Local author promotes selfworth

Local author Carlyle Labuschagne (30) spends her time motivating teenagers to “be their own person”.

Labuschagne, who is a fairly new author and busy publishing her second book, believes that words can heal and inspire teenagers and young adults to believe they’re worthy.

“My mission is to heal with words,” Labuschagne told the Record, explaining how her exotic traits had her bullied at school .

“My parents were really busy people and worked long hours, so our maid basically raised me.

“For that reason I could speak Setswana in primary school and people found me strange.”

Labuschagne writes specifically for teenagers and older readers. Her preferred genre is science fiction and she believes that it is important for readers to be able to bond with the characters.

“Children are very important to me,” explained Labuschagne, who has two of her own.

“I spend a lot of my free time with my children and spend about three hours a day networking with my readers.

“This is why I write in the morning, so that the rest of my time can be spent on them.”

Labuschagne does not write full-time. She is a marketing manager in Germiston by day. When asked which role she rather would classify herself as, she replies that she is a writer first, as writers are automatically sales people.

“I chose to self-publish, so the marketing of my books is a big priority to me.

“My family has been very supportive throughout and I really can say that I know where I want to go with this.”

Not only does Labuschagne promote reading and writing among teenagers, she also set up a project called “Help build a library in Africa” through which people can donate books internationally towards libraries in local schools.

“I’ve helped a small private school set up a library and my next goal is to work with townships and informal settlements to support children’s reading after school.”

Her favourite and least favourite book characters are both from The Hunger Games.

“Katniss is interesting, strong and passionate.

“Peter is so weak and self-absorbed, even more in the film than in the books.”

Labuschagne says she will probably stick to her preferred market of teenage and young adult readers and laughed, saying she “can’t read about sex”.

“I don’t think I’d write about it. To me, it’s all about the emotional connection and a sense of selfworth. I’m promoting that feeling, and I wish there were books that shared those messages when I was young.”

Labuschagne’s book Broken Destiny is available currently in Exclusive Books stores and her next book (as part of the Broken series), titled Evanescent, will be launched in November.

For more information about her writing or her library project, visit www.carlylelabuschagne.com.