Violetta Simatupang

(Indonesia) has a Dutch mother and an Indonesian father. After she was educated in Indonesia, she graduated from Tourism Schools in Switzerland and the USA. She began her career as a Public Relations Manager in a hotel in Bali, as well as facilitator in various inhouse training programmes. She now studies Business Administration in Bandung (Indonesia). She writes poetry and short stories in Indonesian and English, published in a number of newspapers and cultural journals. Anak-Anak Vampir (2003) is her first collection of poetry. The English translation will be published shortly. She describes her work as follows: "I think that I have unconsciously written many idyls, odes, lyrical poetry and satire. Everything can be a subject for my work: the toothbrush in the bathroom or the death of my grandmother, my early memories of 'dancing on a graveyard', or how I detest houserules. I have written about 25 poems about female roles and characteristics in the cultural and tourism industry."