Taiping's ghost stories are lurking in every corner of Julya Oui's new book

"I wanted to celebrate the art of storytelling around the campfire on the darkest night. I wanted to share with my readers how it all began for me (in Taiping) when I was a scared little kid growing up in a time where supernatural beings were a part of our lives. Most of all, I just wanted to keep the memories alive,’ says Oui. Photo: Handout

Author Julya Oui practically grew up listening to ghost stories and weird superstitions. As a result, she had a fear of the dark when she was young.

Born in raintown Taiping, Perak, Oui knew all about the spooky roads to avoid to get to her Assam Kumbang home, and even the rain trees at Taiping Lake Gardens had a creepy vibe at night.