Words with friends: Writing chose us, say author Susan Barker, poet Sudeep Sen

1 Multi award-wining poet Sudeep Sen feels ‘very, very lucky to be involved in poetry’ even if it’s not work that is financially lucrative. – GARY CHEN/The Star 2 Susan Barker knows that, in financial terms, writing is a ‘very insecure career’ but ‘it’s all I know how to do ... it’s not really a choice, it’s just something I have to do’. – ZAINUDIN AHAD/The Star

George Town Lit Fest speakers gave Malaysian writers, novelists and readers plenty to think about.

From atop a pregnant horse in central Mongolia, to a nearby fictional but strangely familiar Coal Island, and across the sea to where a bharatanatyam dancer mesmerises a watching Indian poet from the stage, this year’s George Town Literary Festival transcended time, emotion and space.