Author shares life experiences to inspire others
Aimee Blackburn was born in Zimbabwe then moved to South Africa.
Author Aimee Blackburn (who wrote under a pseudonym) recently published an autobiography titled When does it end?
The book was published on March 18 and is available at selected bookstores and online platforms.
The 58-year-old is a cashier at a local supermarket but hasn’t let her situation dictate her dreams.
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Blackburn said she wrote the book to share her life experiences and the lessons that ensued.
She explained that the narrative of the book is about her experiences of growing up in extreme poverty and the constant struggle during the civil war.
“I talk about issues that directly impacted me personally as a young teenage girl who was coming of age around the time when political transformation was taking place in the former British colony, Rhodesia, which is now known as Zimbabwe,” said Blackburn.
“Although I mostly talk about the tragedies I faced growing up in a volatile political atmosphere, in certain sections in the book I touch on love, marriage and everything that comes with it.”
Blackburn was born in Zimbabwe and later moved to South Africa due to rapid inflation.
The Crystal Park resident said that leaving her country was not an easy decision, but she had to do what any mother would do: protect her children.
She said while she was writing the book, she came across a few challenges, like doubting herself.
“I work long hours, but I still diligently wrote sections of the book by hand whenever I had free time during my one-hour lunch break.”
The 58-year-old said she would arrive home after hours and begin typing her manuscript.
“This would go on into the early hours of the morning. It was hard at first because I wouldn’t allow my personal mission to affect my performance at work,” said Blackburn.
“Writing this book has been a passion of mine, but I had to remain focused and make sure that my job always came first, as it is my livelihood.
“My dream is to become a motivational speaker as I believe my experiences can inspire many others to dream beyond their circumstances.
“It might have taken me a while to realise the blessings that God has bestowed upon me, but it has become my duty to spread God’s love and grace through my writing and any other endeavours, which include public speaking.”
Also read: Author aims to enhance lives
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