Author Thoeun Sothea’s first book – titled Black People – was published in January, 2021. It is an inspiring memoir about the author’s experiences growing up in Cambodia that illustrates the Kingdom’s problems as well as its potential opportunities and it attempts to show the impacts that the author’s own decisions have made on the course of his life.
After his first book was published, he said he was greatly encouraged by the response he got from readers, so much so that it gave him the momentum to be able to write his second book and publish it just seven months later in July, 2021.
Sothea’s second work Neang Sakhorn is a novel about a woman with highly varied experiences including some of the most bitter and unwanted events in life that she ultimately is able to overcome.
Continuing his hot streak and rapid writing pace, in January, 2022, Sothea published yet another work titled You Are The Greatest. It is a non-fiction work of motivational and self-help ideas, perspectives and insights linked to practical examples in Khmer society.
In the book, Sothea writes about cultivating the right mindset and positive energy that will allow us to be satisfied with what we have but also brave enough to dare to do what we need to in order to achieve our goals and become a person that is a value to society and the planet.
Now, because of his love for writing and his fast-developing career as a writer, Sothea has published his fourth book in September, 2022, titled If You Are Poor. His latest work is another inspirational self-help volume that doesn’t pull any punches in its discussion of what life is like living in poverty.
The book describes the lives of the poor and their hardships while also giving hope to those who are poor that they might one day escape from those challenges.
“I have a big dream. I want to be a famous writer. I want to be a sharer of knowledge that gives a positive mindset about life’s experiences to the next generation, to those who are weak and to you,” he writes in the author’s preface.
“At first I just liked to read books to gain new knowledge as well as a lot of new ideas. I then began to share the importance of reading with all of the people around me. Later, I noticed the effectiveness of reading to inspire people and so I’ve promoted reading, especially because I want to share what I know will be of benefit to many people, all of which eventually led to my decision to begin publishing my own books,” he adds.
Sothea was born in 1985 as the second child of six siblings. His parents live in Rong Roeung commune’s Thmey Village of Kampong Speu province’s Thpong district.
He graduated from Odong high school in 2006 and then graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science in 2010 from Phnom Penh International University.
He has given his books to libraries, schools, organisations and many individual readers for free, but they are also available for purchase for those who wish to support his career.
