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!
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