Diving into Tales and Capturing Dreams through Film and Underwater Photography - 4X8

Asian Pacific Voices Radio

Pier Nirandara is an award-winning author, travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer. She began her career as Thailand’s youngest English-writing author of three #1 national bestselling novels, multiple graphic novels, and short stories with over 200,000 copies sold in multiple languages published by Nanmee Books.

In this episode, Nirandara talks about her travel experiences growing up in a multicultural environment and traveling to over 70 countries, her inspiration behind writing a children’s fantasy series that tackles themes of identity, prejudice, morality, and social responsibility.

Since then, she has represented literary clients at ICM Partners, served as Director of Development for International Content at Sony Columbia Pictures, and VP of Film & TV at A-Major Media, Hollywood’s first Asian-American-driven production company. A TEDx speaker and literary ambassador for the Bangkok Metropolitan/UNESCO, Nirandara has won four Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing of the Year, two Lowell Thomas Awards from the Society of American Travel Writers, and Gold at the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference 2023. She was named the inaugural Storyteller in Residence at Hidden Compass.

Nirandara is also a PADI AmbassaDiver™ and the founder of Immersiv Expeditions, leading trips to swim with marine wildlife. Her photography has been recognized by competitions including Ocean Photographer of the Year, and she was awarded the 2023 Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant by the Save Our Seas Foundation. An advocate for solo female travel, she has visited over 100 countries across 7 continents. She is currently working on a new novel and can be found in Los Angeles, Cape Town and @piersgreatperhaps.

Nirandara is represented by Mina Hamedi at Janklow & Nesbit.