Aneeta Sundararaj is an award-winning short story writer. She is the recipient of Trisha Ashley Award in 2022 and the 2022 H.E. Bates Short Story Prize. She was longlisted in the Bristol Short Story Prize in 2023 and nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2024.
Trained as a lawyer, Aneeta practised for five years before she decided to pursue her dream of writing. On her own, she created and developed this website and called it ‘How to Tell a Great Story’. The aim was to make it a resource for storytellers.
To date, she’s worked on several book projects such as, My Cholesterol Journey, Set Yourself Free, Knowledge of Life: Tales of an Ayurveda Practitioner in Malaysia, Ladoo Dog: Tales of a Sweet Dachshund, The Banana Leaf Men, Mad Heaven: Biography of Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Dr. M. Mahadevan, etc.
Aneeta's writing has appeared in many magazines, ezines and journals. By contributing more than 250 feature articles to a national newspaper, New Straits Times, she has been fortunate enough to come into contact with people who have fascinating stories to tell. Many of them have enhanced her experiences and understanding of her home, Malaysia and she strives to share some of these stories.
Aneeta’s most recent and bestselling novel, The Age of Smiling Secrets was shortlisted for the Anugerah Buku 2020 organised by the National Library of Malaysia. Incidentally, The Legend of Nagakanna (an edited version of Chapter 9 in this novel) is published in an anthology called 'We Mark Your Memory: Writings from the Descendants of Indenture', School of Advanced Study, University of London, in partnership with Commonwealth Writers, 2018. Meanwhile, Ammavasai (an edited version of Chapter 14 in this novel) is published in an anthology called 'Autumn Gales' by The Alcove Publishers, 2020.
Aneeta is also a proud Patron of Sutra Foundation and the Royal Society of Literature.
Throughout, Aneeta continued to pursue her academic interests and, in 2021, successfully completed a doctoral thesis entitled ‘Management of Prosperity Among Artistes in Malaysia’ and was bestowed the award of 'Doctor of Philosophy (Management)' by SEGi University, Malaysia.
– Ammavasai – Autumn Gales by Alcove Publishers (2020)
– The Divine At Work - LitGleam (June 2020)
– Nuns and Roses - Asian Extracts (October 2020)
– The Legend of Nagakanna – Usawa Literary Review (2021)
– Cheraiburi Chronicles - Asian Extracts (April 2021)
– The Flame - Longlisted in Exeter Literary Festival (September 2021)
– A Gifted Life - Asian Extracts (October 2021)
– My Third Grandmother - Highly Commended in Glittery Literary (October 2021 - Glittery Literary Anthology Three)
– Chakra Monsters - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 14 (November 2021)
– Kupcake - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 14 (November 2021)
2022
– Talking to Someone - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 15 (January 2022)
– My Wonderful Family - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 15 (January 2022)
– Someone To Talk To - Shortlisted in Glittery Literary (February 2022 - Glittery Literary Four)
– My Goldie Dreaming - WINNING ENTRY in FemmeFluenza 2.0 (Out of my BOX II) by WriteFluence (March 2022)
- A Dead Handbag - A Touch of Pink - Inner Wheel District 330 Newsletter (Issue 4, April 2022)
- Wonky Syntax - Shortlisted in WriteWords 22 - The Phare (April 2022)
- Taman - WINNING STORY WriteFluence Singles Season II (April 2022)
– Exactly Like That - Shortlisted / Honourable Mention in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 16 (April / July 2022)
- A Divine Embrace - Moss Puppy Magazine (2nd Issue) - Puppy Love (May 2022)
- My Khandan - Full House Literary Magazine: Tarot Issue 2 (May 2022)
- Metopia - Indian Periodical (May 2022)
- Meta & Verse - Shortlisted for The Write Time Anthology (May 2022)
- A Little Bird - WriteFluence - Mr. Rosewood Short Story (June 2022)
- Moonset at Angkor - Fahmidan Journal Issue 12 (June 2022)
- Lolita - The Minison Project, Issue 2 (June 2022)
- Visitation Rights - Livina Press Issue 1 (June 2022)
- A Forever Bond - Honey Guide Magazine (July 2022)
- Visitation Rights - Erato Magazine (July 2022)
- The Interlude - Story Nook (August 2022)
- Nuns & Roses - Spare Parts Lit (August 2022)
- Tapasya - Longlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize 2022 (August 2022)
- Wonky Syntax - Secert Attic: September Results (October 2022)
- My Third Grandmother - Livina Press Issue 2 (October 2022)
- Chum-One - Grave Mistakes: Halloween 2022 (Short Story Challenge Anthologies) (October 2022)
- The Weathermen - A Love Letter - WINNER of the Trisha Ashley Award - The 2022 Exeter Story Prize (December 2022)
- Blood - WINNING STORY The Open Theme Short Story Writing Contest for WriteFluence.com in December 2022 - published in the antholgy, 'Crimson' (January 2023)
2023
- Ammachi, My Third Grandmother - Secret Attic Short Story Contest for December 2022 (3 January 2023)
- Ladoo Hugs - The Community Book Project: Celebrating 365 Days of Gratitude (10 January 2023)
- My Beautiful Illusion - WINNER of the 2022 H. E. Bates Short Story Prize - The Northampton Writers’ Group (January 2023)
- Illusion - Livina Press: Issue 3 (January 2023)
- The Weathermen - A Love Letter - The Paper Crow | Literary Journal | Issue 1 (17 February 2023)
– A Beautiful Moment - 'Honourable Mention' in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition (17 February 2023)
– Flower Child - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 17 (February 2023)
– Soul Connection - WINNING STORY in FemmeFluenza 3 - WriteFluence (2 March 2023) - published in the antholgy, 'Of Heartbreak and Subdued Yearnings' (March 2023)
- My Beautiful Illusion - Karma Comes Before: Issue 2 (19 March 2023)
- Hello Yama! - Livina Press: Issue 4 Spring 2023 (16 April 2023)
- A Second Chance - Second Chances: A Short Story Anthology (27 April 2023)
– Convent Girl - WINNING STORY in Brouhaha - WriteFluence (10 June 2023)
- In the Shade of a Mango Tree - Usawa Literary Review (June 2023)
- Hello Yama! - Usawa Literary Review (June 2023)
- The Incredible Tragedy - Livina Press: Issue 5 Summer 2023 (16 July 2023)
- Change the World - Longlisted for the 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize (19 July 2023)
- Thaipusam - Longlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize 2023 (September 2023)
- Night of the New Moon - Longlisted for the Yeovil Literary Prize 2023 (September 2023)
- My Final Tapasya - Longlisted in To Hull And Back Short Story Competition 2023 (September 2023)
- A Sweet Obituary - THIRD PRIZE in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 18 (September 2023)
- Work of the Divine - The Hoogly Review (10 September 2023)
- Exchange Marriage - WINNING STORY - 'It Was A Queer, Sultry Summer', a resultant publication of the winning stories of our 'Sentence Expansion Extravaganza' contest (September 2023)
- Sakshi - Programme Booklet from the 13th Malaysian International Conference on Holistic Healing in Cancer 2023 (17 September 2023)
- Hello Yama - The Afterpast Review (27 September 2023)
- Unchartered Waters - Nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2024 - The Hooghly Review (October 2023)
- Nusantara Crimes - 'The Pathbreakers and Other Stories' by Sunway University Press (October 2023)
- Sharing Is Caring - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 19 (November 2023)
- Point of No Return - Longlisted in Strands International Flash Fiction Competition 19 (November 2023)
- Say Hello To Yama - Shortlisted for Aesthetica's Creative Writing Award 2023 (November 2023)
- Say Hello To Yama - Midsummer Dream House (December 2023)
2024
- Tapestry of the Mind - Livina Press: Issue 7 Winter 2023 (22 January 2024)
- Change - Porch LitMag (February 2024)
- Tapestry of the Mind - Editor's Choice - 2023 Hammond House International
- Diamonds Are Forever - LitSphere (14 March 2024)
– InfoMed Healthcare Magazine
– Centre of International Standards (April 2012)
– d+a magazine (a Singapore-based bi-monthly magazine featuring works of exceptional architecture and interior design by outstanding design talents worldwide) – 2015 – 2016
– UP Magazine – 2017
– Breaking the Cycle - Tatler Malaysia (January 2020)
– The Divine at Work – LitGleam (June 2020)
– Nuns & Roses – Asian Extracts (October 2020)
– Cheraiburi Chronicles – Asian Extracts (April 2021)
– A Gifted Life (Abridged Version) - Cerita Rakyat Project (September 2021)
– Bengali and I’m Proud of It - Cerita Rakyat Project (September 2021)
– In the Shade of a Mango Tree - Cerita Rakyat Project (October 2021)
– Short Story Structure: The Art Of Writing A Great Short Story - Jericho Writers Blog (October 2021)
– A Gifted Life – Asian Extracts (October 2021)
- A Legacy of Service - A Touch of Pink - Inner Wheel District 330 Newsletter (Issue 4, April 2022)
The following are scanned versions of Aneeta's articles (all 270+) published in the Life & Times section of the New Straits Times.
Inherent Protection - 24 July 2011
When To Call In The Electrophysiologist - 10 August 2011
Internal Repair - 23 August 2011
The Call Of Aurangabad - 22 September 2011
The Science and Spirituality of Aging - 11 October 2011
When the heart rules the head - 18 October 2011
Foot For Thought - 8 November 2011
Pile it On - 14 November 2011
Sweet Danger + Art of a Sweet Life - 22 November 2011
The Misunderstood Shark - 27 November 2011
Merciful Sleep - 29 November 2011
Leading Normal Lives - 29 November 2011
Faces of Brilliance - 9 December 2011
Art of the Gallery + Beyond the Paintings - 18 December 2011
Stress can aggravate psoriasis - 20 December 2011
Demystifying Men's Sexual Health - 27 December 2011
Make a Simple Dress look Great - 28 December 2011
Say No To Shark's Fin (Simply Say 'No') - 30 December 2011
Great Balls of Love - 31 December 2011
Age’s not just a number - 3 January 2012
In the Spirit of Creation - 15 January 2012
Championing Confidence - 20 January 2012
Learning to relax & Anxiety and depression inventory - 7 February 2012
Date with Destiny - 12 February 2012
Borderless Support - 19 February 2012
Inspired Takes - 19 February 2012
Toothy Tales - 26 February 2012
Viva Galloway - 3 March 2012
Heavenly Adventure - 4 March 2012
Breathe Easy - 6 March 2012
The Rider Who Sold His Suit - 10 March 2012
Manage Your Tax Effectively + Insure your dream - 11 March 2012
Seeing Eye For Telling Art - 11 March 2012
Indonesian Specialties - 24 March 2012
A crack at Ceramics - 25 March 2012
Friends of the Earth - 31 March 2012
Dixon Comes Clean - 31 March 2012
Heritage Series - Letters from Cheraiburi - 1 April 2012
Heritage Series - The Royal sounds of Nobat - 8 April 2012
Heritage Series - Rich Royal History - 15 April 2012
Heritage Series - Blocks of Tradition - 22 April 2012
East Meets Waste - 7 April 2012
Auction of Malaysian Artworks - 8 April 2012
Coping with Motherhood - 8 April 2012
Knots of Humanity - 29 April 2012
Remarkable beauty, fascinating tales - 6 May 2012
Bubbly For Your Palate - 26 May 2012
Sweet Success - 2 June 2012
Farmers of the Forests - 2 June 2012
Ways Mums Connect - 3 June 2012
Club Med for Oldies - 10 June 2012
An ocean to inherit - 17 June 2012
A Batik Legacy - 17 June 2012
It's a Jungle in Here - 10 June 2012
Money-smart growth - 1 July 2012
Pewter Legacy - 8 July 2012
Dad in the picture - 8 July 2012
Engineers of the Forest - 11 July 2012
World's Built Together - 12 July 2012
Colours of a Nation - 26 August 2012
Healing Hospital Design - 1 September 2012
Date with Art - 2 September 2012
LED by the Light - 22 September 2012
From old house to green lung - 22 September 2012
Colour my world - 6 October 2012
Walking on Gold - 28 October 2021
Colours of the Cosmos - 10 November 2012
Snakes Alive - 17 November 2012
Positive Approach to Learning - 25 November 2012
The Science of a Perfect Cup of Coffee (For that perfect cuppa) - 17 November 2012
Smart Savers - 8 December 2012
New Home for Old Trees - 29 December 2012
All Mixed Up - 6 January 2013
Eye on Animal Abusers - 6 January 2013
Dreaming of Formula 1 - 19 January 2013
My Pet Has a Passport - 20 January 2013
Waterfall of Blessings - 27 January 2013
Bread to live on - 2 February 2013
Doyenne of Cantonese opera - 10 February 2013
More than Just a Drawing - 16 February 2013
Need to be culturally competent - 17 February 2013
Museum tours … in French - 17 February 2013
Knocking judges over with local touch - 23 February 2013
Grandeur of Decorated Textiles - 23 February 2013
Heritage from an Old Town - 3 March 2013
You're special - 3 March 2013
Whizzing Ahead - 3 March 2013
On one track with the sarong - 9 March 2013
Fitting pewter into Landscape - 16 March 2013
New cool from old love - 16 March 2013
Built on Family Ties - 24 March 2013
Green Strategy - 6 April 2013
Design on Green Living - 6 April 2013
Dedication and Balance - 12 May 2013
At the heart of a humanitarian - 18 May 2013
Pet-rified of letting go - 9 June 2013
Light on the dark side - 9 June 2013
Plant a free tree - 22 June 2013
The law and the pathfider - 22 June 2013
Adding Colour to Hope - 30 June 2013
New-look SPCA soon - 6 July 2013
Not just bricks and cement - 13 July 2013
A journey of service - 13 July 2013
Black and white worlds - 21 July 2013
Warm from the heart - 3 August 2013
Connect to conserve - 10 August 2013
Putting up with Qs & As - 10 August 2013
Code red for corals - 17 August 2013
Those wheels are made for drifting - 24 August 2013
From Drink Pack to Green Roof - 24 August 2013
Make Time for Tea – 7 September 2013
No fear, just lots of love – 17 September 2013
No petty affair – 6 October 2013
Art for special children – 6 October 2013
Hunters with wings – 12 October 2013
He eats, he sings, he travels – 12 October 2013
Beautiful and practical – 26 October 2013
Tigers, our heritage – 26 October 2013
Texting Dreams into Reality - 3 November 2013
Fun workshops fo children - 17 November 2013
Arts Market with a Colourful History - 1 December 2013
Echoes of the Heart - 8 December 2013
Where Kids Rule - 8 December 2013
Eco design wins it for Yew - 18 January 2014
Her voice, her legacy - 9 February 2014
Make it happen - 16 February 2014
Don't be a victim - 1 March 2014
French connection to national anthems - 2 March 2014
Walk through a Malaysian Rainforest - 8 March 2014
Arctic quest - 9 March 2014
On the rare trodden path - 15 March 2014
Past but not gone - 16 March 2014
Price of Sleeping Well - 22 March 2014
Enlightenend for Life - 29 March 2014
Start the day with goodness - 6 April 2014
Intelligent Expression - 6 April 2014
Framed for posterity - 4 May 2014
United by food and passion - 4 May 2014
Zero waste the desired goal - 24 May 2014
Flying high with the Facebook connection - 31 May 2014
A stray love story - 1 June 2014
Warming Up To Ovens - 7 June 2014
It starts with you - 21 June 2014
Colour my city - 5 July 2014
Colour my space - 12 July 2014
Culinary time capsule - 13 July 2014
Wired differently - 13 July 2014
The Light of Ramadan - 20 July 2014
Harvest the rain - 2 August 2014
Functional, subliminal art - 16 August 2014
Tea of the blue Tiger - 16 August 2014
Labour of love - 17 August 2014
Tithe in exhibition - 17 August 2014
Online solution for strays - 7 September 2014
The right to belong - 7 September 2014
Reaching in so they reach out - 15 September 2014
A taste for baking - 21 September 2014
A Father's Gift - 28 September 2014
Ken the artist - 28 September 2014
Deepavali Culinary Delights - 18 October 2014
Hindu Temple Architecture - 19 October 2014
From Hand to Heart - 19 October 2014
Talent for Robotics - 9 November 2014
Write Advice - 10 January 2015
Legitimate hustler - 21 February 2015
Tales of Courage and Sadness - 28 February 2015
Recipe for success - 7 March 2015
Clay in artists hands - 8 March 2015
Parisienne State of Mind - 14 March 2015
Jungle Cures - 14 March 2015
Magic of a Museum - 15 March 2015
Geometric collection - 15 March 2015
Not what it seems - 22 March 2015
How to make it work - 28 March 2015
Walk of Faith - 28 March 2015
Prepared for an ageing society? - 5 April 2015
Food for thought - 5 April 2015
Look No Rubbish - 11 April 2015
Protect What's Yours - 18 April 2015
Into the Blue - 25 April 2015
Evoking a myriad of senses - 26 April 2015
Retail is in the Details - 2 May 2015
Going Green to be in the Black - 2 May 2015
Much More to Venezuela - 10 May 2015
Seeds of Social Enterprise - 16 May 2015
Grandeur of Chola Temples - 17 May 2015
Hopping Down Memory Lane - 7 June 2015
Colonial Hainanese Food (Hainanese Fusion Delights) - 14 June 2015
Flavours of Thailand - 19 June 2015
Make your voice heard - 27 June 2015
Karate Kid in the Kitchen - 4 July 2015
Need to Do more for strays - 5 July 2015
Power of sports - 4 July 2015
Essence of Ramadan - 5 July 2015
Children making waves - 12 July 2015
A Fine Harvest - 26 July 2015
Cat walk in Pahang - 1 August 2015
Saving an island from waste - 8 August 2015
Chapters of Coincidences - 9 August 2015
Tales of the Asian People - 15 August 2015
Word Game Inspires A Town - 29 August 2015
10 Things You Didn't Know About Mark Weingard - 6 August 2015
Umbrella of Faith - 21 September 2015
Strategy for a fuller life - 27 September 2015
Gift of Prayer - 3 October 2015
All Creatures Companion and Wild - 3 October 2015
10 Things You Didn't Know About Manuel Guzman - 4 October 2015
Strike Up The Band For Taiping - 25 October 2015
A Food For Every Mood - 4 October 2015
Civility and Success - 1 November 2015
Seeds of Energy and Life - 14 November 2015
Brush with bi-culturalism - 29 November 2015
Favourite Residents on the Shelf - 12 December 2015
A Regal Landmark - 28 February 2016
Our Trees, Our Future - 5 March 2016
Accidental Photographs - 19 March 2016
A Gracious Secretive Old Dame - 20 March 2016
The Chulias of Penang - 20 March 2016
Snapshots of Beauty and Grace - 26 March 2016
Cycle for Awareness - 16 April 2016
Ramli Ibrahim-teteatete - 17 April 2016
Skateboarding as art - 30 April 2016
Doctor to the four-legged - 30 April 2016
My kindred spirit - 14 May 2016
Go play in a museum - 14 May 2016
Art of the Malayan Gaur - 15 May 2016
Music by Numbers - 29 May 216
Wisdom of Exquisite Handicraft - 5 June 2016
My Fellow Human Beings - 12 June 2016
Water, the new real estate - 18 June 2016
Hope for Mother Earth - 19 June 2016
Time Out - 2 July 2016
Time for that talk - 16 July 2016
An Unscripted Life - 30 July 2016
Back to Basics - 30 July 2016
Tapestry of Dance (Need to find the link for this on my webiste) -29 July 2016
Learning with blocks - 20 August 2016
Expressions of colour - 21 August 2016
A poem a day keeps the doctor away - 28 August 2016
Art Of Pain - 28 August 2016
Culinary Cheer - 3 September 2016
Feed the senses - 4 September 2016
No easy road to success - 18 September 2016
Night Invasion - 9 October 2016
Graffiti that proudly speaks unity - 18 September 2016
Custodian of Historical Buildings - 25 September 2016
Memoirs of a indie-comic artist - 2 October 2016
Stamp of Art - 9 October 2016
Shaping Creativity - 13 November 2016
Life Unlimited - 16 October 2016
Sustainable Pursuit - 3 December 2016
Fragments of a Shared History - 4 December 2016
Generous ambitions - 10 December 2016
Print Making for the hearts and minds - 11 December 2016
People for the environment - 17 December 2016
Ingenious Intentions - 31 December 2016
A Walkway to Conservation - 1 January 2017
The long, hard goodbye - 7 January 2017
Satin Dreams - 14 January 2017
Let It Be Nature's Way for Birds - 22 January 2017
The Space in Between - 22 January 2017
Chef Naturelle - 19 February 2017
Stamp of Memories - 25 February 2017
A Deligthful Embrace of Fashion in Dance - 5 March 2017
All paws for a support system - 5 March 2017
Family, tradition and Gustave Kervern - 13 May 2017
Vital Preparation for Aspiring Novelists
Types of Novels – How to Choose a Genre for Your Book
How to Do Research for Your Novel
How to Find Strong Ideas for Your Novel
Why You Must Have a Synopsis of Your Novel
Theme of Your Story
Structure of Your Novel: The Three Act Drama
Types of Plots for Your Novel
Bring to Life the Characters in Your Novel
How to Make Dialogue Dynamic
How to Add Texture to Your Novel
Spicing Up Your Novel
How to Create the Right Atmosphere in Your Novel
How to Create Suitable Settings for Your Novel
The Semantics of Democracy
LLord of the Ocean - Porridge Literary Magazine (May 2021)
Foothills Estate was a lovely place - Science Open (Jan 2024)
– On Her Own Terms by S. Indra Sathiabalan: The Sun (18 November 2018)
– Following Her Dreams by Rynnaas Azlan: Malaysian Business (February 2019)
– More on Indentured Labour by Dr. Swagata S. Roy: The Star (5 July 2020)
– Reading List: Some Malaysian Authors to Delve Into by Aaron Pereira (27 August 2020)
– Social activist’s biography gifted to Aussie students The Star (3 November 2022)
– Meet, Aneeta, winner of The Trisha Ashley Award 2022! by Valerie Holmes (2 January 2023)
– 'Women Writing as a genre should only come into play when selling a story, not when writing or reading!'- Aneeta Sundararaj (Malaysian Author) Kitaab.org (2 March 2023)
– PDF version: 'Drawing inspiration from relatable experiences' by Tan Gim Ean, The Edge Malaysia (20 February 2023) Online version : Malaysian novelist Aneeta Sundararaj on drawing inspiration from personal experiences and local issues (16 March 2023)
– PUBLICATION CONTRACT Reading and Understanding Contract Documents by Mandira Pattnaik (31 July 2023)
– In conversation with Aneeta Sundararaj by Hooghly Review (12 March 2024)