Mao Samnang

Mao Samnang is a Cambodian author who has written stories for films such as The Weird Villa, The Snake King's Child and The Haunted House. She is considered to be one of the country's most popular authors.[1][2]

Mao Samnang
Pen name	Tonsay ("Rabbit")
Occupation	Writer
Nationality	Cambodian
Years active	1981–present

Background

Samnang started her writing around 1981. By 2016 she had more than 100 of her novels published. According to her, many of her novels have a message in them. The messages were aimed at the youth to remind or educate them about what comes of drug use.[3] Around 2009, she was earning around US$500 for each novel which took about a month to write.[4] As a screenwriter, the films she has scripted for are seen regularly around Phnom Penh.[5]

Film

One of her stories put to film was Snaker, released in 2001. It was directed by Fai Sam Ang and starred Winai Kraibutr, Pich Chanbormey, Tep Rindaro, and Om Portevy.[6][7]

Later years

Samnang Samnang stopped writing around 2014. This was due to her not being able to get a publishing deal that would allow her to write for Khmer readers. Another reason was because of problems with copyright violations.[8]

References

1. Modern Short Fiction of Southeast Asia: A Literary History, Teri Shaffer Yamada - Page 125
2. Le Cambodge, By Soizick Crochet - Page 243
3. Khmer Times, Wednesday, 27 July 2016 - Khmer Novels Endangered as Readership Dries Up - Va Sonyka
4. The Phnom Penh Post, Mon, 18 May 2009 - Reading: a novel obsession among Cambodian youth - Lim Seang Heng
5. The Cambodia Daily, June 26, 2003 - Some Screenwriters Claim Gov’t Censorship by Thet Sambath
6. Letterboxd - Snaker 2001 ‘งูเก็งกอง’ Directed by Fai Sam Ang, Crew
7. Letterboxd - Snaker 2001 ‘งูเก็งกอง’ Directed by Fai Sam Ang, Cast
8. Khmer Times, Wednesday, 27 July 2016 - Khmer Novels Endangered as Readership Dries Up - Va Sonyka