang kamu, kan bisa diputar ulang. He..he...!!

Resensi dari Mayrinna

Penulis Resensi : Mayrinna Dewi Edy Gunawan

Banzai~!!! Akhirnya ada juga novel yang berbobot dan bisa dibaca oleh berbagai kalangan baik itu tua ataupun muda—asalkan Anda berjiwa muda saja sudah cukup, hehe.. (“,) Jika Anda tertarik pada cerita dengan latar belakang Jepang, atau menginginkan bacaan bermutu untuk seluruh keluarga, novel ini sudah pasti cocok sebagai tambahan koleksi. (oke, iklannya cukup sampai di situ aja…>.<)

“Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama” ini sudah pasti menjanjikan banyak drama yang mengharu-biru. Meskipun demikian, konflik demi konflik yang muncul sudah tertata sedemikian rupa dengan manisnya sehingga novel ini tidak akan terasa terlalu ‘cheesy’ atau ‘lame’.

Pembaca akan merasa ‘completely hooked’ dengan gaya bahasa pengarang yang ‘catchy’—menggunakan istilah-istilah percakapan Bahasa Inggris yang umum dipakai sehari-hari dan disisipi dengan ungkapan-ungkapan dalam Bahasa Jepang yang tentunya mudah dimengerti. So, walaupun Anda tidak punya hobi membaca, novel ini dijamin akan memberi kepuasan tersendiri karena selain cukup mudah dicerna, novel ini jelas berbeda dengan novel-novel yang saat ini tengah beredar di pasaran.

Selain itu, pengarang menyajikan berbagai adegan roman yang hangat-hangat kuku, mulai dari kata-kata gombal semacam sayang, dear, darling, honey yang diobral, menghujani cewek dengan berbagai hadiah, menyerenade (nyanyi buat si cewek di bawah jendela), kejar-kejaran di tepi pantai, sampai berperahu berdua, dan tentu saja diselingi dengan joke-joke yang renyah.

Cerita novel ini berkisar tentang nasib Yuki, seorang gadis yang sewaktu bayi dibuang di tengah badai salju oleh ibu tirinya, kisah cintanya yang upside-down, perjuangannya yang gigih dalam memegang teguh nilai-nilai moral menghadapi terpaan masalah yang datang bertubi-tubi (haha, maaf tidak ada spoiler lebih lanjut… ;p). Akankah Yuki berhasil mendapatkan kebahagiaannya?

Jadi, para penggemar manga (komik Jepang), anime, dan drama-drama Jepang maupun Korea, jangan sampai kelewatan untuk membaca novel ini, karena novel ini dijamin tidak kalah seru! ^ ^

(Disclaimer: Meski review ini dibuat khusus untuk my beloved Yunisa-neechan, tapi review ini purely based on Mayrinna’s personal opinion, without any biased. Hence, the reviewer would not be held liable in case of any agreements or disagreements arise. ^ ^;; teehee)

Reviewer: Mayrinna Dewi Edy Gunawan

Banzai~!!! Finally there is such a great novel that could be read by various people, young or old, as long as you stay young at heart, that’s enough hehe.. (“,) If you are interested in a story with Japanese background, or want a high quality reading material for the whole family, this novel must be added to your collection. (OK, advertisement stops here! >.<)

“Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama” promises many dramas that take your heart away. Nevertheless, conflict by conflict that emerge have been organised in such a way of sweetness so that this novel will not be felt as too “cheesy” or too “lame”.

The reader will be “completely hooked” with the writer's literary style that is “catchy” in using conversational terms in general daily English and with the expressions in Japanese that is definitely easy to understand. So, although you did not have reading as your hobby, this novel is guaranteed to give special satisfaction because apart from being easy enough to digest, this novel is clearly different from novels that are presently circulating in the market.

Moreover, the writer presented various romantic scenes in a heart-throbbing way, from rag words like “love, dear, darling, honey” that was sold off, showered the girl with various gifts, serenade (singing for the girl under the window), the chase in the coastal bank, to rowing for the two, and of course it came in between with crispy jokes.

This novel’s story revolved about Yuki’s fate, a girl whose baby time was exiled in the middle of the snowstorm by her stepmother, her upside-down love story, her struggle with determination holding the moral values firmly in facing various problems that attack continuously (haha, sorry, no more spoiler… ;P) Would Yuki succeed in getting her happiness?

So, the lovers of manga (the Japanese comic), anime, and Japanese and Korean dramas, don’t miss to read this novel, because of this novel is guaranteed comparably exciting! ^ ^

(Disclaimer : Although review this was made especially for my beloved Yunisa-neechan, but the review is purely based on Mayrinna’s personal opinion, without any biased. Hence, the reviewer would not be held liable in case of any agreements or disagreements arise. ^ ^;; teehee)

Review from Nunik Utami

(Will be sent to Batam Pos)

Penulis Resensi : Nunik Utami Ambarsari
Judul : Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama
Pengarang : Yunisa
Jenis : Novel Roman
Penerbit : Theriza Books
Tebal : 436 hal +xii
Harga : Rp 39.000

Hebat. Itu kata pertama yang muncul di benak saya untuk penulis buku ini. Di usianya yang masih muda ia mampu menciptakan novel yang berlatar belakang Jepang pada zaman Restorasi Meiji (tahun seribu delapan ratusan). Ini membuktikan bahwa menulis novel memang harus memiliki pengetahuan yang luas agar novelnya terasa “berisi”.

Yuki, tokoh utama dalam novel roman ini adalah seorang gadis Jepang yang dibuang oleh ibu tirinya. Ia ditemukan oleh seorang Pastur di depan kapel, di tengah badai salju. Yuki adalah gadis pintar. Ia bekerja sebagai pengajar di sekolah minggu yang bahasa pengantarnya adalah bahasa Inggris. Dalam hidupnya, banyak pria yang menaruh hati padanya, membuatnya menjadi gadis yang beruntung. Dan sekaligus gadis yang malang karena kisah hidupnya tak selalu berjalan mulus.

Shinichi Serizawa alias Michael, seorang pemuda dari keluarga kaya jatuh cinta pada Yuki. Menurutnya, Yuki adalah gadis yang berbeda dari yang lain, apalagi dengan Keiko, mantan kekasihnya. Ternyata Yuki juga mencintai Mike. Ia melihat Mike sebagai pribadi yang baik, dan bukan memandangnya sebagai putra keluarga terpandang.

Namun cinta mereka mengalami berbagai halangan. Mulai dari Keiko yang ingin kembali bersama Mike juga Keichi (asisten Yuki di Sekolah Minggu) yang juga jatuh hati pada Yuki. Sepertinya Keiko benar-benar tidak rela kalau Mike akhirnya menikah dengan Yuki. Maka Keikopun merancang rencana jahatnya. Berhasilkah Keiko? Bukan cuma itu, Ibu Mike juga ternyata tak setuju anaknya menikah dengan Yuki… Padahal…

Belum cukup sampai disitu, cinta antara Mike dan Yuki juga terus diterpa badai, hanya karena Mike adalah anak tunggal keluarga Serizawa, juga karena Mike bertanggung jawab atas sesuatu hal yang sangat berat. Ditambah lagi Rin , sahabat dekat Yuki yang ternyata juga mencintai Mike.

Dalam kesedihan yang terus datang bertubi-tubi, Yuki juga tak pernah berhenti berharap bahwa suatu saat kelak ia akan bertemu keluarganya. Akankah ia bertemu?

Berbagai konfik demi konflik diciptakan oleh penulis. Membuat novel ini terasa padat dan jauh dari membosankan. Bagaimanakah akhir dari novel ini? Siapakah pria yang akhirnya menikahi Yuki? Akankah ia menemukan kebahagiaan diakhir cerita? Silakan temukan jawabannya di novel ini. Kepiawaian penulisnya menjadikan novel ini berhasil ditutup dengan manis, seperti benang-benang kusut yang akhirnya berhasil diluruskan

Reviewer: Nunik Utami Ambarsari
Title: Cherries Blossom in Yokohama
Writer: Yunisa
Classification: Romance novel
Publisher: Theriza Books
Pages: 436+xii
Price: Rp 39.000

Great. That's the first word that emerged in my mind for the writer of this book. In her young age, she could create the novel's background of Japan in the Meiji Restoration time (the year one thousand eight hundreds). This proves that writing novel must indeed have a wide knowledge so that her novel is "rich".

Yuki, the main leading figure in this romance novel was a Japanese girl, who was exiled by his stepmother. She was found by a pastor in front of a chapel, in the middle of the snowstorm. Yuki was a clever girl. She worked as the teacher in the Sunday school whose lesson was conducted in English. In her life, many guys were interested in her, made her become a lucky girl. And at the same time she's suchan unfortunate girl because the story of her life always did not go smooth.

Shinichi Serizawa alias Michael, a young man from a rich family fell in love with Yuki. According to him, Yuki was a girl, who was different from that other; moreover compared with Keiko, his former sweetheart. Evidently, Yuki also loved Mike. He saw Mike as a good person, and not looked at him as the son of a reputable family.

However, their love experienced various obstacles. Starting with Keiko, who wanted to get back with Mike, and also Keichi (Yuki's assistant in the Sunday School) who also fell in love with Yuki. Apparently, Keiko was really unwilling if Mike finally would marry Yuki. Then Keiko drafted her evil plan. Was Keiko successful? Not only that, Mike's mother obviously also did not agree of his son would marry Yuki. In fact...

It was not ended there, the love between Mike and Yuki also continued to be in a rollercoaster storm. Not only because Mike was the Serizawa family's only child, Mike was also responsible for a very difficult matter. In addition, Rin -- the close friend of Yuki, also loved Mike.

The sadness continued to repeat, Yuki also had not stopped hoping that at one time in the future she would meet his family. Would she meet?

Various confict by conflict were created by the writer. It makes this novel solid and far from boring. How is the ending of this novel? Who was the man who finally married Yuki? Would she find the happiness on the end of the story? Please find the answer in this novel. The writer's expertise makes this novel succeed in being ended sweetly, like tangled threads that finally had been managed to be straightened successfully.

Q&A

Mengapa harus beli dan baca buku ini?
Karena jawaban saya tidak lulus sensor, Mayrinna, my sis is answering on behalf of me.

Kalau mau mengalami berbagai emosi -- marah, sedih / nangis2, ketawa2, benci, cinta -- bacalah buku ini. Terus baca ulang. Soalnya 1st time read bakal beda sama 2nd time. Ada tokoh yang pertama bisa membuat Anda cinta, eh begitu baca ulang, Anda jadi benci. Ada juga yg pertama biasa2, eh baca ulang jadi suka... Ada juga yang jadi tambah benci, ada juga yang tambah suka... Jadi jangan menilai satu karakter dari sekilas. Kesan Anda bisa berubah-ubah dalam membaca buku ini. Banyak nilai2 yang Anda dapatkan dari buku ini -- jauh daripada chicklit or teenlit buatan Indo. Ini sekelas sama buatan penulis luar...

Rephrase by Jemmy Soenjaya (one of my first reviewers -- he spotted my silly mistake hehe) :

Basically deep characterization :p Jadi bisa ikutin pertumbuhan karakter dari awal sampai akhir, alur cerita yang tidak mudah ditebak :p

Adegan yang disukai?
Takuya di perahu menangkap belut, soalnya waktu itu saya lagi ingin banget makan sushi unagi hahaha :-D

Bagaimana perasaan Anda tentang penerbitan buku perdana?
Biasa aja, soalnya *sensor*. Feel surprised to know that guys actually buy my books, read it and enjoy it! Well, Dr Dede is no wrong in telling me that if I didn't give him his share of my author's copies, he'll also still buy to read :P

Is the story taken from your personal life? (almost everyone asked me this!)
No!!! This is a made-up imagination! Daya khayal tinggi hehehe...
The story starts form the birth to the life story's ending of Yuki.

Selected questions from Illydea
Masa terpentingnya?
From the first time she knew love and to choose whom to marry among the choices.
Tell me more about the choices
1. Shinichi Serizawa, her first love, but he left her to save his company
2. Childhood friend, Takuya Tosha who had been in love with her for so long. (He came from a rich, notable strict family)
3. Dr Toru Toshiyuki -- this is nothing to do with Dr Dede!!! Dr Toshiyuki's a playboy who also fell for Yuki. Plus many fans.
(After some probing, I admitted that: Yeah, I also have many fans, but I dare not choose hahaha)

Why Japan, old time?
I was reading manga titled Yokohama -- inspired by the beautiful drawings of the scenery... It was in year 1700-1800s. Then, I found a history book on Meiji Restoration.

Why romance? Why romance on that era, why not "now"?
Everybody needs love. Readers are attracted to love :P And I feel that old people (orang zaman dulu) had a different way of thinking from us. They have many considerations and constraints. Unlike now, high school students (anak SMP-SMA) are easily going into any relationship... What if teenager that time (in Meiji's time) were dating? (Of course they had to think about marriage!!!)

Your sisters surely have a lot to say on your novel.
Oh yeah, they keep suggesting this and that. They don't like my storyline. They helped me naming the characters. Family project :-D
I told them, this is my writing, it's up to me. But my little sister, Martha Rinna's suggestion is the most romantic scene, other sisters said. Adegan toko roti Enoki.

How come a little girl can suggest such romance?
In 2004, all other sisters were staying in Singapore. So my mother always had Martha Rinna to accompany her watching sinetron (Indonesian soap opera). So she has so many ideas about romance!!!

Who inspires you on writing this book?
My little sister, Martha Rinna and Dr Dede :)

Lesson from writing this book?
Don't give up! Be patient in waiting for ideas.

Creative Process

This was asked by Illydea, RSI.

First written in June 1999 (liburan dari NUS). Bored with Math major. Then, I remembered that during high school I wanted to beat Chiung Yao (read Strategic Positioning point 3), but I was too focus on Math & Science -- Physics, Biology, Chemistry, so I had no intention to write any novel during high school.

Oops forget to tell Illydea that I experienced "file corrupted" coz I saved it in floopy disk in December 1999... and I had to retype the whole lot... *what a bad luck!*
And I forgot all about this manuscript due to my golden age in NUS (I got my Dean's List, i.e. top 5% students haha). And graduated, and started working in 2001. I wrote few chapters, and stopped again. Really had no time. Next, MBA.

And in 2004 I met Dr Dede. A lot of e-mail and sms correspondence, many topics from health to life philosophy. One fine day, he casually commented, "Really think you have a word for prose..." *I wonder how can he deduce such conclusion? Cuma dari baca e-mails???*

Anyway, his casual comment awoke me. Hey, he's a very fine doctor, you know. He won't say things that he can't justify. And I recalled, he's not the first person who said so: Yunisa, you can write very well if you want to! Kamu berbakat menulis. Ayo kembangkan! (guru SD, SMP, SMA, NUS, esp guru Bahasa Indonesia and English teachers, thank you!)

Logical consideration to finish Sakura Bersemi di Yokohama, the long abandoned project
If it's only the teachers who said so, I might have my doubt: Maybe my writing style is suitable for the teachers. But Dr Dede is not my teacher (I don't need him to give me grade / score hehehe). And the fact that he has a completely different academic background, and yet still arrives at the same conclusion as my language teachers?? Hence, it implies that the statement must be valid!

*Semangat!!! Ganbatte!!!*

So I started to read up my draft, performed some major surgery here and there, and finished it by end of April 2005 when I was back in Jogja. Sent it to my selected reviewers in Singapore, waiting for their correction...

Photos from RSI + personal note

These are photos taken today @ RSI, Mediacorps
You know which one is Mr Harry Suhartanto, Ms Illydea Ishak, and which one is me, don't you? hehehehe... *I won't put any photo caption*

And I hope Ms Illydea will edit my spoiler of the story hehehe... But one thing for sure: PLEASE DO READ THE PAGES IN ORDER or YOU WILL GET CONFUSED!
(see, I use CAPS and bold the message!)

I am myself a naughty reader. I'll skip pages and look at the last chapters, ensuring that my guess is correct. Hence, when writing this book, I was devising a plot to prevent such thing, i.e. you are forced to follow through chapter by chapter so that you can understand the plot. There are too many things and too many possibilities of story alternatives, I can assure you!

Every chapter has many problems, and the problems are solved part by part in random chapter (making use of Chaos Theory in maths hahahha). And once the problem solved, other will arise. The climax is not reached yet. Well, that is just the way I use Game Theory in playing the "emotion game of the story"... Pardon my maths background :P

Inside, you will also find that I insert school lessons on: history (sejarah) -- I use surnames (nama keluarga) involved in Meiji Restoration to name the characters, economy & finance (ekonomi & keuangan), lingustic game (permainan bahasa), Catholic / Christian religion education (agama Katolik / Kristen) and the Eastern moral values... Happy reading! Selamat membaca!