Author begs on streets for help
“Giving up was not an option and at the end my perseverance finally paid off when my book was published.”
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Meshack Mathe (30) from Rabie Ridge is familiar with this saying after everything it took for him to publish his book.
“I was rejected by a lot of publishers as many do not prioritise first time authors and often go for celebs who want to publish books,” said Mathe.
Most people tend to give up after many failed attempts, but it wasn’t the same with Mathe. He decided to persist because he wanted to inspire those around him.
“I chose a different route and asked for publishing assistance on the streets until I got it,” explained Mathe.
Unlike those who have known from a young age what they would end up doing in future, Mathe only realised he wanted to be a writer in 2013. This was after he wrote opinion pieces for newspapers and magazines.
“After people read my work they encouraged me to write. People on social media resonated with my writings and demanded I take my writing serious and write a book,” added Mathe.
That was how the idea for Drowning in own Tears came about. He wrote it in 2015 and got it published in May 2018.
Mathe said he met his publisher, Vukulu Sizwe Maphindani of Classic Age Publishing, after Maphindani saw his tweets about needing assistance with publishing his book.
“He reached out to me and that was how my book got published,” explained Mathe.
The book may be doing well now, but it was not an easy road to publish it. It took courage and perseverance.
“It is a fictional novel which is set to provoke the consequences of social ills that continue to dismantle and unsettle poor communities, while also shines light on the badness of not breaking the silence about women abuse,” said Mathe.
“The book tackles people’s realities and offer solutions in a fictional way,” continued Mathe.
According to him the book came about as a result of the factors which bother the community he lives in. It led him to write a book about something communities will find easy to relate to, while also providing a solution to those problems.
When asked about the title of his book, Mathe said: “We are more likely to be bothered by the problems we have created for ourselves rather than those that are created by others.
“The title relates to the characters who find themselves drowning in their own tears when consequences of their own actions unfold.”
Everything has its own timing. This may relate to Mathe as it was never easy to get a publisher. He went as far as going to the streets with a placard pleading for his book to be published.
“I was rejected by a lot of publishers. I just kept on having faith. Giving up was not an option and at the end my perseverance finally paid off when my book got published.”
As the saying goes, there is light at the end of a tunnel. Ever since his book was published, it received positive responses from the public. Although this is his first book, Mathe said he does not plan to stop. He is already working on his second book, but does not want to put himself under any pressure.
Mathe said his life had turned for the better and listed one of his highlights since his book was published.
“Going for interviews to almost every radio station, TV channels and newspapers; those are the big highlights I did not anticipate.”
