Maureen is a writer who spent over twenty years wordsmithing in her legal and corporate finance roles before throwing in the towel to focus on her creative writing. Since 2019, Maureen has published creative works in literary magazines such as Cha, Mekong Review, and the Asian American Writers’ Workshop (AAWW) as well as Imprint, WiPS’ anthology. She has also been shortlisted in several international competitions, most recently for flash fiction in the UK’s Bridport Prize 2021.
However, Maureen’s ultimate dream is to write for children. Having published children’s short stories with Oxford University Press and Marshall Cavendish, she is currently working on her first middle-grade novel set in her home country, Malaysia. Maureen also finds it rewarding and inspiring to work with young people, having recently started giving school talks and workshops in Hong Kong, her home for the last 14 years.
One of Maureen’s biggest regrets is that she didn’t become a librarian as she can’t think of a better way to spend her days than reading. In between parenting, thinking up stories, and writing, she makes up for lost time by reading with her children and reviewing books that they fall in love with on www.storiesthatstaywithus.com. A lifelong supporter of children’s causes and literacy, Maureen also volunteers regularly with various charities and social organizations including Rebooked HK and Bring Me A Book. She enjoys social media – in small doses – and her amateur photography, fountain pen collection and musings can be found on Twitter and Instagram @maureen_sy_tai.