Many of you will recognise Jason Om, as the reporter on ABC’s 7:30 Report, and he is one of the few who represents all of us Asian Australians adequately. I have personally come to know Om over the last few years, and his body of work, passion, persistence and tenacity has been really inspiring. The good news is he has just signed a book deal with ABC Books for his new personal memoir “All Mixed Up”. The book deal is pretty huge and it is really awesome to see this come to fruition. This a major deal was negotiated with Benython Oldfield of Zeitgeist Agency.
The substance of his memoir goes really deep into Om’s heart and his journey from his childhood starting with his mum’s death when he was 12 and finding out about her life sorrows having left a child ( Om’s half sister whom he has never met) back in Malaysia. It is a personal story of Om speaking up for his mother and providing a voice for her life and his undying love for her.
He talks about his motivation for writing this memoir to Harper Collins Publishing Australia:
‘If you loved the story about my dad coming to terms with me being gay, then this memoir will blow you away. It’s about the power of family and sticking together despite your differences, but also the laugh-out-loud experiences of growing up in a multi-racial, multi-faith family in suburbia. While this book has its roots in my parents’ homelands — Cambodia and Malaysia — it is very much a reflection of my generation in Australia right now. I hope readers will draw strength and inspiration from it. ABC Books is its natural home.’
And for all our readers at “Being Asian Australian”, I asked Om about how his memoir will speak to Asian Australians and empower us ( something we all need at this trying time):
“I think it’s a really exciting time for Asian Australian voices. There’s a real momentum, and we’re getting louder and louder. It really is our time. The more we speak up about our experiences, the more understanding there’ll be in the community. There’s lots for everyone in this book, and you’ll be laughing and crying, and crying again. But it’s also about devotion to family, and about balancing the experience of growing up in Australia against the needs, expectations and love of your parents”.
Well said Jason! I personally can’t wait to read the book myself, as it will add an extra layer of the Jason Om I have come to know. The book will debut in April 2022, so we will let you all know when you can grab a copy yourself!
Cover image via Twitter
To read the press release on this, please click on: Journalist Jason Om signs book deal with ABC Books for his powerful memoir All Mixed Up