Teen author secures international publishing deal
Boksburg High School’s 17-year-old Lindisa Mathabela has had her first book titled Girl-Child Woman, published by a major US publisher.
Mathabela only started writing in 2012.
“I never consciously planned to write; it just happened in quite a burdensome manner. Burdensome in that often my sleep is disturbed as a poem invades my space and craves to be written,” explains Mathabela.
Mathabela says in the same year, she started writing a novella titled The Girl Who Left the World, but stopped halfway through as it became depressive.
She has since only put her focus on writing poetry.
“I think at the right time I might attempt fiction again,” says Mathabela.
Mathabela’s book is a series work of poetry which was published in May this year.
The entire manuscript was written on Mathabela’s cellphone.
Mathabela describes herself as just a high school kid who doesn’t want to be in the spotlight.
She says she had to firmly ask her parents not to divulge the news that her book was being published to her school.
“It feels scary, I don’t want to attract attention, and I’m not writing for fame or that sort of thing, it’s just a process which forces itself onto me really,” says Mathabela.
Asked what people can expect from her book, Mathabela had this to say: “I don’t know; I just write. Those who read it will be the judges. I have seen some crazy review by some online bookseller who commented that my poetry is the building blocks of a Nobel Prize; quite crazy.
“What I know is that you will not say my poetry is kiddies’ stuff.”
Right now, Mathabela just wants to finish school, and has not yet looked into what the future will hold.
She says the book is available on almost all the online booksellers and the hard copy is also available in bookstores. – @TumeloBoksburg
