Dewi Lestari

Dewi Lestari

"You are the bold of light that wipe away all of the traces and shadows You are the extended ray that bridged the chasm between the grief to love and the tortured joy
You are the radiant that I hold in the dark when earth preparing to forever asleep

Wish you realize the meaning of your lamp
Wish you see the black of solitude behind your back

Never you cut a scar to lined your distance with me

Because we are one

Wish you know."

This is a poem that is taken from Dee’s third book of Supernova “Petir” or “Thunder.” The poem is translated from the Indonesian language into English. Dewi Lestari or Dee, the name she used to be called, is a famous author in Indonesia. Before she was known as an author, Dee had been known as a singer in trio RSD. Now, she has become one of the most well-known female authors in the world of Indonesian literature. She had released her novel, “Supernova 1: Ksatria, Putri, dan Bintang Jatuh” (The Knight, Princess, and Falling Star) in 16 February 2001 at Ismail Marzuki Park, Jakarta, and it quickly became a best seller, having sold 12.000 exemplar in 35 days to 75.000 exemplar. “Supernova 1,” together with science and love, are the perfect ingredients to get Indonesian readers’ attention. Then its success was followed by the second Supernova, “Akar” (“Root”) and the third Supernova, “Petir” (“Thunder”).

Dee was considered the pioneer of science fiction in Indonesia, although this genre is not new to the well-developed country such as the United States, United Kingdom, etc. Her work uses a physics and spirituality formula to gain success, which is not the education she had as an International Relations major. In a day seminar titled, “Inspiring People,” at STT Telkom Dayeuhkolot, she said not to underestimate a hobby because that hobby could be your future job. She confessed that she loved writing, but, because of her wish to get a degree, she stuck with an International Relations major that forced her to learn about politics which she really doesn’t like. Then she started to follow one of her hobbies, which was to sing and play musical instruments by becoming involved in Trio RSD (Rita Sita Dewi) and her other hobby, which was to write and that made her one of the most successful authors in Indonesia.

Dee was born in Bandung, 20 January 1976, as the fourth child from five children in the family. Her father, Yohan Simangunsong, is in the army and learn piano by himself. Her mother, Tiurlan Siagian, passed away several years ago. Now, she is married to an Indonesian singer, Marcellius Kirana Siahaan, and has been blessed with a child named Keenan Avalokita Siahaan.

Before she joined with RSD, she was a backup singer for some of the Indonesian singers, such as Iwa K, Java Jive, and Chrisye. In May 1994, together with Rida Farida and Indah Sita Nur Santi, they made the trio RSD. They released their first album, “Antara Kita” (1995) then continued with “Bertiga” (1997). Then RSD joined Sony Music Indonesia and released “Satu” that created several hits. By the end of 2002, RSD packed their hits in “The Best of Rida Sita Dewi” with 2 new song addition.

Not many people know that before her success with Supernova, Dee’s short stories were published in several publications. “Sikat Gigi” (or Toothbrush) was published in Bandung’s art bulletin, Jendela Newsletter. It is a publication based on culture which is independent and is for members’ use only. In 1993, she won first prize in the Gadis magazine writing competition with her short story, “Ekpresi” (Expression). Three years later, she wrote a serial story, “Rico the Coro,” for Mode Magazine and, while she was in senior high school in SMU 2 Bandung, she was very active in writing stories and sent in fifteen for the school’s bulletin.

This graduate of Parahyangan Catholic University of Bandung admitted that her novel, “Supernova,” started from her struggle and deep reflection over spirituality. By the end of 1999, she felt that there was something wrong with her and about religious interpretation in the society. Dee started to read as much as possible. She wanted to know more about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Christian teachings, as well as more about world famous people, such as Einstein and Hawking, who were known for their excellence in seeking answers about human existence in this world.

While she was writing the first Supernova, Dee could spend most of her time at home with her two dogs. For months she could sleep at 8.00 am and wake up at 2.00 pm, then work all night in front of the computer, while still doing her show twice a week with RSD. She said that it was the most exciting and peaceful time.

The first supernova is about two homosexuals and a love story that is full of the emotional conflicts of the characters and their relationships. The second supernova is more adventurous and spiritual. The third Supernova is more physical, mysterious, and supernatural.

To sell the first Supernova, she had to spend a lot of money from her savings to create a book publishing company called Truedee Books. The reason why she chose to be both publisher and writer is because she didn’t want her script to be edited by the publisher and, besides, her script was rejected by a few publishers.

In March 2002, she released the first Supernova in an English edition in order to break through to the international market. She did this together with Harry Aveling, the master of translating Indonesian literature into English. Not only did she break through in writing, she also released her first solo album. This was a project that she had started in 1997 called, “Out of Shell,” which was from one of the eight songs from the album and all of the songs are in English. According to Dee, “Out of Shell” symbolizes an individual’s seeking of questions about love, until finally finding the true meaning. Last February, she released her new book, “Filosofi Kopi” (Coffee Philosophy), which is about 18 stories in 134 pages and it’s already sold its second copy. It is a process of Dee’s sharing and reflections about the world and love.

Supernova was nominated for a Khatulistiwa Literary Award (KLA) by QB World Books for Indonesia’s Best Fiction Award 2000-2001. She was competing against Indonesian greatest writers. like Goenawan Muhammad, Danarto with “Setangkai Melati di Sayap Jibril” (A Stalk of Jasmine on Gabriels’s Wing), Dorothea Rosa Herliany with “Kill the Radio,” Sutardji Calzoum Bachri with “Hujan Menulis Ayam”
(Rain Writes Chicken), and Hamsad Rangkuti with Sampah Bulan Desember (Garbage of December).

The second Supernova, “Akar” was released in 16 October 2002, at 20 main city of Indonesia. “Akar” received harsh protests from Hindus because it was considered insulting to Hindus that their religious symbol that was put on the cover of the second Supernova by a letter date and place - Bali, 26 February 2003 from The Central Leader Council of Hindu Dharma Youth Intellectual Forum in Bali. They refused the symbol Omkara / Aum, which are the sacred letters of Brahman, God in Hindu, to be placed on the cover of Supernova. Finally, it was agreed that Omkara would not appear on the book anymore, whether it was the second or third and so on.

In marketing “Akar,” Dee wasn’t alone anymore. Dee was cooperating with PT Bumi Antariksa Kreatos (BaRk) Communication, a publishing and promoting company. Beside BaRk, came a new organization: Truedee Semesta. In BaRk and Truedee Semesta, Dewi holds some of the shares and royalties of about 20%. But unfortunately, in the mid 2003, Dee finally broke up with her second book publisher and was again alone in marketing her books. According to plan, Dee hoped the third Supernova, “Petir,” could be finished by the end of 2003.

In marketing strategy, Dee didn’t fully count on big bookstore networking. Dee’s first priority was using the internet by opening a website www.truedee.net. Through this site, visitors could buy her books. Through this media, she invited 50 buyers to her birthday. Her second priority was using direct sales strategies, such as arranging a book discussion and a live show of meeting the author in many universities, such as University of Indonesia. From that activity, emerged a superlative appreciation for her novels from the public. Then, a cash sales strategy on bookstores outside Jakarta.

Dewi Lestari Simangunsong is my hero because of her persistence and hard work to pursue her dreams and hobbies. It is easier and rewarding to do whatever you love, like her decision to do both music and writing. She is very persistent in her writing career. Her ideas of love and spirituality are very deep and inspiring, although they are wrapped in complex and contradicting issues, but it is fresh, real, and original. She is a woman with a vision to live her life. It’s reflected in her decision to do her own book publishing. She inspires me to write and to hope that I could be as successful as she is.