Thank you for visiting! I’m Elizabeth Wong, Malaysian author and geologist. I grew up in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and currently move between KL and London.
I am interested in stories of Malaysia and also of this large world we live in — deserts, seas and rocks. Read more about me, or see read several of my short stories for free, like this story about the car dystopia that is Kuala Lumpur (Baby+ With A Car Like Wolverine’s Claws), and this one about lost chances (All Lonely Roads Lead to Old Sembahnang).
My debut novel We Could Not See The Stars (John Murray Press/ Hachette UK) is available in most bookstores. Here’s an interview by Emily Ding of Movable Worlds on the fishing village I had visited for research, and how long it took me to write it (spoiler: ten+ years). Also, if you have enjoyed the novel, please consider leaving a review in Goodreads or Amazon. Reviews really help!
I’ve also started recording my process of writing (or not writing) my second novel on my Substack Novel Thoughts newsletter. Follow me for updates!
Latest Updates (February 2025)
I am progressing with Novel 2!
I also have a new short story, The Landless, published by Wasafiri Magazine. The story is set in the near future, where house prices have risen to astronomical sums and the landless—those who do not own land— are banished to the periphery of Great Europe. It’s actually a companion short story to Novel 2.
I am sporadically on Bluesky and Facebook, so follow me for updates.
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Novel Thoughts
A newsletter/ accountability journal of my process of writing (or not writing) Novel 2 and various other writing things.
We Could Not See The Stars is a first novel by Elizabeth Wong
To discover the truth about his mother, Han must leave his village and venture to faraway islands which hold the answer to a long-held secret.
A literary speculative novel of memory loss, migration, identity, and an incredible journey across seas and deserts. Set in a fictional Malaysia.
Published by John Murray Press (a Hachette UK company).
Longlisted for the Bath Novel Award and the Lucy Cavendish Prize.
We Could Not See The Stars is now available to buy from:
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