Through heartfelt verses, young Sabah poet describes her Malaysian experience

'This collection was inspired by my journey as a Malaysian of Kadazan and Chinese descent navigating adulthood,' says Phedora about her new collection of poetry 'Peonies Into Sambal'. Photo: Axyr Hanz William

Phedora Lynn's second collection of poetry, titled Peonies Into Sambal, is a more personal and calmer look at young adulthood. This comes almost four years after #Sh****Poetry - yes, that is what her first poetry collection is called – which she wrote as a brokenhearted 21-year-old after a long-term romance ended, under her then-pen name Nori Ryoko.

“It was a really painful and confusing time, and as a means to cope with the pain, I just started writing one day. It developed into an everyday habit and I decided to share my writing online. I never expected that my work would resonate with so many people and it inspired me to come out with my first book,” says Phedora.