Shih-Li Kow is the author of two short story collections and a prize-winning novel. She lives in Kuala Lumpur where a Guinness World Record was set for the most people shaking drink cans simultaneously. What an achievement! 299 shaking cans.

Her story ‘A Job to Love’ features in THE BARE BONES BOOK OF HUMOUR. In it, an employee gives a tour of a theme park with the added goodness of workplace gossip.

The anthology’s editor Ankit Raj Ojha interviewed the author to find out about her literary influences.

Tell us about your perspective on humour and its place in writing and in life.

Humour is necessary. In this increasingly divisive time, we’re constantly expected to take a side, or to be outraged about something disagreeable someone said. We’ve become thin-skinned and defensive. It’s tiring. If we can find a spot of humour in writing or in our day, there’s some relief to be had. If we can remember to laugh at ourselves, perhaps we can understand another person’s view of us. We’re not going to stop wars or change the world, but if we can laugh at the same thing, we share something in common, at least briefly, and a shared moment of sanity can be life-affirming. 

What are the things, works, and authors that have influenced your writing? 

Oh, too many to name! When it comes to comedic writing, Bill Bryson, David Sedaris, and Gary Larson (of ‘The Far Side’ comics) are at the top of my list for laugh-out-loud funny. Annie Proulx’s novels and short stories are also an inspiration. ‘The Blood Bay’ is probably one of the most memorable, funny short stories I’ve ever read and I greatly admire the way she writes of life, people, and place. But the greatest constant for me has been Lat, the eminent cartoonist whose books and work in our Malaysian newspapers provided the best and most-loved social commentary of our country. 

Is there any image, phrase, idea, place, person, or memory that became the seed for your story? 

I wrote ‘A Job to Love’ when I was leaving a job that I loved and hated at the same time. Incidentally, the job involved buying lights and I had some knowledge of the subject. Prior to that, I had been to an amusement park and taken a roller coaster ride that I regretted. Looking back, I can see that the story clearly came from these two experiences.