Dr Lee Su Kim is a Malaysian author, educator and cultural activist. A sixth generation nyonya from Kuala Lumpur, she is the author of a trilogy of short stories on the Peranakan Babas and Nyonyas: Kebaya Tales: Of Matriarchs, Maidens, Mistresses and Matchmakers, Sarong Secrets: Of Love, Loss and Longing and Manek Mischiefs: Of Patriarchs Playboys and Paramours. Kebaya Tales won First prize in the Popular-Star Readers’ Choice Awards 201 1 (Fiction). 2019 - the 10th Anniversary Edition of Kebaya Tales includes new stories, some with a contemporary twist. Manglish: Malaysian English at its Wackiest 2nd Edition (2019), co-authored with Stephen J Hall, updates the best-selling classic. An enlarged Third Edition (2026) adds hilarity with added cartoons and more Manglish.
2026 sees the launch of Run My Daughters Run, a unique novel which explores a young nyonya's inner world as she and her family survive the Japanese Occupation of Malaya,
Su Kim has published over 16 books. Malaysian Flavours: Insights into Things Malaysian and Manglish: Malaysian English at its Wackiest are bestsellers and have sold more than 10,000 copies. A Nyonya In Texas: Insights of a Straits Chinese Woman in the Lone Star State written in Texas where she did her doctoral degree, uses humor to highlight cross-cultural encounters. Dr Lee Su Kim has also authored earlier short story collections and English language materials.
