Theresa Fuller
ALLi Author Member
Location:
Genres: Advice & How To, Manuals and Workbooks, Other, Adventure, Children's fiction, Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative, General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Speculative Fiction, Young Adult (YA)
Theresa Fuller is a Singapore-born author and educator devoted to preserving the heart of Peranakan (Baba Malay) heritage. Through her writing and educational work, she reconnects modern audiences with the folklore, language, and ancestral wisdom of Southeast Asia—where mousedeer dance on crocodile backs, spirits linger at the edge of daily life, and stories carry the pulse of a people. Theresa’s journey began with the tales her grandfather told under the Singaporean night sky—stories that kindled a lifelong passion for myth, memory, and identity. After careers in computing and education, she turned to writing, producing acclaimed titles such as The Ghost Engine (2018), The Girl Who Became a Goddess (2019), The Girl Sudan Painted Like a Gold Ring (2022), and Where Cranes Weave and Bamboo Sings (2023). Her most recent work, Eating the Liver of the Earth (2024), is a landmark collection of Sang Kancil /Pelanduk(mousedeer) folktales that reimagines traditional trickster stories for a new generation. In this collection, the beloved mousedeer—trickster, adventurer, king, and sometimes thief—takes centre stage. Small in stature but mighty in wit, Sang Kancil outwits crocodiles, tames tigers, and humbles greedy humans through cleverness and charm. Fuller’s lyrical prose, combined with her careful research and cultural sensitivity, breathes new life into these age-old tales. Readers will meet the fierce Tiger, the rapacious Crocodile, the avenging Ant King, and many more in stories that blend mythic tradition with the realism of life in the rainforest. Readers and storytellers alike have hailed the collection as essential: "Fuller’s work is a masterclass in storytelling—rich with detail, humour, and cultural care. She includes historical notes, bilingual elements, and ecological insights, all while letting Kancil’s wily spirit shine. This book is THE new go-to resource for anyone who loves trickster tales." Dr Zalka Csenge – Fullbright Scholar and international storyteller After a personal loss in 2020, Theresa began tracing her family’s roots and discovered that Baba Malay—the language of her ancestors—was critically endangered. This led to the creation of the Baba Malay Today series, an initiative to pass on the language through modern, accessible resources designed to bridge generations and spark curiosity. Now based in Sydney, Australia, Theresa continues to write, teach, and advocate for cultural and linguistic renewal—believing that even the most fragile traditions can thrive again, when their stories are retold with love, clarity, and purpose.
Theresa Fuller's books
Genres: Confessional Poetry, General Poetry, Political / Social Commentary Poetry
Formats: Paperback
Age Groups: 8-11, 12-15, 16-18, 18+
The Poetry of the Peranakans. Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner. Books 1 & 2 - Interrogatory Book 3 - Conjunctions Book 4 - Prepositions Book 5 – Antonyms Book 6 - Essence Book 7 - Poetry
Genres: Folk tales
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Age Groups: 8-11, 12-15, 16-18, 18+
Sang Kancil, the mousedeer: trickster, adventurer, king and sometimes villain and thief—the traditional folktales from South-East Asia about this diminutive hero have been told for centuries. He might be small, but through cunning and intelligence, he always prevails against powerful enemies while saving his friends from danger. Theresa Fuller has researched many mousedeer stories and in this book, brings new insights into the age-old tales and by using her own modern adaptions combined with her lyrical prose, the mousedeer’s adventures will be sure to delight audiences hitherto unfamiliar with Sang Kancil. Here you will meet the cruel Crocodile, the rapacious Tiger, the avenging Ant King, the rampaging Elephant and the greedy, dishonest humans…
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Other
Formats: Paperback
Age Groups: 2-5, 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 18+
Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner.
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Other
Formats: Paperback
Age Groups: 2-5, 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 18+
Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner.
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Other
Formats: Paperback
Age Groups: 2-5, 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 18+
Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner.
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Manuals and Workbooks
Formats: Paperback
Age Groups: 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 16-18, 18+
The Write Start: A Visual Narrative Workbook for Teachers and Writers Drawing on stories from around the world, Sydney author and teacher Theresa Fuller creates an easy to follow, visually stimulating workbook on creating narrative fiction. Suitable for all new writers from 7 years and older, it is a work that can be used by schools or individuals to learn the core elements of storytelling.
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Other
Formats: Paperback
Age Groups: 2-5, 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 18+
Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner.
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Other
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Age Groups: 2-5, 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 18+
Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner.
Genres: Academic, Advice & How To, Other
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Age Groups: 5-8, 8-11, 12-15, 18+
Precious Baba Malay is about to go extinct, but you can reverse the process by learning Baba Malay in clearly defined steps. This treasured language can be a part of your life, hopefully to be revived as it is spread through sharing this didactic method. Former assessor and examiner of the Higher School Certificate (NSW, Australia), Theresa Fuller, known fondly in the Peranakan community as Bibek Theresa, draws on her years of experience in the classroom to create the Baba Malay Today series – a range of chapter books with an easy-to-follow curriculum aimed at the beginner.
Genres: Folk tales
Formats: E-Book, Paperback, Large print
Age Groups: 12-15, 18+
If you like your fables with a dash of bloodshed, then The Girl Sudan Painted Like a Gold Ring is the anthology you have been waiting for. Author Theresa Fuller has collected a fascinating group of tales based on the oral storytelling history of the Sea Dyaks of Borneo. The twist? The Dyaks were headhunters! A TINY MOUSEDEER BATTLES A SPIRIT GIANT A GIRL MUST SAVE HER VILLAGE FROM AN ARMY OF HEAD-HUNTERS HOW A HEDGEHOG HELPS A BULLIED BOY BECOME A GOD In this book you will find stories designed to entertain and teach, all from the point of view of a culture based in honor, courtesy, and war.
Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult (YA), Folk tales
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Age Groups: 12-15, 16-18, 18+
The Girl Who Became a Goddess is more than just a book of fables, it is a tribute to the childhood stories of someone who has experienced multiple cultures and learned to love them all. These are tales passed on from generation to generation, some to delight, some to terrify, all to enlighten. As a girl, a mother, and a teacher, Theresa Fuller retells her favorite folk stories through the lens of her own life experiences in Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, putting a unique spin on ageless classics.A foolish animal discovers that the Rainforest is a dangerous place. A ghostly boogeyman haunts a fishing village. A beautiful princess learns that words have power. A young boy is willing to sacrifice everything for his family. A woman must decide between the man she loves and the human race. The Girl Who Became a Goddess is more than a collection of stories,...
Genres: Fantasy/SciFi/Speculative, Young Adult (YA)
Formats: E-Book, Paperback
Age Groups: 12-15, 18+
She thought she could change the world... When Lady Elizabeth Ada Lovelace, a beautiful, arrogant suffragette, purchased the 19th-century Algorithmic Engine in order to become the world's first programmer, she planned to break the shackles of inequality for Victorian women. Until her world became that of the machine... Instead she learns the true meaning of equality when she ends up trapped, brought down to the level of the machine. Inside the double-crossing computer, Elizabeth must match wits with a stubbornly idealistic ghost and a chillingly handsome doppelganger in the computer's endless series of mind games. But as the machine learns to become a sentient being, time is ticking away. Elizabeth finds herself falling in love with the ghost trapped in the machine. Together they are pitted in a race against the machine to escape before the Algorithmic Engine shuts down – killing them all. Now all their worlds hang in...