I am 100% convinced that the woman I mentioned above wrote this book.
She is in the photos at the book launch. I originally thought it was the man who is holding the book with the reader Chacko DV - but it is the woman in the photo. That is the same woman linked to all the social media and in one of them she is tagged.
Her own story is exactly like the posts that are written on the FB page. She lost her job in Doha as a Freelance Vision Mixer for a News Station during Covid and moved back to Malaysia where she was from. That is why the book was launched there. She took up building furniture - making cat houses and shelving etc. And travels to Bali often.
She was born @1972 - which is interesting in itself - only 5 yrs younger than DdeH
The book was published in 2017 and 2 yrs later the launch of it in Malaysia
2017 - WHY would a young woman write this book with such parallels to AH dealings with women? There can be no coincidence with this.
It was a few yrs after his dealings with GGB and JO - some stories draw similar situations to theirs.
WHY would a woman use such colourful and visual descriptions when as most of us have said, it definitely sounded like a male who wrote it. Nope.
Did she know AH and wrote about his long winded stories he maybe shared ?
Was she another victim of his?
And wrote the book under the pseudonym to get square with him after he left her with debt or stole from her?
No idea but I am convinced she is the author.
JMO of course
and this book is connected to him somehow - that was obvious from the online talk the other night with S and J and AS.
I would struggle to imagine that a woman wrote this book, unless she hates herself and other women very, very, much. I would be mortified to publish a book like this and people who know me read it.
There's some 'seepage' / 'leakage' throughout the badly written stories as I already mentioned is the writer across a few stories drops common ideas about protagonist.
They suggest they are:
A wry observer of life (they aren't)
An outsider
Somewhat genius (they aren't)
Has a true gift with words, to write in a way that others can't (untrue)
Employed as travelogue writer
Are a loner, are not good with people, prefer own company
Others find them fascinating due to above
Speak multiple languages but NOT Balinese
Feel angry / excluded / resentful about not speaking Balinese
Aren't interested in showy wealth or possessions
Prefer life 'on the road' / travelling / being on the move
Have spiritual leanings, found god, consult with shamans
Ex-pat gone to Indonesia
Left behind former life / lives with no regrets
About to leave current life with no regret
Zero sentiment or emotions bar lust, anger, fatigue
In one chapter, uses viagra for sex as if that's 'normal'
Loathes western women who have relationships with young Indonesian men
Appreciates furniture, antiques, fine wine, classical music
Contempt for others
Vindictive and executes retribution inc violence, arson
Migrated due to living off some form of income they don't have to earn
Speaks of property in estate agent type terms as opposed to descriptions
If any children always two from past relationship, no sentiment or development
Always has a local sidekick / assistant who inexplicably helps them out a lot
Health problems, feeling older, feeling wearing, reflecting on life
Loathes foreigners / 'newcomers' even though they are one
I will return to this book more and try to break some of it down - for example scrutinise examples of dialogue - there is very little throughout.