The Power Of A 'No': How Charissa Ong Ty Reimagined Independent Publishing For The World

"Charissa Ong Ty"Charissa Ong Ty's journey from repeated rejection to becoming one of Malaysia's most influential modern voices showcases the power of resilience. As founder of Penwings Publishing, her poetry, fiction, and global sci-fi debut Pseudo-Immortals have reached readers worldwide. Widely awarded and featured in major outlets, Charissa continues to redefine Southeast Asian creativity with heartfelt, boundary-breaking storytelling.
Most stories begin with a dream. Charissa Ong Ty's began with a no. Years before her name topped best-seller lists and notable literary features, the young author from Subang Jaya, Malaysia faced a wall every creative witnesses – rejection. There came a prelude in Ong's literary career where manuscripts were returned unread, and ideas dismissed as being too unconventional. But instead of giving up, Charissa decided to go big, and in the face of closed doors, she built her own. Penwings Publishing. A homegrown independent press that has sold more than 60,000 books all across the world. A single act of defiance blossomed into a promising creative movement. A testament that true passion and persistence has the power to outlast any resistance.
“Charissa doesn't just write stories she reprograms how we feel them.”
Every book, every project and every word the young Malaysian author has penned stands as a symbol of quiet rebellion against the idea that creativity needs permission. An enthusiast with true talent, irrespective of what one looks like, where one comes from or which group one belongs to, will eventually find recognition through their art.
Midnight Monologues marked Ong's breakout debut in the literary world. A cozy collection of feel-good poetry and engaging short stories that became a No.1 Best-seller and finalist at the 2017 International Book Awards for both Poetry and Cover Design. From that point onwards, her creative evolution has mirrored her readers' – from achieving healing after heartbreak, to exploring concepts of freedom and fear. Titles such as Daylight Dialogues, Poetry & Short Stories: A Practice Book, What Does Your Name Mean? And My Medicine each mark a specific phase and chapter in Ong's artistic and emotional journey.
“She didn't wait for doors to open she built the house herself.”
Her fourth poetry title, My Medicine, remained on MPH's Best-seller list for an impressive duration of 24 consecutive weeks, cementing her place among Malaysia's influential modern young voices. Even after enjoying considerable success, Ong didn't slow her pace. Instead she made a bold move by launching her first foray into the male-dominated science fiction genre with Pseudo-Immortals, a futuristic, character driven exploration of consciousness and identity. Blending the intrigue of immortality with the pain of loss. Pseudo-Immortals tells the story of a determined woman fighting to expose the truth in a future where forever comes at a cost. Her ambition to distribute the book internationally across the U.S., UK, Canada and Australia reflects both a literary milestone as well as a cultural one a Southeast Asian author expanding her voice across continents.
“From Kuala Lumpur to the world her words prove that emotion knows no borders.”
Over the years, Ong's work has inspired countless readers, students, and creators to have faith in the knowledge that art can be both brave and beautiful. Her accolades include Tatler's Front and Female (2024), Aesop's Women's Library Feature (2023 & 2024), Top 10 Outstanding Creative Youth Award (2025) and ELLE Magazine's Creative Council (2025). Her appearances in over sixty media outlets highlight one truth that defines her legacy: the creative voice cannot be silenced.
“She turned heartbreak into handwriting and thousands listened.”
Outside the literary realm, Ong leads a team of 12 creatives as Production Manager at PlayStation Malaysia. An outlet where she merges creative energy with inspired innovation across industries like Gaming, FinTech (Boost eWallet), Generative AI, MedTech, Crypto, and E-commerce. Her cross disciplinary career gives her fiction unusual depth – rooted in tech but alive with emotion.
“Meet the author who turned her insecurities into a global love language.”
From her gentle poetic beginnings to her daring leap into speculative fiction, Charissa Ong Ty stands as a reminder that artistry thrives not in comfort, but in courage. As Ong continues to bridge Southeast Asian creativity with global readership, her mission remains clear – to inspire young generations through sincere writing that inspires emotion, imagination and creativity.
To explore more of Charissa Ong Ty's works and updates, readers can visit and @penwingspublishing on Instagram.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

Comments
No comment