Launched at WORQ Subang on Sept 28, the book is more than a collection of stories – it’s a celebration of vulnerability, strength, and the ability to rise above life’s most difficult moments.
For Lian, writing this book over the past year was deeply personal. “It was a journey of healing, not just for myself, but for every woman who has ever felt less than she is,” she shared at the launch.
The book, short of 200 pages, features the late Janet Lee, an epileptic artist who succumbed to cancer. Lee’s story is told by Lian through the artist’s mother, Joyce Moi, who continues her daughter’s legacy.
There is also the story of Suanne Lai, who overcame childhood trauma and depression to make a career comeback after a decade of full-time motherhood.
Chen Wai Ling’s story, meanwhile, is about how she suffered a severe spinal injury while caring for her sick mother, but who overcame her health issue to co-found a fitness club.
And there’s Lolitta Suffian, who rebuilt her life after a devastating divorce.
Lian told FMT Lifestyle that while these stories were personal, the women were open to sharing their struggles with her for the book.
Despite their differing backgrounds and challenges, they share a common thread – the ability to rise stronger from their experiences.
“One person’s story may resonate with you, while another’s may resonate with me,” Lian explained. “At the end of the day, the message is that you are not alone in this journey.”
For Lian, the journey to writing “Embracing Imperfections” was sparked by her mentorship work with “Project Girls for Girls Malaysia”, a Harvard-born NGO focused on helping young women become future leaders.
“Through mentoring, I realised that many young women, despite being smart and capable, struggle with confidence. They fear the unknown and want to be perfect,” Lian said.
This realisation led her to explore the broader challenges faced by women at different stages of their lives. “I noticed that at different life stages, women face different challenges, but the fear of not being enough is constant,” she noted.
This fear of imperfection is something Lian understands well. Her own experiences of self-doubt and fear during the writing process mirror those of the women she writes about, she said, making the work all the more authentic.
“I started to feel like, am I good enough? Who is going to read my book? What happens if people criticise it?” she admitted.
But, after saying goodbye to her 30-year-long corporate job earlier this year, she decided to finally pursue a dream she’d been holding onto for seven years.
“Back in 2017, I actually posted on my Facebook page saying that I am an upcoming author,” she said, adding that it truly feels like a full circle moment.
Above all Lian said it was the impact the book has made on her women readers which has meant the most to her.
“Many women who attended the launch, came up to me and shared that they felt inspired listening to these stories and finally felt that they are not alone in this journey,” Lian said.
Through the stories of Lee, Lai, Chen, and Lolitta, the book offers a message of hope and empowerment.
As Lian summed it up: “It’s okay to be vulnerable, because life is not about success stories all the time. It’s time to finally start talking about our imperfections too.”
Purchase the book here.
During the Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October, 20% of the net proceeds from Lian’s book sales will be donated to the National Cancer Society of Malaysia.