Robin Muchetu, Leisure Reporter
YVONNE Maphosa-Nalube is a Zimbabwean woman born and raised in Plumtree and currently living in Cape Town, South Africa. She is a holder of a Masters Degree in Food Science and Technology from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and is a lecturer who is currently pursuing a PhD.
Her academic journey is a decorated one as she graduated cum-laude for her first degree where she scored 21 out of 22 distinctions and received the Vice Chancellor’s award.
However, she has added to her academic prowess by penning her first piece of literature which is currently with publishers and shared with Sunday Leisure reporter Robin Muchetu (RM) the journey.
RM: Who is Yvonne Maphosa-Nalube ?
YNM: I’m the last born in a family of six, with three brothers and two sisters. I’ve been described as a bookworm and a nerd. I read a lot of books across all genres, but my genre of choice is supernatural fiction like Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter and A Game of Thrones. Which is funny because my book is nothing like those books.
RM: Let’s break down the title.
YNM: The title of the book is The y in yOUR man is silent. Just as the title suggests, if we take off the y from ‘‘yOUR man’’ we remain with ‘‘Our man’’.
RM: What inspired you to write the book?
YNM: PhD studies got too hectic for me and I needed an outlet. I’d been using travelling as an escape for a while but it just wasn’t working anymore. I was tired of writing academic papers and books and my thesis and dealing with chemicals every day. So I decided to take a break from that world for a day and write something different.
I didn’t know what to write about so I wrote about my typical day. So the first-half of chapter one was drafted according to my reality. Then as I wrote I strayed and strayed from the truth until I was way too far from the truth.
So I told my husband about it and he encouraged me to write some more. He went as far as setting up a Facebook page for me. I would post a chapter every other day and wait for people’s feedback. The response was surprisingly positive, so I wrote more chapters until I had a whole book.
Oh yes, and Akon (the singer), for every chapter I wrote I had an Akon song in mind. He’s been my muse since Form Three and I think clearer when I listen to him. I can’t explain it really.
RM: What is the book about?
YNM: The novel follows the life of a Zimbabwean student, Fierce pursuing a PhD in a university in Cape Town, South Africa.
The book follows her through the complex journeys of university life, love, work, school, family and all round relationships.
She has a talkative mind, a loving heart and embraces all things beauty and love. Her views on relationships and marriage differ from the average woman. As her story unfolds she finds herself having to fight her way through societal standards, upholding the traditions she was raised by, supporting her family back home (Black Tax) and still trying to stay true to herself.
The main character, Fierce, highlights that cheating, extra-marital affairs and betrayal are part and parcel of life, therefore, to be happy a woman has to accept that sharing a man is not such a bad thing, as long as he loves you.
RM: Who is your target audience? Which ages?
YNM: Ok, there are a few scenes with strong language and mature scenes so I would say it’s suitable for ages 18 and up. It’s not obscene though, I can tell you that.
RM: When did you start writing it and how long has it taken you to complete it?
YNM: I started writing it in January. I remember I had a very long day in the laboratory and I was sitting on a bench in front of the department eating a chip roll and watching ducks. I kept thinking, “I’ve been at this university for eight years now!” So I started reminiscing and that’s how my book begins. That was January. I would write a few pages a day and in May I had a complete book. I released chapters on Facebook in those months and that’s where I got most of my readership.
RM: Have you always been a writer; what motivated you to start writing?
YNM: I like to think that I’ve always been a writer. Through high school I wrote stories and novels. They never made it anywhere though. I enjoy playing with words. People who read my work always refer to my “word play”. I’m not strict on English and I enjoy twisting it. I write it loosely and sometimes I make up my own words. I especially enjoy making up my own sayings and proverbs.
RM: What do you intend to achieve with this piece of literature?
YNM: This is not an advice book and Fierce is not saying every woman should conform to her beliefs. But the things she goes through are situations some women find themselves in everyday. She has an interesting way of handling situations and I have to say she loves deep and is very forgiving.
RM: Will the book be available in Zimbabwe?
YNM: The book will be available in Zimbabwe. For now I have distributors in Harare and Bulawayo. This is my first published book and sample chapters are available on my Facebook page: <https://www.facebook.com/theyinyourmanissilent/>. I’m also currently writing another book, Grasping At Straws, and chapters are available for free on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GraspingAtStrawsLwezi/
RM. How was the journey of writing this book?
YNM: Honestly, juggling a PhD, lecturing, doing voluntary work, being a wife, social life, friends, family, my book on Facebook and travelling, I’m left with very little time to do anything else. But I was very excited by this book and the characters were very much alive in my head, I just wanted to write and keep writing. Maybe that’s why it’s so long.
RM: Publication and distribution?
YNM: The book is self published which means I am in charge of everything from production till distribution. It can be exhausting and costly, considering that you foot the bill yourself but it’s more fulfilling because you are hands-on and involved in every step.
RM: How do you shake off pressure looking at how packed your life is?
YNM: I have a lot going on in my head everyday so I practice yoga to just be quiet for an hour or so. For fun, I travel the world.
My husband, Lovemore and I have been to 21 countries this far and we are just getting started.
RM: How to get hold of the book?
YNM: To get a copy, please send an email to fiercenkrumah@gmail.com or phone/WhatsApp: 0027614884775. You may also send an inbox to the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theyinyourmanissilent