WeRead: Nenekazi is a published author

Puleng Sekabate

A Nenekazi Ngcongolo (19) didn’t know that her diary entries would one day turn her into an author.
Nenekazi is the published author of the four-book series, Nenekazi Series.
“As a child who failed to articulate her emotions and thoughts verbally, I would write down all my childhood traumas on everything and anything. School desks, walls and even tissue paper at times,” said Nenekazi.
“I really just wanted to vent. I realised that we were all experiencing and facing so many things but not ready to have the conversation so I had the conversation with myself through my book series.
“In the series, I reflect on my 12 years of academic experience, the racism I faced, bullying, harassment, soul ties, peer pressure, child-led families and poverty. I also reflected on being the token black child where black children wouldn’t accept me because of my twang and white children only accepted me because, yes I am black but, I am much lighter than other black children; I was tossed around between the two races.”
The four-book series consists of 12 Years of Trial, Life After The Trial, Black Sheep White Horse and Life Depends On The Liver.
The Birch Acres Extension 25 resident explained how parts of the book series intend to inspire her peers to unmask while other parts are to her mother to explain why she behaves the way she does as a teenager and to close the generational gap that exists.
She first released the book as a manuscript.
“Having the book published or even turning it into a series was never planned. I remember releasing the manuscript as a PDF on social media on November 23, 2020, and by November 26 I was sitting with over 500 views, comments and shares,” explained Nenekazi.
“It took me three weeks to finish 12 Years of Trial. It was lockdown and time was one thing I had, I worked on the book like I was a patient on pills; every morning, midday and evening.
“The feedback motivated me to turn it into an actual novel, which saw me publish the first hardcopy in April last year. Weeks later, after an official statement of release was made, I got nominated for Youngest/Best Storyteller.”
The young author is a former director of culture at Norkem Park High School, former president of Eisteddfod and chairperson of the debate team.
Anxiety, self-doubt and fear were among the challenges she encountered while writing the book series.
“I was anxious about the response, wondering if society would still see me the same after I let them into my world. I doubted my ability to pull a crowd and build my own audience. I had fear of what my mom would say, I have reflected on some real family matters, put dirt out there and exposed my perpetrators.
“Getting an International Standard Book Number digit, printers and affordable marketing, were also some of the challenges.
“Simphiwe Molaba, author of When Life Gives You Lemons, referred me to printers and ensured that I was getting all the help and best service. Melissa Goliath helped digitise and layout my book. I am grateful to these women, we have never met before but time and again they made sure I was on the right path.
“Lizole Rhodes Alumni kick-started my writing career with a review that went viral and attracted more readers, authors and opportunities for me, it also led to me creating content for YouTubers, podcasts and radio stations. I’m still struggling with proper marketing and getting my work onto shelves.”
Through it all, Nenekazi has great plans and goals for her book series.
“I want my books to be an inspiration for a relatable soapie, as it portrays the reality of what we, as teenagers, go through. The streets are cold,” expressed Nenekazi.
“The follow-up series is diary entries of a horrible high school experience. Each book from a different economic socio status, government or private schools and the homes we go back to that still haunt us; all of which reflects on the daily behaviours on corridors.”
“Every author’s biggest fear when writing is ‘someone has said it before but that someone isn’t you, just write it and worry about the sales later. Own your craft and create a new lifestyle in someone’s head from your pen and paper.”
Where can people find your book series?
“Currently, I’m doing hand-to-hand sales, contact me on my social media to place an order. Email: fmanyosha@yahoo.com with the subject ‘NenekaziSeriesPurchase’; Instagram @a.nenekazi; Facebook A Nenekazi Ngcongolo. I will be doing book pop-up stores very soon.”