Tun ’Alia Nadirah Ahmad Suhaimi, a 44-year-old mother of four from Putrajaya, Malaysia, has developed a multifaceted career as an author, illustrator, storyteller, and community educator over the past decade. Her journey into storytelling originated in 2013, shortly after the birth of her first child, when she sought to enhance her understanding of early childhood development.

With a background in marketing and business complemented by a Master of Business Administration, Tun ’Alia initially pursued a professional certification in early childhood education and gained practical experience working in childcare centres. Between 2014 and 2016, while accompanying her husband during his studies in the United Kingdom, she engaged actively with local community groups, including playgroups, reading circles, and craft workshops. This exposure reinforced her appreciation for community-based learning outside traditional classroom settings.

Upon returning to Malaysia in 2016, with her husband stationed in Kuala Rompin, Pahang, Tun ’Alia took on the role of homeschooling her children, incorporating outdoor learning experiences by the beach and in forests. After the family relocated to Putrajaya in 2019, she identified a lack of spaces that encouraged children to practice public speaking, storytelling, and performance. In response, she approached a neighbourhood learning centre and volunteered to lead storytelling sessions and public speaking coaching, drawing from an international syllabus and resources linked to her husband’s involvement with Toastmasters International.

What began as weekly storytelling sessions grew in popularity, attracting more participants and parental support, who contributed sponsorships for food and materials. Tun ’Alia also began training parents to become storytellers themselves, enabling a shared teaching model within the community.

An important milestone came when her daughter won a writing competition organized by Putrajaya Corporation, leading Tun ’Alia to attend a writing workshop that inspired her to write and illustrate her own stories. Her association with the Malaysia Board on Books for Young People further expanded her involvement in storytelling initiatives across public libraries. Despite these accomplishments, she noted being primarily identified as a housewife, a perception she chose to challenge through her creative output and community contributions.

In 2021, she published her first book, *Plogging*, which she also illustrated. Promoting the book via storytelling performances, Tun ’Alia sold around 2,000 copies and secured professional engagements. Her work with Malaysian folklore, including a retelling of the tale of Puteri Saadong, broadened her approach to storytelling, transforming it into a dynamic blend of narration, acting, and singing aimed at helping children explore complex themes such as emotions, morality, and life’s consequences.

To date, Tun ’Alia has authored and illustrated five books and remains one of the few creative professionals actively integrating storytelling into her work. She advocates for multidisciplinary collaboration among authors, illustrators, and performers to enrich children’s literature and community education. She emphasizes the role of storytelling in fostering emotional awareness, cultural connection, and personal development among young audiences, viewing it as a meaningful practice beyond mere recreation.