Author. Travel writer. Film producer. Underwater photographer.
Storyteller at heart.
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.
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, Pier 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.
Pier 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.
Pier is represented by Mina Hamedi at Janklow & Nesbit.
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Upcoming novel represented by Janklow & Nesbit
Bangkok 14 (co-author) - Lonely Planet, due July 2024
The Ocean Speaks (contributor) - White Lion Publishing, due May 2024
“To the Thai Woman On the Waterfront” - Off Assignment, July 2023. Awarded Bronze at the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference 2023
“Dive Into the Wild Side” - Scuba Diver Australasia, June 2023
“From the Andes to the Atlantic” - Rolex & National Geographic, June 2023
“The Sardine Run: Diving into privilege and accessibility in South Africa’s ‘Blue Serengeti’” - Adventure.com, May 2023
“To the Young Mom on Flight 1122” - Travelers’ Tales / Solas House, March 2023. Grand Prize Bronze Winner in the Seventeenth Annual Solas Awards by Travelers’ Tales. Silver in Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award.
“Selling the seas: swimming with whales and the commodification of wildlife encounters” - Oceanographic Magazine, January 2023
“How to Photograph Marine Wildlife” - PADI.com, January 2023
“Searching for the elusive Thai dugong” - Oceanographic Magazine, December 2022
“Diving into history in Cape Town, South Africa” - Roadbook, October 2022
Featured photography on “Sea Change" - Vera Magazine on Virgin Atlantic, May 2022
“The Roadside Cafe” - Catapult, April 2022. Gold Winner in the Seventeenth Annual Solas Awards - Travel & Food category by Travelers’ Tales
Featured photography in Ocean for Dummies by Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau, January 2022
Featured photography “Shamier Magmoet Seas the Bigger Picture“ - Getaway Magazine, January 2022
“On the Wild Coast” - Divers for the Environment, March 2020
“The plight of 12 lost boys in a cave has brought a turbulent Thailand back together” - New Statesman, July 2018
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Solas Award / Travelers’ Tales - three 2024 Solas Awards, including Bronze in the Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year, Gold in Travel and the Environment, and Bronze in Culture and Ideas
Society of American Travel Writers Foundation - two 2023 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards
Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference 2023 - First Prize for Photography; Third Prize for Writing
Solas Award / Travelers’ Tales - two 2023 Solas Awards, including Bronze in the Grand Prize for Best Travel Story of the Year, and Gold in Travel & Food
Save Our Seas Foundation - Winner of the Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant 2023
Oceanographic Magazine - Ocean Photographer of the Year Finalist: Human Connection Award and Female Fathoms Award
Scuba Diving magazine - Honorable Mention in the 2023 Through Your Lens photo contest
100 for the Ocean - Honorable Mention
Parley TV x AnOther Magazine - #StateoftheOceans competiton finalist
Photographers Without Borders - top 5 community choices for our Through Your Lens contest
US Embassy and Tourism Authority of Thailand - included in the Thai-American Friendship exhibit
One Young World - nominated as a delegate for 2014 conference
S.E.A. Write Award - finalist for ASEAN Young Writers Award
Bangkok Office of the Educational Council - Outstanding Youth Award
Thailand Author’s Hall of Fame - Nanmeebooks
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PADI - Introducing the New 2022 PADI AmbassaDivers™ / Pier Nirandara
Save Our Seas Foundation - 2023 Ocean Storytelling Photography Grant Winners
Tufts Now - Pier Nirandara: Making Waves - Across Media
The Hollywood Reporter - Swimming With Sharks (Literally): Hollywood Exec Launches Exclusive Divers Club
Deadline - MRC-Backed A-Major Media Names Pier Nirandara As Vice President, Film & TV
Ocean Culture Life - Storytellers: Pier Nirandara
Conde Nast Traveler - Seven Wonders of the World to Visit in 2023
The Bangkok Post - What a wonderful world - Pier tells magical tales
Koktail Magazine - The Future List 2022: Praekarn (Pier) Nirandara
A Day Magazine - บทที่หนึ่งถึงอนันต์ของ Pier Nirandara จากนักเขียนไทยอายุน้อยที่สุดสู่พรมแดงในฮอลลีวูด
BookRiot - THE MOST POPULAR CHILDREN’S BOOKS FROM EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
Save Our Seas Foundation - Celebrating Ocean Wins
VoyageLA - Meet Pier Nirandara of PiersGreatPerhaps in West Hollywood
The Epoch Times - Divers Mesmerized by Swarm of Thousands of Mobula Rays in Baja—and the Photos Are Surreal
Shoutout LA - Pier Nirandara | Film Executive, Bestselling Author & Underwater Photographer
deeperblue - Hollywood Execs Launch Exclusive Dive Club
StoryTrender - MESMERISING SNAPS CAPTURE LUCKY DIVERS SWIMMING AMONGST THOUSANDS OF MOBULA RAYS
Mozaik - Pier Nirandara | Mozaik Ambassador
Johnny Jet - Travel Style: Pier Nirandara
Included in The Dictionary of Creative Women - Editions des Femmes
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TEDxAssumptionU - You’re Not Limited To One Path - A Giant Stride Into the Unknown
TEDxYouth@Krungthep - Pier Nirandara: Bangkok Read for Life
Mission Blue - The Role of Photography in Ocean Conservation with Dr. Sylvia Earle
South Africa Tourism campaign - #WhySouthAfrica: Pier Nirandara
The Community Writing Chat Show - Writing around the world with Pier Nirandara
Conscious Traveler Podcast - Episode 8: The Ethics of Swimming with Dolphins and Whales
Neilson Hays Young Writers Competition - Speaker and judge
USC School of Cinematic Arts - Judge for Feminist Media Festival
UCLA MFA-Screenwriting Program - Judge for Screenwriting Showcase
Frankfurt International Book Fair - Guest speaker and panelist
Brahmaputra International Literary Festival - Guest speaker and moderator
Emirates Diving Association - Underwater Photography & Film Competition judge
Author, travel writer, film producer, and underwater photographer Pier Nirandara went from swimming with sharks in Hollywood to swimming with actual sharks. After traveling to over 90 countries across 7 continents, she discusses the philosophy of embracing a giant stride into the unknown.
