Nkosilesisa...

What inspires you to write?

I believe the word is “sonder”. The realisation that each and every human being isn’t a passerby, but a distinct individual with a life and a story and their respective complexities. As a result, there are so many stories from each of us, waiting to be told. 


Do you think there is a difference between 
a writer and an author?

Ultimately, I believe they are the same. It’s just two people who felt so strongly about something that they had to put it down on paper. 


How does it make you feel to be part of a 
published anthology?

Really proud of myself because I actually saw it through. But also really anxious because art is always subject to interpretation. What will readers think of it?


Do you face any challenges as a female Zimbabwean writer?

I think every writer in Zimbabwe faces a similar challenge. What to do with written work! Finding a publisher is quite difficult. Moreso, finding one that will take up your project. 


Briefly describe your writing journey, from how you started to where you are today.

I’ve always loved words. When I was 7, I used to write and sell very mediocre poetry at school and I got in trouble for it. All through school, I would write stories and enter competitions and win most of them. However, around 2016, I realised that I loved writing specifically for screen and I went professionally into screenwriting. I will never abandon the basics like prose and poetry, they are where I first found my voice. 


How do you want your work to be remembered?

I just really hope people find my work to be honest above all. And I hope it makes them think. I am not necessarily looking to change the world. I am just looking to make people think about how the world can be changed. 


Would you like to share anything about yourself to help your readers connect with you?

I am an introverted introvert. I live in my head a lot and my writing is the best way I can talk to people (without eye contact). I’m also a lover of old things. Old music (Elton John is the GOAT), old movies, old people. I always say there’s an old lady trapped in my body.


Who is your favourite writer and why?

It’s hard for me to choose. There are a lot of talented people whose strengths are in different areas. I love Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Mary Higgins Clark, James Patterson. But I will say that my favourite book ever is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.


What are your future writing aspirations?

The Caine Prize would be nice. But let’s start small. I want to publish my own book and then we take it from there. 


What is your biggest dream?

Writing wise? The Caine prize, Lol. But overall, I hope to always live up to my potential. I think once I have mastered that, everything else that I may want will come automatically.

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TURQUOISE DREAMS Editor's note...

Lost is a well-written impassioned piece exploring the themes of love, loss and grief. In this tragic love story, the scene is taking place at a funeral and we are driven to empathise with Azania who has lost the love of her life.

Precious is a powerful story showing the naivety of a small-town girl living in a big city and dealing with the pressure of her peers who look nothing like her. It is a huge adjustment for such a young girl, and certainly a life-lesson. I found this piece beautifully presented, aptly exploring the themes of love, miscarriage, tribalism and culture within marginalised communities in Zimbabwe. 

Sins of the father is an excellent story highlighting what someone with a mental health issue deals with on a daily basis. The story navigates the triggers of suicide, however simple they may seem to others. The issues of abuse, alcoholism, depression, challenging relationships with parents are some important themes that a lot of readers will relate to.
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