[close] Helvy Tiana Rosa has been writing poetry and short stories since 1979. She has written more than 40 books. Her short stories have been translated into English, Arabic, French, Germany, Japanese, Swedish, etc. Her story, Jaring-Jaring Merah (The Red Net) has been chosen as one of the best short stories in the decade of 1990-2000 by Horison Magazine, a prestigious literary magazine in Indonesia.

After completed her bachelor and master's degree in literature from University of Indonesia (UI), Helvy has been teaching literature at Dept. of Indonesian Language & Literary at State University of Jakarta (UNJ). She is also a member of Majelis Sastra Asia Tenggara (the Southeast Asia Board of Literature) and a Chief Executive Officer at Lingkar Pena Publishing House. Helvy often represents Indonesia in literary events, both at home and abroad.

In 1991-2001, Helvy worked as a managing editor and then Editor in Chief of Annida Magazine--a famous Islamic teen magazine in Indonesia.

In 1990-2003, she founded Teater Bening, an all-female Islamic teatre Group in Indonesia. Helvy is the founding member of Forum Lingkar Pena (FLP) a writers group established in 1997. FLP now has more than 7,000 members and until 2008 has published more than 1000 book titles together with more than 50 publishers. FLP has branches in more than 125 cities across Indonesia and abroad.

In 2003-2006 Helvy was a member of the Literary Committee at Dewan Kesenian Jakarta (The Jakarta Arts Council).

Now she is living in Depok, Jawa Barat, Indonesia with her husband Tomi Satryatomo, a journalist, and their lovely children: Abdurahman Faiz (13), a young poet, and Nadya Paramitha (2). Her new book, Bukavu (Lingkar Pena Publishing House) launched on Mei 2008.

Honors and Awards:

2009: Kartini Award as one of The Most Inspiring Women in Indonesia, by Kartini Magazine
2008: Indonesian Inspiring Woman by Tabloid Wanita Indonesia
2008: Helvy brought Forum Lingkar Pena (FLP), a non profit organization which she established 11 years ago, to get Danamon Award, a national award to recognize individual & groups who have significant contribution to the society.
2008: PKS Award as one of 100 Indonesia's Young Leaders
2008: Bukavu was selected as nominee of Khatulistiwa Literary Award 2008
2008: Award for Distinguished Lecturer by Universitas Negeri Jakarta
2007: Indonesian Woman Icon by Gatra Magazine
2007: Nominee in Indonesian Distinguished Award, in Arts & Culture, from XL
2006: Islamic Book Fair Award as Book Distinguished Person from IKAPI (The Association of Indonesian Publisher)
2006: Eramuslim Award as Literary Distinguished Person
2006: Distiguished Indonesian Islamic Woman by Alia magazine
2004: Award for Distinguished Indonesian Woman by Tabloid Nova and the Ministry for Women Empowerment
2004: Ummi Award, from Ummi Magazine
2002: Lelaki Kabut dan Boneka (Dolls and The Man of Mist) was judged as the best short story collection and won Pena Award
2000: One of Ten Prominent Indonesian Women Figures by Amanah Magazine
2000: 'Jaring-jaring Merah' (the Red Nets) was selected as one of the best short stories in a decade by literary magazine: Horison
1992: "Fisabilillah" won in Iqra National Poetry Contest, judged by HB Jassin, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, and Hamid Jabbar
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