Cursed Beauty came about because of my love of things that are not easily explained. Things that provoke thought. Back when I was in high school I read a short story called the Pomegranate Seed. I loved the story so much, I read it more than once. I don't know what other people took from it, but to me that story began in the middle and ended in the middle there by forcing or rather inviting the reader to think deeply about the piece.
That story was a great inspiration. it tapped into my mysterious side and I decided to pen A Cursed Beauty. The theme came to me as I was reading the bible on the wages of sin. Now I had a theme to explore and an urging to write a story without a resolution. A story that leaves one hanging, wondering about future events.
Besides that, I also wanted to write a story that would mean different things to different people depending on how they saw the story.
Cursed Beauty is a favorite of mine for a number of reasons. It wasn't easy to write and one too many times I found myself about to quit. But I didn't. I soldiered on and when it was done I was proud with what I had produced. a mystery that made my head spin and my heart skip a beat. A mystery that showered women in as more than just helpers.
Friday, 25 September 2015
Tuesday, 15 September 2015
FEMME FATALE?
I have always been a wide reader. I guess I developed my writing skills from there, I'm not sure still trying to pin that one done, and I have related to characters strongly. The thing with me was this, I related to the personality of the character rather than the gender. At one point, the sex of the character was irrelevant to me.
But then I became a writer and the way I read became different. The way women are portrayed in some novels just didn't sit well with me. If she wasn't a damsel in distress then she is a follower of a man or a helper of a man. She is never the leader. And when she leads, she is, excuse my language, a b***t.
Instead of just complaining, I just something. Come up with a compilation of stories that tears down on Female stereotypes and show women as they are, Independent, strong, devious, cunning, leaders, killers, victims and so many other things.
In my short stories, I write of women who advocate for justice, of women who lead men and of women who use and dispose of men, just like the world we live in today.
All I am trying to do is to show people that women are more than just damsels in distress. that they can make something of themselves other than being wives and partners to men.
Check out some of my stories on Mystery Lovers and Campus Moments Magazine.
But then I became a writer and the way I read became different. The way women are portrayed in some novels just didn't sit well with me. If she wasn't a damsel in distress then she is a follower of a man or a helper of a man. She is never the leader. And when she leads, she is, excuse my language, a b***t.
Instead of just complaining, I just something. Come up with a compilation of stories that tears down on Female stereotypes and show women as they are, Independent, strong, devious, cunning, leaders, killers, victims and so many other things.
In my short stories, I write of women who advocate for justice, of women who lead men and of women who use and dispose of men, just like the world we live in today.
All I am trying to do is to show people that women are more than just damsels in distress. that they can make something of themselves other than being wives and partners to men.
Check out some of my stories on Mystery Lovers and Campus Moments Magazine.
Monday, 14 September 2015
ITS A DOG EAT DOG SITUATION
I'm in the middle of writing what I originally thought to be a murder mystery novel, which turned out to be a drama, and so I decided to do more research than I had intended. The book is entitled Being Tanaka and it follows the trials and tribulations of a homicide detective whose husband is murdered. To deal with the pain, Tanaka resorts to drugs.
I didn't have that much knowledge on drugs other than what I watched on T.V, so I decided to interview people from my neighborhood, lets just say I got more than I bargained for. The information I got as a result turned out to be too intense for Being Tanaka, so I decided to write something completely different, based on it.
People say life in Zimbabwe is tough, but unless you see people wallowing in the toughness, its just a story. Through my research I got exposed to people who are using drugs as a means to deal with the ever increasing toughness of Zimbabwe, but having those very drugs destroy their lives, their bodies and their general well being. Some of those people don't seem to be in touch of the reality that the very thing they are taking to face a harsh reality, is slowly killing them.
Or maybe they know and to them, having such toxins in their bodies is better than having to face the world sober. After all, for a very brief period before they finish you off, they give you the illusion of being on top of the world.
I didn't get a chance to meet the sellers, but the drug users themselves spoke sellers who are making cheap versions of 'Broncleer, "Bronco", as it is commonly known. The cheap version is more affordable, but people are dropping like flies because of it.
Its a dog eat dog situation.
After my interviews were done, I was left feeling so terribly. What has the world come to.
I didn't have that much knowledge on drugs other than what I watched on T.V, so I decided to interview people from my neighborhood, lets just say I got more than I bargained for. The information I got as a result turned out to be too intense for Being Tanaka, so I decided to write something completely different, based on it.
People say life in Zimbabwe is tough, but unless you see people wallowing in the toughness, its just a story. Through my research I got exposed to people who are using drugs as a means to deal with the ever increasing toughness of Zimbabwe, but having those very drugs destroy their lives, their bodies and their general well being. Some of those people don't seem to be in touch of the reality that the very thing they are taking to face a harsh reality, is slowly killing them.
Or maybe they know and to them, having such toxins in their bodies is better than having to face the world sober. After all, for a very brief period before they finish you off, they give you the illusion of being on top of the world.
I didn't get a chance to meet the sellers, but the drug users themselves spoke sellers who are making cheap versions of 'Broncleer, "Bronco", as it is commonly known. The cheap version is more affordable, but people are dropping like flies because of it.
Its a dog eat dog situation.
After my interviews were done, I was left feeling so terribly. What has the world come to.
Friday, 11 September 2015
ONCE UPON A TIME IN DARKNESS
My first Murder Mystery Novel was called Once upon a time in darkness. Its a period drama set in the middle of nowhere, this came after I fell in love with Luke and Yoda. The book followed the trials and tribulations of an ordinary girl who discovers that she is actually a warrior leader of a cult operation in the middle of a very deep forest.
leaving poverty and home behind, she follows her destiny. but this comes with a price, especially since her number one enemy is her little sister, recruited by the villain to entice her to fall.
basically there was a lot of death and pain through out the book and every time I read it I was amazed at my own talent, not that I am bragging.
its just that, the sensation I got when I was writing and reading where totally different. when I wrote, I was part of the story. the emotional ups and downs of taking over an ancient cult, having to deal with people who thought they could have done the job better and having to face off with a sibling on the battle field. When I read however, I was more of a spectator. Totally disassociated from the drama.
In as much as I loved Once Upon a time in darkness, It was so far removed from my reality. it featured English names throughout and there was nothing about the story that was Zimbabwean, so to say the least.
I wrote it at a time that I was finding my self as a writer and when I go back to it now its more fantasy than the murder mystery that I was going for.
I have nothing against Fantasy novels. its just that I see myself as a crime writer and unless my work reflects that,then i am not.
leaving poverty and home behind, she follows her destiny. but this comes with a price, especially since her number one enemy is her little sister, recruited by the villain to entice her to fall.
basically there was a lot of death and pain through out the book and every time I read it I was amazed at my own talent, not that I am bragging.
its just that, the sensation I got when I was writing and reading where totally different. when I wrote, I was part of the story. the emotional ups and downs of taking over an ancient cult, having to deal with people who thought they could have done the job better and having to face off with a sibling on the battle field. When I read however, I was more of a spectator. Totally disassociated from the drama.
In as much as I loved Once Upon a time in darkness, It was so far removed from my reality. it featured English names throughout and there was nothing about the story that was Zimbabwean, so to say the least.
I wrote it at a time that I was finding my self as a writer and when I go back to it now its more fantasy than the murder mystery that I was going for.
I have nothing against Fantasy novels. its just that I see myself as a crime writer and unless my work reflects that,then i am not.
Thursday, 10 September 2015
MY MYSTERY. MY LOVE
I am going to start with a brief introduction. I started writing when I was ten, mostly romance then graduated to murder mystery when I was about 15. Back then to me, writing was about exacting revenge on the world, mostly on people I didn't like. I wasn't that much of a talker and whenever someone did something to make me mad, I would introduce them to mys story then Kill them off.
Strange, I know, but it gave me a lot of satisfaction. When I started writing, the content was mainly for me. I was afraid of criticism and hence kept my work to myself.
But the more I grew up, the more confident I became of myself and my work and eventually I allowed people into my little fantasy world. the reaction I got totally blew me away. People loved reading my stories as much as I loved writing them, Talk about the icing on the cake.
Not everyone likes what I write which is totally fine by me. As long as there is someone out there who likes reading what I write, I can face the haters with that much confidence.
Back then I wrote for therapy, now I write because I like the alternate universe that I create with each world. Also I have come to be intrigued with the workings of the human mind and the impact of death. Through my writing I want to explore those things and see how far I can push my characters and myself.
Strange, I know, but it gave me a lot of satisfaction. When I started writing, the content was mainly for me. I was afraid of criticism and hence kept my work to myself.
But the more I grew up, the more confident I became of myself and my work and eventually I allowed people into my little fantasy world. the reaction I got totally blew me away. People loved reading my stories as much as I loved writing them, Talk about the icing on the cake.
Not everyone likes what I write which is totally fine by me. As long as there is someone out there who likes reading what I write, I can face the haters with that much confidence.
Back then I wrote for therapy, now I write because I like the alternate universe that I create with each world. Also I have come to be intrigued with the workings of the human mind and the impact of death. Through my writing I want to explore those things and see how far I can push my characters and myself.
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