Since 2021, Kartika has devoted more time to her passion for writing and continued to improve her craft through writing courses, e.g., UCLA Extension. She has focused on nonfiction, some of which has appeared in online magazines. She also writes poems occasionally and is interested in speculative fiction, such as science fiction. She just completed an essay collection, “Gambaro!” and is now finishing her memoir. She has served as a team member of the Japan Writers Conference since 2023. She is also a freelance editor of academic papers and runs businesses in Japan with her spouse. 

Kartika was born and grew up in a town on a mountainside in Indonesia. In 2002, she moved to Japan to study at Tohoku University, where she earned a PhD in geophysics, focusing on atmospheric sciences. She dedicated her time to her promising academic career for 23 years, working at well-known institutions, including Bandung Institute of Technology, Nanyang Technological University, the University of Tokyo, APEC Climate Center, and Meteorological Service Singapore. 

After recovering from prolonged illnesses at one time, Kartika has maintained her well-being by regularly practicing Reiki, meditation, and yoga, as well as walking with her beloved dog. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, cooking, and gardening. She also loves sharing her experiences with others—from writing to living overseas and from learning to living purposely.   

She created this site for her current writing activities, while her past academic work is available here.

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