Stephie Anindita is Indonesian writer and also forensic doctor. From her bio in Goodreads, she said, writing is another form of breathing and reading is another shape of walking. She’s been publishing two novel books (and third this year) and many short story and anthology with other famous Indonesian author. To begin with, I known her from my fellow writer friend, Finn R Setiawan (whom writer thriller novel Subliminal Assassins). One day, I ask him, do you know a writer that also a doctor. And he give this name, Stephie Anindita. I add her on Facebook and chat and we get known each other.
For not wasting anymore time or another. This is my exclusive interview with Dr. Stephie Anindita.
FT: First, Halo, Stephie Anindita, how do you do?
ST: I’m doing well. Thank you Fitrah ... I’m sorry that it took me a while to do this interview.
FT: Directly, where's city your growth? And what is your highschool?
ST: I was born and grew up in Jakarta. As for highschool, I went to St. Fransiskus Asisi Junior high, Fons Vitae I senior high for a year before doing an exchange year in UK for one year, and then I went back to Indonesia and continue my study at St. Fransiskus Asisi senior high.
FT: And now you live in?
ST: Semarang.
FT: You've been famous author and also forensic doctor. How it feel life in both world and profession?
ST: I’m not ‘famous’ :D hahaha ... I’m still learning and the knowledge I have still got a lot to improve, but I’m enjoying the progress. I love learning forensic science and applying it to give justice for the voiceless. I also love to write because it helps me express myself.
FT: Next this is elementary questions. Since when you like to write a story and books?
ST : I love reading since I began to learn to read, probably around kindergarten age. I loved the way words formed into images inside my head. I love to write on journals since elementary school, but at that moment I mixed reality and imaginary so my journals were a bit absurd (eg. I saw a flying magical bunny on my school yard and such)
FT: What is first fiction book you ever read and make big impact to you?
ST: Jacqueline Wilson’s ‘Secrets’. For the first time in my life, I read a young adult book with real characters and problems. The book doesn’t tell us fairy tales about nearly-perfect girls with love problems. The characters were not ‘beautiful people’, they were plain, sometimes considered “ugly” by the society standards, they’re facing problems such as domestic abuse, broken-home families and such. After reading more of her books, I didn’t hesitate to write non-romance stories.
FT: What is book that influnce you writing style?
ST: Definitely Jacqueline Wilson. She writes issues such as domestic abuse from child’s point of view. She never judges anything, leaving it to the writer’s own point of view. She also doesn’t create unrealistic happy endings, but enough to make the readers have hopes that things will look up realistically.
FT: Oh I almost forget it. What is your first major published debut? And tell my story about it?
ST: It’s ‘Hujan and Cerita Kita’ :D I sent it to Bentang Pustaka’s novel competition and got selected. That was my first chick lit novel. I was glad, because I wanted to write a romance novel that is realistic and not selling dreams ... I want the reader to feel that even though their stories don’t go like fairy tales, it doesn’t mean they cannot find happiness.
FT: Wow, that really cool.
ST: Thank you.
FT: More question gonna be sharpy. What crime fiction or non-fiction book that you reading now and highly recommended for the fellas?
ST: I got plenty ... but if the readers are interested in real life crime, I recommend them to read forensic books first. For example, recommend Pornthip Prajanasunan’s autobiography. She’s this cool forensic expert from Thailand who identified the victims of Tsunami and dealt with a lot of cases involving important people in Thailand. Reading her story inspired me a lot. She’s very smart, brave and down to earth. She got a cool style too! I also recommend ‘Rahasia Kehebatan di Balik Sidik Jari’ by Agung Utomo, S.H, if someone wish to learn about dactyloscopy. I saw some books about serial killers too, but for those who want to start reading I suggest not to read such book just yet because it could be overwhelming at times.
FT: Now to you well-know novel book "Hujan dan Cerita Kita" -that's sound big right- what is it story about?
ST: It’s about two childhood friend who meet again when they’re grown up, and fell in love. Surprisingly, things don’t go as smooth as fairy tale, because they don’t anticipate the fact that both of them had changed into practically strangers. How do they deal with it? Let’s find out :D hihihi
FT: Is that any experience or your piece of life story in it?
ST: :D some of it, hehehe ...
FT: God, my question is going to be more personal and personal, hahaha.
ST: Hahahaha go ahead, I hope I can answer it though.
FT: Oke, next question. In medical study, there alot of speciality courses; like cardiology, optical, and so on. (I hope I'm typing it rightly). Why you choose forensic specialist?
ST: Because, well ... one of the reasons is kind of personal. One of the people whom very dear to me died in an unatural death, but remain unsolved. When I found out about the truth behind it, I was shocked. He’s very kind and full of life. I thought that he deserved justice, however the case remained cold. The second reason is, I want to give justice to those who can no longer speak.
FT: In your forensic life, is there any big event that so memorable to you?
ST: let’s see ... there are a lot. Once, there was this case of unidentified murder victim. The case was quite big, but despite the publications the victim remain unidentified. At that time I made a mistake for being so obsessed with that case. I want it to be solved, one way or another. When I see the progress, I became upset because I cannot do more. However, my loved one reminded me that what I was doing is not right. I should remember that there are limits I should not cross because it’s no longer my place to do so. He reminds me that the reason he tells me to pray before I do any examination, is because he wants me to remember that at the end we’re all human and we cannot apply the ideas we considered ‘ideals’ on every day life because nothing is as it seems. That’s one of the memorable times during my study as forensic doctor.
FT: Recall it your memory. Is there any pleasant and unpleasant experience when you working in forensic cases?
ST: Cases that involved teenagers and children are never easy. Especially children. I also hated the way people commented in the media, blaming the family for not ‘taking care of their children more’. I saw how these family’s life shattered at the moment I announced them the worst thing that could ever happen in their lives. I heard the stories that weren’t shared in the media and I realize that bad things happen by chance. It’s not as easy as pointing one’s finger to blame anyone.
One of the pleasant experiences was once when I was dealing with immigrants who involved in ship accident. It was one of the tough cases, because we have to deal with families who desperately want to find their family members. Whether they’re find their families at the morgue or not, they’d still broken-hearted. Doubt and certainity were hurting them. However, there was this little girl from Sri Lanka who was one of the survivors. She couldn’t speak English, we talked by sign language and helped by the translators. She was very, very brave when she asked the doctors about her family. She found her little brother as one of the deceased, and yet she didn’t cry. When we released all the deceased, I caught her staring at me from behind the embassy’s car window and smiled bravely as if she thanked me. Somehow it made me feel better. All I could do was pray for her well-beings. Wherever she is now, I hope she’s doing well.
FT: Is there any scary moment or horror or like jump-scare in the movie when you're working?
ST: Well, there were some stories :D but it’s not as scary as those you see on ‘Thrill’ channel ... some of the deceased sometimes visit to say thank you ... some ask for help and some tried to communicate, for the last two cases I tried to politely tell them that I cannot help them more. I had done things that are still on my reach, and the rest is for the authorities. Fortunately they understand, though.
FT: Recently I saw you wrote a latin words in your sosmed. "Fiat Justicia Et Peret Mundus" what is that means?
ST: Let justice be done, though the world perish.
FT: The main question. There is a picture on your Instagram with a caption #Undetermined? What is that and I really hope you tell me alot about it?
ST: Ah yes. That’s my third novel that hopefully will be published at the end of this year, from Haru publisher. It’s about a forensic apprentice who had to deal with a case that involved her loved one. A trial for her idealism. Another hint, there will be Fachrie the detective too as one of the major role :D hehehehe ... the main role of the book is Fachrie’s best friend.
FT: Wow, wow, awesome. Is there any Indonesian original forensic novel book before you write it? Uhm, hmm, I guess and I really hope, none? Hahaha.
ST: Umm, no, as far as I know ... but Mira W mentioned autopsy and toxicology in some of her novels, though.
FT: Oh yeah, I saw on your sosmed, you like Japanese pop culture too. The classic anime from studio Ghibil -I forgot the name- and that's yellow chicken egg?
ST: Ah yes. Totoro, Spirited Away and Gudetama the lazy egg :D I love some animes and mangas, but I don’t learn Japanese pop culture deeply, though ...
FT: Is Japanese pop culture also inspire your stories?
ST: Some of it, yes :D
FT: This is important question. Is there any tips or sugest you can give for young people to write a good story?
ST: Read a lot, read anything you want despite people’s comment. If you’re not into certain genre, it’s okay. Poetry, romance, articles, essays, anything that suits you. I personally think that a good book is the one that makes you feel that you’re not alone. Learn to write by keeping a private journal, that way you can express yourself without worried about what people think. Just write without fear. Make spelling and grammar mistakes, because that’s how we learn. The more you read and write, the better your writing will be. However, if you still don’t feel right, it’s okay. Maybe you have another way to discover and lost yourself into, such as watching movies, visiting museums / art exhibition or listening to music ... as well as another way to express yourself, such as dancing, playing musical instrument, painting, etc. Just be yourself, be happy.
FT: Second last. This is out of framework. What do you thing about Laura Basuki as forensic doctor in Brata Hooq series?
ST: I haven’t seen the Brata Hooq series in detail just yet, but I love the fact that forensic got introduced more in a movie. It reminds me of the first time I saw CSI and interested in forensic science. I hope more people interested in forensic :D because that way, they will learn not to decide anything easily without finding the evidence from realible source.
FT: Hahaha, this is to fun. Now to the final question, is there any writing project you're working now beside The Undetermined?
ST: at the moment? Well, my thesis and my exam cases ... hahahaha :D fingers crossed I will take my board exam at the end of this year.
FT: Wow, that’s great. Ok, thank you for this lovely and long interview, hahaha.
I hope your novel book will be soon published and up to the book store. And more-more thank you, arigatou gozaimasu Stephie Anindita.
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