Glint Lintjewas: Talk About Movie Directing & Detective Fiction

Interview by Fitrah Tanzil


First time I knew Glint is from my fellow detective author/writer, M. Fadli. He said he found a young boy who very enthusiat in detective fiction on Facebook, particularly in Ellery Queen. Fortunately, in our team there is no one (especialy youth) who love and have huge interest in classic detective like Ellery Queen. There is another one -at the time- who love classic detective, his name is Irfan Nurhadi, but his special interest in locked room mystery (to John Dickson Carr, etc). I think if Glint be in our group. He can make big impact in community and grab more youth to love detective fiction. So then, I add his Facebook, we talk a long and became a friend. Then I found that, beside his handsome face, he is very smart and multi talented young man. Ok, for not wasthing anymore time, you can watch this interview below.


FT: Halo Glint, How do you do?

GL: First thing first, i don't feel quite worthy to be interviewed by you. you know, at this point i still nobody, but thanks anyway. Am I the first male that get interview by you? If that so , it’s  a privilege, I think  :D 


FT: First, basic question. Where is your high school and college?

GL: I get my education at SMK Kr1 Tomohon that's my high school where i never grow my hair more than an inch, and after that I go  to Universitas Negeri Manado Where I never cut my hair less than an inch.


FT: And where you live now?

GL: i grew up in a little village in Minahasa called Tincep. the place that i really pleased to being a part of. 

FT: There is hilarious event in back few day ago. But, before we talk about 'that'. I must ask you some questions.  When and where you first interest in fiction writing?

GL: Man, that a question with a long answer, but I want to keep it short for you. Hehe as a child I like Conan to begin with, because that is the only manga that I read back there which belong to my cousin (the other is shojo manga), she has  Conan manga which is not written by Aoyama-sensei, some kind of special and I can’t believe I solve 1 of the case, as a child that was unforgettable experience.  And in, maybe 2013 or 2014, I read manga a lot and I want to make one.   I came up with the premise of “2015”, an prophecy that about 7 century and 70 years cycle this nation will have a chaotic revolution, that start at Sriwijaya to Majapahit to Indonesian independence and so in 2015 the cycle is come again, I want to write some conspiracy thriller base on that, so I need to research manga with similarity, Bloody Monday, and when I research about the writer Shin Kibayashi-sensei, I meet Kindaichi no Jikenbo, and the experience of solving case in my childhood come again in such enthusiastic way. So the interest start there.


FT: What books that inspiring you to be writer?

GL: maybe, Dee’s “Perahu Kertas” or “Filosofi Kopi” that make me write my short story(romance), her writing style is bite me to make one. Hehe but not until Ellery and Sherlock Holmes, that make want to write mystery Fiction.


FT: From your blog and other social media. I know you really like Ellery Queen. By the way, tell me about it. Why Ellery?

GL: Yep, I really like Ellery Queen. Man, What not to like. My first meet with Ellery is in the TV series, and the first line of the show is “This Woman is dead, Who killed her?” and finish with “Match wit with Ellery Queen, and guess WHO DUNNIT!” It’s hook right there, Challenge to the viewer? The breaking of the forth-wall before solve the whole mystery, I like fair play mystery, and Ellery is the pinnacle of that. After that I read a lot of the novel and match wit with Ellery, and I lost a lot. hehe


FT: And chain of deduction? What is that? Tell us about it?

GL: I forgot to mention it, yeah a Chain of deduction. Call it like this: The Culprit  has the characteristics of X, Y and Z and after we deduct base on the clue, character A and only character A has such characteristics, then he is the culprit. So if we follow the clue in the good way, the answer is just one, no other explanation will fit.  That’s the fun part of it.  Like I quote from the master himself“Pure reasoning has it that when you have exhausted every possibility but one in a given equation that one, no matter how impossible, no matter how ridiculous it may seem in the postulation—must be the correct one”. So sometime it feels like exact science, but in an ingenious way.


FT: Next what your most memorable and highly recommended EQ that we should read?

GL: Start with ‘Nationality’ Novels, The Greek Coffin Mystery or French Powder Mystery is Highly recommended or just start anywhere with the Nationality Novels. Or the short story, I can’t recommended enough. hehe


FT: And what about local detective? Any reference or something that you read?

GL: Wow, Local Detective now have improve a lot. I like S Mara Gd, Daud Hakim and Gozali, but now we have a lot of choice, like Andy Syahrul from Mia Mutiara, I really can’t wait to read  the upcoming book from M Fadli, “Nostalgia Merah”, inverted mystery, isn’t?  Reza Wardana’s “Pemburu Halimun” that have an impossible crime in it,  and of course your book “13.01”. hehehe


FT: Usually, I have fans question. But this time I blank, I doesnt have any of it.

GL: That’s really Show who am I, isn’t? hehe


FT: Now to the main question. You make a movie? What the... Wah, tell me about it?

GL: Haha… like the other thing too… I am kind of guy that, when I read manga, I want to make one, here some music, I want to make one, read a novel, I want to make one, and it comes to movie too, I watch a lot of movie, good one, bad one, and I say to myself, I want to make one too. And when I start it, I become to like making movie a lot. It feels so good, though.


FT: Since when you interested in making movies?

GL: It’s start when I get  assignments in one of my class in collage. Make short movie. The other group make 5 minute documentary, the other make some kind of promotion video, music clip, Animation and I don’t want to do the same. and then I talk my idea to make a movie with my friend in some kind of Brainstorming meeting, they give me a green light, “but what kind movie?” and I say “what about a brainstorming movie, but we brainstorming about an impossible murder of the girl that we like?”, they really exacted about it. And we make ‘one room closed-circle, Locked Room Mystery movie’ in a day, the funny story is, I intentionally play the  movie in the class  that end in just when the detective want start explain. Hehe and that make the lecturer  really upset, and he want the next part, immediately. He want to know the answer, Whodunnit? Hehe


FT: How you got this team of production?

GL: They all my crew from the day one, we called ourselves i2012, they are the crew and the cast of my movie, I need to mention their name, Juan, Itoy, Ridel,Brian, Will, and my partner in crime Christian. They are my classmate that when we hangout i give the a Short mystery that if they can solve it, I give them a reward. So much fun to hangout with them.  

FT: What surprising me is that you directing an indie movie. The question is, how you get there?

GL: It’s start with the Locked Room movie, “ada apa dengan Jayanti?” (not the real title, until now there is still no official title for it :D ), and the lecturer of my class request me to make another movie for Multimedia Expo and we make another movie, a Romance short movie called “101 origami” and after that we make another short “Dirga: Tarian terakhir sang Kabasaran”. All of it is a non-budget short movie.


FT: This Detective Andy movie. What the story behind it?

GL: Detective Andy is Character written by Mia Mutiara. A writer, Programmer that have good sense of solving case but he seems don’t want to involve in it. But he can’t run from it.


FT: Important question. How do you get to work with Mia Mutiara in Detective Andy the movie?

GL: The answer is you. hehe  You introduce me to Mia  Mutiara, we talked about movie making, writing a screenplay, and then mba Mia give me an approval to write my first draft for one of her short story and i chose the “Nyanyian Sandi”. I Sent that to mba Mia, and she ask me if I can make that script to moving picture, so I’m looking for a new Producer for this project, when I meet Rivo from Rivo Production and he interested in It, I give an “okey messege” to mba Mia. It’s because of you. Hehe


FT: Is this your first movie or you have another?

GL:  Nope… it’s my 3rd or 4th. But a lot of it is experimental stuff. And it short.  I really want to make a full length movie but, you know the budget, gear and everything.


FT: Wow, that's awesome. You must be go to Jakarta, you gonna be BIG in here, hahaha. I'm sorry you deserve better, I sugest you must go to Tokyo. Hahaha.

GL: Hahaha… I'm flattered, but I really am not at that level, yet. Hehe, but about Jakarta, I have plan to go there, maybe next year. I'm still working on freelance to raise money. But I hope I can go there. Learning filmmaking and stuff.


FT: When and from who, you first learn writing a movie script and directing?

GL: From watch movie and read other screenplay, I’m curious in how they make those ‘magic’ happen on screen Just by word, amazing, isn’t it? I don’t know another screenwriter around so I just use available facilities to learn like screenplay that you can find in internet, or re watch  the movie that I like.


FT: Is there any movie project that you've been working for?

GL: Now I focus to finish “Detective Andy”, but other than that we have some movie called “21 februari untuk sang penanti” that go to Limbo right now because we lose the main actor, it’s really hard to think about, because I really like the story of it. And I have another project that still in development stage.


FT: Beside movie writing and directing, is there any project like book or literature?

GL: There is.  I want to rewrite my lost novel. A Locked room Mystery novel that disappear  with my broken laptop. The story that set in my campus. And some Kindaichi’s type of story that happen in small village with impossible murder in that. 


FT: Fans question. What is you favorite J-Pop music? Hahaha.

GL: Oh J-pop? I can make a long list of it. Hehehe I was a guitarist of band, and we play a lot of Japanese Rock like Laruku, One Ok Rock, Ellegarden, Pay Money for my pain, but for J-pop I really like old Japanese city pop. For recent music, I like to listen Aimer “Akane Sasu”, back Number “Happy End”, Mondo Grosso, She is Summer, but my old time fav is still an old song by Miki Matsubara “stay with me”.


FT: Another fans question. If in the future you can work with famous cineas, who you really want to working with and why?

GL: Wow another long list right there. Hehe I want to make movie with Joko Anwar, maybe just ordinary crew, 2nd AC, 1st AD or something, I want to learn from him. For across the nation, I want to direct an Aaron Sorkins screenplay(or make one), Work in a project with Roger Deakins or Christopher Doyle  as the man behind the camera.  That’s really a fans answer.


FT: Ok, last question. Is there any indie movie project that you've been working?

GL: The Detective Andy, kinda pilot of the TV series.  Maybe after finished it, my crew will like to remake  “ada apa dengan Jayanti?”  or find the lead actor for “21 Februari untuk sang penanti”,  I hope so, and I still develop a project that still in pre-production, an ambition project.


FT: Thank you for the interview Glint, see you next time.

GL: Thank you for interviewing me, it’s a pleasure for me.  maybe next time we can meet face to face.  hehe

.  .  .

Open PO novel 13.01

By Fitrah Tanzil


Sinopsis

Tepat pukul 13.01 ledakan besar terjadi di Bundaran HI. Titik pusat Ibukota yang mempertemukan tiga orang yang terpaut takdir. Erlangga si pemuda jenius yang ingin mengubah Indonesia. Fachrie si penulis cerita detektif yang mencoba menjadi pahlawan. Dan Rania si agen rahasia dengan konflik pribadi versus kepentingan negara.

Mereka jatuh dalam pusaran peristiwa berbahaya. Saling bersilang, bertarung, demi impian dan cinta.

Endorsement


“Membaca ini saya seperti menonton ide-ide yang tertuang dalam serial action Jepang. Hanya saja di sini, kita akan menemukan setting negeri Sakura itu beralih ke Indonesia. Ceritanya cukup asik untuk meramaikan khazanah pernovelan bernuansa kejahatan lainnya.” – Ayu Welirang, juara GWP generasi dua & penulis novel 7 Divisi.



“Dituturkan dengan sangat baik dari berbagai sudut pandang. Membuat novel ini patut dinikmati oleh para pecinta aksi-aksi spionase.” – Finn R, penulis novel Pendosa Suci & Subliminal Assassin.



“Sebuah novel thriller lokal yang terhebat yang pernah saya baca. Plot yang tak biasa, para tokoh yang kompleks, dan ending yang tak terduga. Membuat buku ini top list novel thriller yang harus Anda miliki.” – Agung Al Badamy, penulis novel Detective Chilock: Study in Mikrolet.

Pemesanan

Harga pre-order mulai dari 70ribu rupiah. Pemesanan bisa menghubungi nomor WA 0857 1520 4172 (Lufin) 

Young, Bright, & Talented Daras Resviandira

Interview by Fitrah Tanzil


First time I trying to chat with Daras is around 2014. Back then her Facebook account used initial name, Berry Baranomiya. From that name, I thought she's was a boy (or young male). Hahaha.  Ok, little story, I knew the name from fanpage Project X NDI. Which is so famous local crime thriller at that time. And then I lose contact till early year of 2017. She's used her real name, Daras Resviandira. I saw on her Facebook, she's very famous. Almost all of her follower called her 'Sensei Daras". Waaaaaaaaaa. She's been so young and she's called sensei. Accurately, she's young bachelor whom published four book in non-mainstream genre. One of it work has big impact in local detective community in Indonesia, and also for me, hihihi. 

Ok, I don't want to spoiler more about Daras.  But you can knew little bit deep about her life and works from my conversation below. Enjoy it. 


FT: Hello Daras, how do you do?

DS: I’m good. Thank you Fitrah, for giving me the chance to be interviewed.


FT: Like my other interview. I'm start with elementary questions. First where you grow up?

DS: I grew up in a small city called Tasikmalaya


FT: Your high school and college in ...

DS: My high school is also in Tasik. After that, I began to move to Jatinangor. I took college in Unpad

FT: For the social media. I saw you have been living or work in Japan?

DS: Yes, I’ve been there twice. First, when I was still an undergraduate, I was appointed as one of the delegations for my campus to attend an international seminar in Japan. Then after graduating, I got an opportunity to work there for a month.


FT: Now you live in ...

DS: I’m living and working in Karawang now.


FT: Down through. The real reason I wanted so much to interview you is The Project X NDI. Can you tell me about it. What is it The PXNDI?

DS: Project X is a Novel Book. This book tells about a certain organization named Net Detective Indonesia (NDI), which is a real organization that really exists. We are an online community that is consist of people who have an interest in the world of detective. One of our main activities in that forum (netdetective.forumotion.net) is to create cases (criminal stories or puzzles) that will be solved by other members later. After a while, many members want to archive and make a book based on those cases. So, I and some of the members began to make of the Project X novel.


FT: And Berry Baranomiya (I hope I'm right typing it) what about that name?

DS: Well, it is a long story if I have to tell you how did it come around, haha. Nevertheless, Berry Baranomiya is the handle that I use in every community I Joined. So, a lot of people still, call me Berry.


FT: One of the reasons that make me astonished is the fact that you were so young when you write it. How so? What is your motivation to make the PXNDI

DS: When I was still active, I saw many people in the community (NDI) have an urge to collect and make the cases made by the members into a book. But there was no one that started it. So I decided to make a small group and began to design and create the book. Back then, I was thinking, If we are able to make this book it will make people to recognize us (NDI), that we are not only a ‘playground’ community. We can also make something,

FT: Wow, that awesome. Next, how the process that PXNDI enter and published by Visimedia?

DS: So, after I made that small team, I called it a writer team, which consists of 10 people, we started to make a set of detective stories. We got stuck in midway, and the progress wasn’t good. I didn’t want to give up our dream, so I tried desperately to finish the script by myself. Then I submitted it to the publisher. Not long after, I got a positive feedback from Visimedia, although that was not the end of our story. Visimedia told us that our set of stories must be compiled into a solid Novel, that means we have to start from the ground zero again !!. I decided to rearrange the writer team into 5 people only. From this point, we began to work together again, and taraa.. Our baby was born, Project X : The New Beginning of Net Detective Indonesia.  

 
FT: Truly inspiring, as for me, I have not managed to get through a major publisher yet, haha

DS: Well, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen right, haha 


FT: Beside the Project X, there's another I saw when I visited bookslife.co page. AIN (Akademi Intelijen Indonesia) what is that?

DS: AIN is the first novel that I wrote by myself which was published in 2016. I bet you’re thinking that you can guess the plot of this novel only by looking from its title. Well, I’m pretty much confident that you are wrong, the plot of this novel can’t be guessed before you read it. I will give you a little spoiler here. This book is a tale of a young man named Cakra who just graduated from a high school. He is seeking scholarships to continue his study because of his family’s financial problems. Well, unexpectedly, He registers himself in AIN website which he thinks it is only a joke. One day, Cakra is kidnaped and he wakes up in an empty room which turns out to be the entrance of AIN selection process. He then realizes that he is not the only one there. There are other people there, with their own unique backgrounds and personalities. From there on, their journey begins. With their abilities, skills, and capabilities, they are competing against each other. Because only one person who can become a new member of AIN


FT: It’s very rare to find a female Indonesian writer that write a book with such a heavy theme like this, I mean Intelligence, detectives, and so. There is actually one person I know, Rhein Fatiya. But I think she focuses more on the romance drama aspects. Meanwhile, your book is about the mystery itself.

DS: Maybe it is because I like a story that has a mystery genre. Something that makes the writers stop and racks their brain while reading. But I’m always making sure that I write with simple words or idioms that can be understood easily by the readers, regardless of their backgrounds. Sometimes I also add some romance things, because we all know that Indonesian like romantic stories. So, despite the story is pretty tense, you won’t get bored, I mean it.

FT: What motivates you to write AIN, I mean how could this be thought of?

DS: So, actually it began when I was busy choosing where I want to go to college. Back then I have a desire to go to STIN (Indonesian State Intelligence School). But I don’t know how to apply there, then I decided to apply to another state school, STSN. The selection process is gradual with some phase in it. I already passed in some phase, but yeah, in the end, I got rejected. It’s not my way then haha. These long processes are actually what inspired me the most to write AIN. So, it really is my fantasy about going to some intelligence school.z


FT: Another turn around to elementary question. Why do you like this subject; puzzle, riddle, mystery, etc. Where do it start in your life?

DS: I think and maybe it is because I really like to read Detective Conan manga and watch the anime back then. Then I got to know Sherlock Holmes and tried to write some simple mystery tale. I found NDI and from there my love of puzzles and detectives is skyrocketing. Oh yeah.. I really like to make other people confused when trying to solve my puzzles.

FT: What is book or novel that very influence your writing style?

DS: Well, I’m not certain about it, haha. I think there is no book that really influences me, regarding my writing style. Nah, Maybe unconsciously I did imitate some write. But, for me, I really like to write something that is simple and can be understood and enjoyed easily, regardless of their backgrounds. I read so many detective books. But I don’t know why, I think most of them are pretty hard to be understood. I have to re-read the pages or even the whole book to really understand what the writer means. These hardships really made me bored with those books. So I started to find a way to write a book that even a teenager won’t find any hardship when reading it. That is pretty much how my writing style borns as it is now.

FT: What is your favorite novel or detective story?

DS: I really like Detective Conan. As for the novel, Sherlock Holmes of course.


FT: From your social media. I saw fantasy fiction novel, Astar, am I right calling it?

DS: Yep, Aster  - The First Adventure, to be precise.


FT: So what the story about?

DS: Well, Aster is not a detective story. It is purely a science fiction. My first dystopian novel. This book follows some people/tribe that still exists in a ‘land-less’ earth. So they live on top of some metals that they stack up into a big city called Oakland. There is a pretty curious girl that believe that there is another land out there. Somewhere where people also can live. This thought led her into an adventure filled with extraordinary surprises.

FT: I saw there is series about it?

DS:DS: Yup, Aster is a trilogy. The published one is just the first part. I’m currently writing the sequels. You can read it on my wattpad (@resviandira)

FT: The first one has been in Lokamedia? Devika, I'm right? How do you get to this publisher?

DS: At that time, I’m really into it, I mean, That was the time when I desperately searching for any type of publisher on Facebook. Well, it is fate that my path with Lokamedia is crossing. I tried to submit my script and pretty happy when they said it will be published. I think back then it was really hard to find any publisher that wants to publish a science fiction book. It is very unexpected if I have to say to find and found by Lokamedia. Although they are an indie publisher they are still a big player out there. My script also needs to be reviewed before it publishes.

FT: Wow, great! Usually my interview is like this, alot of personal questions. That why I writing it in English, hahaha.

DS: Don’t bother it. I like to be interviewed, to be honest. hahaha

FT: About Aster, it sound brilliant to me. In the middle of busyness, your activity, work in office, community, NDI, and many other thing. How can you write some that big?

DS: Actually, I write most of those stories a long time ago. Every day, on weekend at least I always write something. At first, I’m not very confident in myself, so those stories just pile up on my laptop. After I get to know Wattpad, I started to post those stories on there. It really helps me to gain my confidence. Up until now, There are actually 3 books that still not finish yet. It Is not because of my busyness, but rather because I’m too lazy to finish it. haha

FT: Is there any plan to bring Aster to major publisher?

DS: Of course there is. Not only a major publisher. I also have a dream to translate it into English and publish it internationally, hehe.

FT: Long talk and I almost forgot, you newest book; Project X NDI Spin Off. Can you tell the story?

DS: Well, you can guess from its title. This book is actually the sequel of the First Project X book. But you also can call it a side story from the main story itself. This story is actually made to fulfill the vacant time when we, the writer is still striving with our busyness to continue the second book.

FT:By the way, Correct me if I’m wrong. There are 3 winners from you short story competition right? Who are they? And what their stories are about?

DS. Yup, not long ago. My friend and I held a competition about writing a short story. All of those submitted short stories will be compiled into two books by us, which one of them is PX: spin-off. The main story that I adapt into the PX: spin-off is the two stories from the winners and 1 story from another contestant. For more details, please buy the book. hehe

FT: Hahaha, ok. By the way, please, please. Give me the spoiler of PXNDI Spin Off that not you tell in other interview?

DS: In this book, you will know more about the history of NDI and its progression up until now. Then you will get a tour inside the NDI Office. Of course, there are some conflicts with NDI’s rival, the Piktadarys. It is a must buy book for those who love a detective story!

FT: Few last questions. What is the most favorite food and drink for Daras Resviandira?

DS: DS: I love Indomie Goreng, haha and Milk tea is my favorite drink. I also like all about Matchas, and Strawberries.

FT: Another fans question. If you had a chance for one month vacation in Japan. Want place do you want most to visit?

DS: Kyoto of course, then Tokyo and Disney Land !!. But if I were given another choice, I really like to go to Europe now.

FT: One that I almost forgot. Is there any tips from you for youngster who want to be Sci Fi or detective fiction writer like you?

DS: I think it applies to everyone who wants to write something. Don’t stall or delay any works. Most people do have the intentions but shy and too lazy to start it. It won’t be done if you are like that. Keep write and push yourself. Start from the easy one like one sentence a day. As time goes, you won’t realize that you already write a ton of sentences! Just write what do you like. Never ever think to write something that other people want to read. Focus on yourself, focus on what you want to convey to the readers!

FT: Oh yeah, this thing yesterday. These people in social media, that said that Indonesia doesn’t have Sci Fi writer. Me myself like so miserable to hear that thought of people. What Daras think about it? And is that anything we can do in the future for it?

DS: Maybe, it doesn’t actually mean like that. But I think the presence of sci-fi writer is not so well heard of. Because of the market condition in Indonesia. Indonesian people like comedy and romance more than science fictions. I know there are some people who really like the sci-fi novel. But they always choose the foreign one, with the translated version of course. I don’t know why. Maybe it is hard to find a local sci-fi novel or they are skeptical about it. That is one of my reasons to encourage me to write a sci-fi book. I hope my books will become the pioneer of its genre in Indonesia

FT: Last, is there any project that you been working it?

DS: as for now, I’m searching for a publisher to submit my newest draft (still with detective theme, but with more focus on psychology aspect. I am also still writing another science fiction novel. hehe

FT: Wow, this is amazing interview. Thank you for this long chit-chat. Success for you new project.

DS: You’re welcome. Thank you for letting me share my thought in your blog. I hope someday, we can find our book on the same shelf in the bookstore!

.  .  .

Stephie Anindita: Between Famous Author and Forensic Doctor.

Interview with me, Fitrah Tanzil.    




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.

.  .  .

Sinopsis Lengkap Novel 1301

Oleh Fitrah Tanzil



Bab 1

   Dibuka oleh Rania, seorang gadis cantik yang sedang duduk menunggu Bus di halte busway Bundaran HI. Rania yang berpenampilan memukau layaknya seorang karyawan perusahaan multinasional. Berpakaian mewah dan terlihat sangat berpendidikan. Namun dibalik itu dia adalah agen rahasia pemerintah yang ditugaskan untuk memburu teroris yang diduga akan mengacaukan Jakarta pada siang itu. Cerita pun bergulir dengan aksinya menghadang sang teroris. Namun sayang, pemicu telah ditekan dan dia terlambat. Bom itupun meledak di sana, tepat pukul 13:01.


Bab 2

   Dari mata Fachrie, seorang penulis muda yang pergi ke peluncuran buku di Grand Indonesia bersama Riri Nabila. Fachrie dan Riri berbincang banyak tentang buku baru tersebut. Dia bicara tentang filosofinya, kisah tentang Ikan Koi yang mendaki air terjun untuk bertemu Sang Naga. Namun diakhir kisah Ikan Koi tidak menemukannya, justru di puncak air terjun itu dia menjadi Naga yang baru menggantikan Naga yang lama. Dalam hati filosofi tersebut juga terkait dengan Fachrie sendiri dan hubungannya dengan sang rival Erlangga. Dia ingin mendaki air terjun itu, dan dia ingin mengalahkannya. Namun kejutan menanti mereka, ketika mereka keluar dari Mall tersebut sebuah ledakan terjadi tepat dihadapan mereka di halte busway Bundaran HI.


Bab 3

   Tentang Riri Nabila, si perempuan misterius yang pergi bersama Fachrie ke Grand Indonesia. Perempuan itu sesungguhnya bukan perempuan biasa, melainkan seorang pengedar narkoba kelas kakap. Sembari pergi ke launching buku, sesungguhnya ia mengantar narkoba untuk seorang pria asing bernama Zamba. Namun belakangan diketahui bahwa ia mengirim barang ke orang yang salah di tempat yang salah. Ditambah lagi tiba-tiba terjadi ledakan di sana.


Bab 4

   Tentang Eriska, seorang pekerja prostitusi yang menjalin hubungan dengan pria misterius bernama Gagak. Gagak memintanya untuk keluar dari tempat pelacuran dan menjadikan dirinya sebagai kekasih yang tinggal di rumah. Gagak memperbolehkan Eriska melakukan apapun di rumah itu, kecuali masuk ke sebuah pintu di kamar belakang. Namun rasa penasaran membuatnya membuka pintu tersebut dan menemukan jati diri Gagak yang sebenarnya.

Bab 5

   Dari sudut pandang pelaku peledakan yaitu Maja. Seorang pemuda dari kampung yang direkrut oleh boss mafia yang kemudian melempar dirinya masuk ke jaringan teroris radikal. Maja pemuda yang penuh dengan dendam dan kemarahan dimanfaatkan oleh si boss untuk melakukan aksi peledakan. Lalu secara kebetulan di titik puncak, di mana ia akan melakukan peledakan, ia bertemu kembali dengan kakaknya yang telah lama hilang yaitu Mahe.


Bab 6

   Cerita tentang Gagak, seorang laki-laki biasa dengan kehidupan yang tragis. Anak dan istrinya meninggal dalam kecelakaan. Lalu waktu berlalu dan saat dia pergi ke sebuah bar, ia bertemu dengan pemuda misterius yang menawarkannya pekerjaan. Si pemuda lalu melatih Gagak dari orang biasa menjadi pembunuh profesional. Dan memberinya berbagai tugas. Jika tugas-tugas itu selesai, si pemuda menjanjikannya sebuah nama yang bertanggung jawab atas kematian anak dan istrinya.


Bab 7

   Tentang Nio, gadis tuna rungu yang merupakan adik angkat dari Riri Nabila. Nio merupakan saksi mata atas kasus pembunuhan kakaknya dan ia diburu oleh kelompok mafia yang merupakan rival dari boss-nya Nabila. Saat Riri tidak berada di rumah, Nio diculik dan dibawa ke kawasan puncak. Namun belum sampai di sana, terdapat razia kendaraan bermotor terkait aksi peledakan bom di seputaran Jakarta. Di situ Nio berhasil meloloskan diri.


Bab 8

   Cerita dituturkan oleh J-No, seorang hacker yang bersahabat dengan Erlangga si pemuda jenius yang ingin menjadi penulis kriminal dan Roy si putra mahkota dari boss mafia besar di Jakarta. J-No berkisah tentang sahabatnya yaitu Erlangga yang berkembang dari awalnya seorang penulis kemudian menjadi konsultan kriminal yang berbahaya. J-No pun menjadi tangan kanan Erlangga atas setiap aksinya.


Bab 9

   Dari mata Erlangga sendiri. Lelaki yang tadinya hanya penulis fiksi namun berubah menjadi konsultan kriminal, semenjak ia berada di tempat yang salah saat penggrebekan polisi. Lalu dari ujung ke ujung yang ia bertemu dengan pakar kriminal yang membuat menjadi besar. Erlangga pun tahu bahwa kekasih adalah seorang agen rahasia dan ia mengawasi dari jauh si wanita yang berhadapan dengan pelaku teror bom yang tak dapat dihentikan.


Bab 10

   Tentang Rudi, preman rendahan yang menjadi anak buah dari Galuh mafia perdagangan orang. Rudi memiliki kehidupan dan sikap yang sangat buruk. Ia menjadi wanita hanya sebagai alat pemuas nafsu. Lalu ia ditugaskan oleh si boss untuk menculik gadis bernama Nio yang diduga merupakan saksi mata pembunuhan yang telah mereka lakukan. Mereka berencana untuk menjual Nio ke pasar gelap. Namun dalam perjalanan terdapat razia polisi yang membuat mereka panik dan Nio berhasil meloloskan diri.


Bab 11

   Kembali dari mata Rania si agen rahasia. Ternyata ia masih hidup dan berhasil meloloskan diri sebelum ledakan itu terjadi. Ia dibawa oleh si komandan di dalam ambulance. Kemudian seorang agen yang lain yaitu Virli memaparkan info yang ia temukan, bahwa pacar Rania, Brahmantyo adalah Erlangga seorang konsultan kriminal yang bekerja untuk Beni Hartono, boss mafia Jakarta. Rania shock, namun ia bangkit dan menyatakan menangkan Bram alias Erlangga hidup atau mati.


Bab 12

   Dari sudut pandang Hendra Wiryawan, komandan intelijen yang ditugaskan untuk menyelidiki kasus pemboman di seputaran Jakarta. Hendra dibantu oleh dua konsultan lepasnya yaitu Azra Sang Informan dan Virli Carmilla si Arsitek. Mereka menyelidiki keterkaitan jaringan terorisme dengan boss mafia di Jakarta, hingga menemukan sebuah nama yaitu Gema yang merupakan dalang di baliknya, namun saat mereka sampai di sana si target telah tewas. Dan benang merah mengarahkan Hendra ke target yang lain yaitu Erlangga Prapanca alias Brahmantyo yang merupakan pacar dari Rania.


Bab 13

   Sudut pandang Harry, sahabat dari Fachrie yang bekerja sebagai operator warnet sekaligus hacker yang elit. Harry membantu Fachrie menyelidiki tentang pacar baru Rania yaitu Brahmantyo yang belakangan diketahui sebagai Erlangga seorang penulis best seller sekaligus konsultan kriminal untuk keluarga mafia Hartono. Cerita terus bergulir hingga di hari H. Harry membantu Fachrie untuk menemukan di masa posisi terakhir dari Erlangga.


Bab 14

   Pertarungan puncak. Cerita dari sudut pandang Fachrie. Si pemuda berhasil menemukan lokasi Erlangga di jalan Sabang JakPus. Namun belum sampai di sana, tiba-tiba dia disergap orang dari belakang dan dimasukan ke dalam mobil. Di sini kejutan muncul yaitu Rania berada di sana bersama dengan tim pemburunya yang dipimpin oleh Azra. Mereka juga berencana untuk meng-ambush Erlangga di Kafe Jakarta 24Jam. Tanpa briefing lama, mereka langsung mendatangi lokasi dan terjadi pertarungan. Hingga Erlangga berlari dari gang yang satu ke gang yang lain. Dan puncaknya mereka bertemu di atas sebuah ruko. Di sini Fachrie kalah oleh Erlangga, namun muncul Rania yang menyelamatkannya.


Bab 15

   Si penjahat pun berhasil ditangkap. Cerita dari mata Erlangga. Apa yang menjadi motivasi dia melakukan aksi teror termasuk perjalanan dia dari awal karir konsultan kriminal hingga puncaknya pertarungan dengan Rania. Si pemuda ini pun dibawa ke PoldaMetro di mana secara kebetulan bertemu dengan seorang gadis tunarungu yaitu Nio. Erlangga membagi kisahnya pada gadis itu, sebelum meninggalkannya dengan melompat bunuh diri dari atap gedung.

. .  .