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Melati Lum

@melati.lum

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✍🏽YA Author + manga script adaptation| 🕌Muslim heroines | 🔎Mystery |
🌿 Australia 📚Publisher @melbyrose.publishing

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FINAL COVER REVEAL! 👀✨

We're in the home straits now (is that the correct term🤔)... We've gone back and forth with different colour and font options and we've had multiple family votes with lots of different opinions... But we've finally decided on the cover for the full manga!

Ayesha Dean has been part of my writing life for many years, and seeing her story transformed into manga has been a surreal experience.

If you've been following Ayesha's journey from the start, thank you for your support along the way.

And if you've just discovered me through my recent Reels… welcome! 🥰 You have arrived at a good time inshaallah.

The manga is coming, and pre-orders are opening very soon...📖✨

What do you think of the cover? 👇

#ayeshadeanmanga #muslimmanga #manga #muslimbooks #muslimrepresentation by @melati.lum

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14 days ago

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19 days ago

Ten years ago, I wrote her story.

A whole generation has grown up with Ayesha Dean and Alhamdulillah, after all these years, she’s still here.

She’s grown. I’ve grown. And now her story is being brought to life in a completely new way.

✨ She’s coming back!
📖 This time, in manga.

🎨 I've adapted the manga script for this reimagined story with gorgeous illustrations by @manara_elimrany

If you remember Ayesha Dean from the beginning, I’d love to know:

How did you first meet Ayesha Dean? 💚
#MuslimManga #MuslimRepresentation #newmanga #Bookstagram #writerscommunity by @melati.lum

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a month ago

Nobody tells you that publishing a manga involves a LOT of checking measurements. 😭

I thought we were getting really close to the finish line, but an issue with the page dimensions meant we had to go back and fix ALL the files and every layer in those files before printing.

Not the fun side of publishing but it's part of making sure the final book comes out right!

Back to it we go... 📚

Have you ever been surprised by an unexpected hurdle in a publishing project? Let me know!

#manga #muslimmanga #publishing #writersofinstagram #islamicart by @melati.lum

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10 hours ago

The not so glamorous life of a writer/publisher..

Writing the book is just the beginning...

Then comes editing, editing X 2562, publishing, marketing, social media, events, emails, admin, accounts…

…and wondering why you haven't been able to actually write anything for ages😅

Not to mention the low-key worry about my Google searches (tongue in cheek...not me having prosecuted criminal cases that relied on evidence from search engines in my past life 😅)

Fellow authors: what would you add to the list?

#writerslife #writersofinstagram #writers #books by @melati.lum

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10 days ago

Sydney Oz Comic Con was fabulous 🥹✨
But now it's time to get back to the stories... There's quite a lot happening behind the scenes at the moment.. Ayesha Dean is celebrating 10 years and making her way into manga, while I've also been working on a completely new YA coming-of-age/mystery.

Plus the usual writing, reading, publishing stuff and managing life😅

So… if you are new here welcome back to reality. I also want to start trying to post more regularly about bookish stuff.
What would you like to see more of on here?

Book recs📚
Writing/publishing tips ✍🏽
Sneak peeks 👀
Editing tips ❌

#writersofinstagram #diversebooks
#bipocbooks #muslimauthors #books by @melati.lum

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a month ago

Something amazing happened at Sydney @ozcomiccon on the weekend... I met a real life Ayesha Dean! She was in the audience at our panel on representation and came to visit us after the event. Ok the spelling is a little different but we were all blown away. She is absolutely gorgeous, with an Indonesian mum and Anglo Australian dad just like my character... I couldn't believe I got to meet her in real life! Definitely one of my highlights of the weekend 🤩😍😍✨
Have you ever come across someone in real life who reminded you of a character from a book? Which character? Let me know in the comments...
#Bookstagram #writingcommunity #characters #comiccon #cosplay by @melati.lum

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a month ago

“In a world that lacks representation or worse, has misrepresentation, it leads to the rise of negative perceptions, misconceptions and stereotypes often leaving individuals feeling isolated and invisible.

Inclusion and accurate representation moves to breakdown stereotypes, enable mutual respect and understanding as well as validating everyone for who they truly are.

Having authentic representation in the media we consume changes the course of history, positively influences mindsets and creates a world where everybody feels safe.” -Extract from my article for Kalimah UK on Bridging the Gaps in Creative Spaces as read on stage at Oz Comic Con, Sydney 2026.

This important panel was one we were very proud to present as we discussed the importance of authentic representation in the content we consume whether it be tv, film, books, pop culture, comics, graphic novels even gaming as authentic representation creates a world where your voice, identity and experiences are validated and important.

Sharing the stage with Melati Lum and Noah Dao was a true honour as we each brought something unique to the discussion by proudly sharing and expressing our authentic self, cultural heritage, identity and experience through our creativity..

With special thanks to Oz Comic Con for having us as guests and for platforming such an important panel, we appreciate you and of course to everyone who sat in the panel and for your wonderful questions!!!

@melati.lum @melbyrose.publishing @noahdea.art @ozcomiccon

#representationmatters #weneeddiversebooks #create #diversityandinclusion #authenticself taken in The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park by @melati.lum

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a month ago

Day 2 Sydney @ozcomiccon is over and I am smashed but happy😅 I can't even formulate my words right now but I know I had some highlights I wanted to share. It will have to come later. Thanks to everyone who made this con so fabulous! Goodnight 💤😍🥰 by @melati.lum

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a month ago

A very special visit that made our day.. Heartfelt and special thanks to the awesome visiting actor and director from The U.S: Danny Pudi best known as Abed Nadir from Community and Sai the Mechanist (and of course many more) who visited our booth today at Oz Comic Con, Sydney!

It truly was special.. thank you very much!!

@danielpudi @melati.lum @melbyrose.publishing

#community #avatarthelastairbender #tvandfilm #authorsofinstagram #books taken in The Dome, Sydney Olympic Park by @melati.lum

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a month ago

Day 1 is done ✅ at Sydney @ozcomiccon ... I was blown away by the fabulous cosplays, met new readers along with @nenganniemenulis and got to meet some super talented people including being a fangirl for @danielpudi who played my favourite character in the iconic show Community 🤩🤩🤩
But it's not over yet. You can catch me in conversation tomorrow with author @nenganniemenulis and artist @noahdea.art on Representation in all realms. Hope to see you there! 😄✨📚
#OzComicCon2026
#ozcomiccon #comiccon #manga #writingcommunity taken in Sydney by @melati.lum

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a month ago

Guest authors at Sydney @ozcomiccon From an empty black space to a mini bookstore! 📚

Lots of books, lots of unpacking, a little chaos, and help from our friends who turned our little corner of Sydney Oz Comic Con into a home for our diverse stories.

Now… let @ozcomiccon begin! 🎉

#SydneyOzComicCon #OzComicCon2026 #Manga #books #diversebooks by @melati.lum

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