Bio
Exploring the Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, City of Literature
Born in Malaysia, Christina Koh was a journalist for The Star for nine years from 2000. She has covered breaking news stories, crime, court and politics, but most often interviewed colourful personalities and wrote issues on the environment, local and war history, the rights of the marginalised orang asli (aborigines) and the disappearing portraits of Malaysia's cultural heritage.
Her most memorable assignments included meeting Star Wars Darth Maul actor Ray Park, feeling the last heartbeat of an orphaned elephant calf, exploring ancient caves and leech-infested jungles, and getting tear gassed while covering the political turmoil following the sudden fall of an Opposition state government.
Keen to broaden her range of skills, Christina is a trained copywriter and proofreader. She has written and proofread copy for three advertising agencies, including a three-month stint for Ogilvy & Mather (Petaling Jaya) in 1998 - first as an intern, then as their freelance copywriter.
During her journalist days, she has edited and cleared the copy of her fellow journalists. She also trained in and became interested in photography, taking pictures for many of her assignments.
At one time, she briefly served as de facto bureau chief during the February 2009 political crisis in Perak. Besides writing the occasional feature for Star2 (an entertainment, travel and lifestyle section), Christina also contributed to The Star's Otakuzone column, reviewing manga and anime over five years.
In April 2009, she was awarded the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih (Distinguished Conduct Medal) by Raja Dr Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
She later resigned from The Star to pursue her dream of becoming a professional novelist. This led her to fly halfway across the world to Scotland, where she studied for her Master of Arts in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University. She graduated with distinction and the class medal in 2010.
This is only the latest step in her lifelong love affair with words, ever since she sampled her first taste of journalism at the age of 18; while studying for her A-Levels, she wrote features part-time for The Borneo Post.
In September 2013, Christina left Malaysia to live and work in the United States.
Her most memorable assignments included meeting Star Wars Darth Maul actor Ray Park, feeling the last heartbeat of an orphaned elephant calf, exploring ancient caves and leech-infested jungles, and getting tear gassed while covering the political turmoil following the sudden fall of an Opposition state government.
Keen to broaden her range of skills, Christina is a trained copywriter and proofreader. She has written and proofread copy for three advertising agencies, including a three-month stint for Ogilvy & Mather (Petaling Jaya) in 1998 - first as an intern, then as their freelance copywriter.
During her journalist days, she has edited and cleared the copy of her fellow journalists. She also trained in and became interested in photography, taking pictures for many of her assignments.
At one time, she briefly served as de facto bureau chief during the February 2009 political crisis in Perak. Besides writing the occasional feature for Star2 (an entertainment, travel and lifestyle section), Christina also contributed to The Star's Otakuzone column, reviewing manga and anime over five years.
In April 2009, she was awarded the Pingat Pekerti Terpilih (Distinguished Conduct Medal) by Raja Dr Nazrin Shah ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah in Kuala Kangsar, Perak.
She later resigned from The Star to pursue her dream of becoming a professional novelist. This led her to fly halfway across the world to Scotland, where she studied for her Master of Arts in Creative Writing at Edinburgh Napier University. She graduated with distinction and the class medal in 2010.
This is only the latest step in her lifelong love affair with words, ever since she sampled her first taste of journalism at the age of 18; while studying for her A-Levels, she wrote features part-time for The Borneo Post.
In September 2013, Christina left Malaysia to live and work in the United States.
Likas Bay in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia