I am a poet, writer, photographer, actor, lecturer and sometime filmmaker. Have been active in the KL arts scene for over 18 years. Born of Chinese and Punjabi descent in Georgetown, Penang in 1968. Have been involved in many critically-acclaimed works over the past decade. I am currently writing an autobiography called Growing Up With Ghosts. My blog is here to give you an idea of the scope and range of work I’ve done over the years. Enjoy!
June 18, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Dear Bernice,
My name is Firouz – I used to attend Sekolah Menengah Agama Persekutuan in Labu during the time you did a stint over there in the early 90s. I was also in the school’s English Language debating team, which you helped coach in 1991 and 1992 (I still remember some of the more “theatrical” vocal trainig you taught us back then with other members of the debating team: Rizal, Huwaida, Raffazali, Ridzuan and Intan Sharzila). I just thought of dropping a line and saying “hello” as I just discovered this website of yours, after Google-ing your name. And that was prompted by my stumbling upon the name “Bernard Chauly” in an advert for a programme called “Malaysia Now” in London (where I’m residing). My partner and I had wanted to go to a screening of a couple of Malaysian movies as part of that programme, which was going to be introduced by your brother, but work commitments prevented us from doing so.
I dont even know if you’d remember me (and my guess is that you’d rather forget as much about that school as possible?! I dont blame you!) but it was kind of cool to see you on YouTube and your involvement in the movie industry, so I decided to leave a message here. And please forgive me for my ignorance, as fourteen years of living in the UK has meant that I haven’t been following the Malaysian movie scene at all, to have realised that you are a part of it.
Drop me a line if you want, and take care.
Best wishes,
Firouz
June 26, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Dear Bernice,
I also am an old acquaintance who has stumbled across your website – how nice to hear and read your words again(hmmm what was it …. The Serpent something???!!!). Would be great to hear about your world and share mine – drop a line!
Regards
Scotia
August 16, 2007 at 5:13 am
My dear sis,
Enjoyed reading your articals, especially the one about Mum. May you be so blessed that people will look up at you, Jan & Bernard & may they say that,look they are the children of Bernard & Jane Chauly.
May whatever all 3 of you do be a blessing to all around you.
Lots of love,
Manji & me
March 23, 2008 at 12:44 pm
hi there..
i never knew that you r a someone!
anyway,,i love your act as datin aina.. it is awesome..
and it was great to meet u in this site because i do love poetry..
all the very best …
June 22, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hi Bernice, I’m Huats wife and Helenas mother. Remember, just met you in Annex on Friday!
Have a look at our daughters blog: helenazeidler.wordpress.com
would be nice if you let me know when you do the poems session for kids you mentioned. Would be great if I can bring Helena along and maybe we should get her to read one or two of her poems. What you think?
Regards
Susanne
July 15, 2008 at 12:09 pm
hi bernice,
honestly, i have no idea how to describe all the feelings im having now, i read ure book, “the book of sin”, n i was totally driven away, i’ve never read any poem with such feelings. it also kinda realise how much the love of a mother is towards her child,her children. ure words effects me alot,in a good way of cx.
i dint get a chance to read the whole book because i dint have enough cash to buy it so i stayed in the bookshop for the whole 2 hours. i,myself is inspired to be a writer, i’ve been writing poems n short stories ever since i could remember,i rili hope to meet u and i rili hope u could guide me,n teach me more.i rili look up to u. thankx! pls do write to me.
July 18, 2008 at 9:30 am
hi bernice..
i cakap kat my fren u org malaysia. tp my fren kata u org spore. mana yg betul?
October 23, 2008 at 3:31 am
Hello, I am Made Ira and I.m from bali. Currently I am the student of translation Program in one of University in Bali. Well , Ms. Bernice, i am so interesting with your poetry entitle Forgiveness in which it had been performed in Ubud Writers Festival. By the, i would like to ask your permission, may I use your poetry as the data for my master thesis. I really interested in analyzing the poetry translation. O ya for your poetry entitle “Forgiveness” I’ve got the Indonesian version but for the English version I’ve not yet, so would you so be kind to send me via email for the English version.
well Ms.Bernice, i really hope your permission and also i really hope to receive your answer as soon as possible (if it is not disturbing you of course) so that I can arrange my proposal. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely yours,
Made Ira Wijayanti
November 17, 2008 at 10:39 am
sebentar aku jumpai wajahmu
sebelum senja tumpah serapah
sebab akulah yang selalu malam
mengucap mimpi di ujung cahaya
yang memerah
lebih bermakna dari darah
padahal kita selalu punya
February 28, 2009 at 6:13 pm
I love your site!
_____________________
Experiencing a slow PC recently? Fix it now!
June 17, 2009 at 5:27 am
Hi Bernice!
Thank you for inspiring us, the Malaysians with your work.
I would love to one day, meet up with you to talk about your effort and your work. Keep up the good job!
Regards,
Michelle
June 22, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Hello,
I am doing a paper about You and Duane Michals and Jim Goldberg. I really like your work. I really like how you juxtaposed some of your poems with your photographs. In this post-modern era, I have the same idea. I just haven’t made a move with it yet. Keep up the good work! Peace and Love
April 23, 2010 at 5:34 am
Hi Bernice,
I stumbled upon your blog through Sharanya Manivannan’s blog (I am a fan of her poetry). The title of your book sounds compelling. It reminds me of Maxine Hong Kingston’s book, “The Woman Warrior: memoirs of a girlhood among ghosts”. Incidently, she is also of Chinese descent. Do check it out, if you haven’t already.
Meanwhile, drop me a line if you can. I am new to this blogging scene, although I am also a poet and a writer.
June 14, 2010 at 3:31 am
A Great blog post, I will save this post in my Reddit account. Have a good evening.
July 6, 2010 at 6:08 am
dear bernice,
Hello, my name is Ashweein, and i have just published a book on poetry. I came across your blog as i was looking through my friend’s frequently-read-blogs, as well as being recommended by Tunku Halim. Your posts are both interesting and entertaining.
By the way, i was just wondering if you could give me your opinion on a matter. I have published a book, however it is with a self publishing company based in Australia, which cost me quite a bit (financially). I was wondering what would the process be like trying to get my book published in Malaysia, and would you recommend me to do so? If you do, which publishers should i look out for?
Please advice me on this matter. Thank you very much.
Regards,
Ashweein
July 20, 2011 at 11:37 am
Hi Bernice, when is your autobiography coming out? I can’t wait for it!
October 18, 2011 at 4:55 am
Dear Ms. Chauly:
I was in KL for a short business trip this Oct and came across your book. What a warm, haunting, and compelling work! As someone of Indian origin and Canadian heritage, there were many familiar points to your story. Keep writing–it will certainly give not only readers a delight, but be very interesting for your own daughters (about 20 years from now, I predict a book called “Growing up with Bernice” !)
Thanks again for a most memorable voyage.
Sagar
October 18, 2011 at 5:03 am
Hi there, thanks so much for your words. Glad you enjoyed the book!!! all best, Bernice
October 31, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Dear Ms.Bernice Chauly,
I’ve been in love with novels ever since my tender years—recently—my mum presented me your ‘ Growing Up With Ghosts’ as my 18th bday gift—–that was simply AWESOME!!! OMG—of all the novels that i’ve read—-That was superb–well expressed through emotions—histories—-nostalgically —WOW—-hats off to you for presenting a beautiful written memories of your family—-
and of course—i’m hoping to read more novels—written by Bernice Chauly—
nandini
May 21, 2012 at 1:21 am
I emailed you earlier after reading your book. Still haunted my the memory, I dug into my family album and found my class photo of 1969. You father is in the photo and I wish you have a copy of it. Can you email me your email address?