The beachfront house Sarita, she built when her husband joined the Indonesian Navy as a newly graduated doctor, has been home to the family since 1981. It hit me what a peaceful and creative retreat this home-office should be. The 'Taksu' in Saritaksu means "creative inspiration" in Balinese, an appropriate description of its attraction for writers, artists, designers and other similar people looking to publish their books.
Sarita explained that they had nine books on the road, all at different stages of the supply of funds, editing, translation, design and production. Despite this, the pace of life has taken a more relaxed flow. Having come of age as a publishing house of character, Saritaksu Editions revealed about six pounds per year at its own pace Sarita on subjects as varied as traditional Balinese folk tales ( "Rajapala and Ken Sulasih"), books photography ( "Bali Sacred & secret"), history ( "Early Days of Bali"), a guide for diving Raja Ampat islands in Papua and the environmental theme of illustrated children's books.
How did you get your passion for books?
My childhood in the 1950s was an isolated farm in the hills of the North island of central Nova Zealand, and my siblings all went to boarding school. I learned to read at four years, and have never stopped since.
Your family is involved in society?
both my son, civil engineer Kadek Krishna, who now runs the family business from his late father, Lakeview hotel and Restaurant overlooking the Batur caldera, and the landscape -Designer Komang Dhananjaya, the two often help me with translations and editing. Trishna my daughter is a professional architect and a meticulous editor online.
When was the first time you visited Bali?
I first traveled to Bali in 1973, fascinated by the art and culture of the island, and stayed. I had always dreamed of working as a journalist, but my parents wanted me to become a doctor. The destiny wanted me to marry a place! My husband Wayan Armawa was still a medical student when we got married and started a family in 1975.
What was your first job on Bali?
I had to take a number of jobs to help make ends meet. I am director of marketing for Bali Handara Golf & Country Club during their visit to the private playground of Pertamina public golf course. In mid-1978, a second child was on the way, I leave this job to manage the airline Cathay Pacific office in Sanur.
When did you start writing for a living?
I also worked part-time as chief co-editor of the English edition Sunday Bali Post. At that time, few journalists have written in English for the work involved in both translation and editing.
When did you start working right for you?
I finally decided to leave Cathay Pacific and start my own business in Sanur, a one stop shop for graphic design, communications and advertising. He was second graphic design studio in Bali. These are the days of working until the wee hours to meet deadlines, then wake up early to get children to school. But it suited me much better than I could take the time to fit in the rhythm of my life in Bali full of religious festivals and ceremonies to attend.
When did you start focusing only on the issue?
In 1995, I set up a new graphic design business, Taksu Inc., with a friend, to produce BALI PLUS, a travel guide. After two years I moved again to start Saritaksu as sole owner-manager. I continued to offer graphic design services to my favorite customers so that I can focus on editing.
What is the first book you put
Our first main hardcover was ships of life - Lombok Pottery by John McKinnon. Built on a new Macintosh computer, this book was the first in-depth ethnographic study illustrated Sasak women potters.
How did you ever in publishing dive guides?
We were approached by photographers, authors, Burt Jones & Maurine Shimlock, to design and publish the first dive West Papua guides, diving Raja Ampat (2008), and its sequel, Birdshead Seascape diving in Indonesia (2010) in collaboration with conservation International.
What inspired you to get into the art and history books?
Our art books often support and compliment an exhibition as "Reflections, Porcelain Painting Across Asia" by Arlinda Frota, a talented ceramic artist. For the series of Balinese history Saritaksu we worked with the Puri Karangasem Historical Society on a book by AAA Dewi Girindrawardani called Raja Last of Karangasem, including research of the eminent historian and Indonesia cultural expert, Adrian Vickers.
what project are you working on now?
a contemporary fable, written by the poet John Papuan Waromi, which captures the life of marine creatures and the horrible bomb dynamite effect fishing on the underwater environment. We hope to launch the book at writers cultural Festival and Borobudur in Java at the end of October, a new festival focuses on Indonesian writers and history. it will be very special if we can release the work of John, as he is one of those rare gems, a poet who is to give his region of Papua's own voice in Indonesia.
Tell us about your books on the preservation of the environment?
The Clean Bali Series (www.cleanbaliseries.org) by Maggie Dunkle, released in 2008, is a hardcover line trilingual educational illustrated books that promote an environmental theme for children aged five to 12. I believe that we can not start too young to inspire our readers!