WESTVILLE author, Esjay C. Moore, recently launched her first printed novel, The Blessing of Queen, a gripping, modern day South African story.
Moore described herself as somewhat of a late bloomer as she only received her degree in her late 40s and, it was only after she completed her dissertation, that her fingers itched to carry on typing. Her first thought was to turn the need and passion to write into a book.
“I heard of so many women ‘drowning’ in the complexities of life; be it a toxic relationship, gender-based violence, coming out as gay, dealing with a physical trauma, poverty or just feeling judged for being who they are. I felt I needed a storyline of overcoming obstacles and winning at all costs. A modern fairytale so to speak,” she said.
Even though the work is fictitious, Moore hopes that readers would be able to take something of value from the simple story of a strong protagonist who refused to sink into the water.
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“The idea of the plot came to me quite vividly on a blustery weekend in early October. I knew I wanted to write fiction for the South African reader, something easy to read, but a great story that would suit ages 16 to 160!” she chuckled. “I was warned by many not to write specifically for South Africans, but to focus on the international market. For me, writing was more about the journey and learning the process than making money.”
She noted that her cast of characters were mostly stereotypical in nature so readers could clearly identify with them without too much effort.
“This is a work of fiction, but draws on the challenges of living in the real South Africa. Growing up in a rural home, our naïve, young protagonist, Mbali, was not prepared for devious businessmen, corrupt politicians, blessers, abusers and the like, but she held tight steadfast to her dreams of a better future. Of course, there are also the heroes in the plot, but I do not wish to give too much away,” smiled Moore.
While none of her characters are based on people she knows personally, she ensured she was able to identify with each of them.
“Like many other women out there, I know what it is like to feel trapped in a toxic relationship, but I reminded myself that better days would come. Now I am blessed to have found my kindred spirit on the journey of life, so now my icky history resides in the cobwebbed corner of my memories.
“This is the underlying message: Current circumstances are fleeting. If you strive for what you desire for your future, life has a way of giving what you need. It is important to remind ourselves, that without the terrible experiences, we would find it hard to truly appreciate the sublime,” said Moore.
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The idea of the plot came to her over a weekend and the basic storyline was completed within three weeks. It was the editing and revising that took her almost 12 months to complete.
It was a surreal feeling for Moore when she held her proof copy of the book with her name on the front cover.
“Never in my life had I considered myself as a writer. I was always good at telling stories, but writing one for public consumption was a different story altogether,” beamed a proud Moore.
The Blessing of Queen is available on Amazon as Kindle, Takealot, Exclusive Books or can be purchased via the author’s Facebook page at Esjay C. Moore Author.
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