ZIMBABWEAN author and female storyteller based in South Africa, Sukoluhle Nyathi, on Saturday launched her latest novel, An Angel’s Demise at Vanilla Moon in Harare.
Nyathi, who started writing when she was around 8 years of age and is the author of the best-selling novels The Gold Diggers and A Family Affair, had a handful of fans in the capital at the book launch hosted by Thando Channel.
Besides the discussion to unpack the striking literary devices and techniques used by the author in writing An Angel’s Demise, Nyathi’s fans were given an opportunity to ask her questions which she answered one-by-one.
An Angel’s Demise starts in the 70’s following a girl called Angel as she grows up on a farm owned by a white man, Paul Williams, where she was left with her grandmother when her parents went to join the liberation struggle.
Nyathi said the book was a continuation of a love story she penned when she was about 15 years of age.
“I started writing the love story in my teen years, Skeletons In Closet, when I picked it up again, I liked the characters, so I decided to bring in new topics as historical elements. I was just building something that already existed,” she said.
“While writing the book I read widely non-fiction stuff and various sources which enabled me to compare and contrast historical information. I filtered through what I could use and could not.”
When asked if the book has been translated to foreign languages, she said:“Publishers come and buy the rights to translate the book(s) into their preferred languages, and as it stands none of my books have been translated. This is also a case of poor recognition of African authors especially those who live in this side of the world. It’s hard for us to penetrate the rest of the world. It’s only when you work in European countries that you are able to get more recognition.”
- Nyathi launches book in Harare
Keep Reading
Nyathi, who previously worked in the financial sector, said although her previous job offered her financial security, it was divorced from her passion — writing.
She added that, on the side of the world that she lived, being an author did not pay very well and hence she juggled between writing and other creative jobs to make ends meet.
Nyathi said that: “While I write full-time I do not survive solely on writing, I do creative writing and television writing,”
On how she handles criticism and negative comments from readers, the 44-year-old writer said as she has grew as a writer, she resolved to not read reviews anymore.
“Criticism grows and it becomes more difficult. I don’t read reviews anymore, once a book is out there, it’s out there, some people might like it and others might not, but one thing about my babies (books), you will always have something to love.”
Nyathi also added that there were plans to get her books on the screens as movies, films or series.
The book launch was hosted by Selina Zigomo, at an event executive produced by Thando Channel director, Sapi Bachi under the theme: Celebrating African Female Storytellers.
Follow Rejoice on Twitter @rejoicephi1998
