Asking women to stand up for themselves

Through her first book, Trials by Fire, KwaDukuza-born author Anira Pather hopes to encourage women to keep on working hard towards their dreams.

The Durban resident grew up immersed in reading and writing and believes that everyone is the architect of his or her destiny.

“My dream was always to write a book. For me, reading and ‘seeing’ characters come to life in my head was a joy unto itself. But a person can have more than one passion.”

“I studied a bachelor’s degree in accounting and I love my day job as a finance professional at LexisNexis South Africa, as well as my writing.”

“Whether it is spreadsheets and powerpoint presentations, or blog posts and novel extracts, it’s like a new world opens up inside of me as I work with them,” said Pather.

Trials by Fire is a work of fiction that explores the journey of three women, how their lives intertwine and the challenges they face.

Pather said while none of the characters were based on anyone in real life, there are elements within the plotline that struck a chord with her, such as female empowerment, gender-based violence and survival.

“LexisNexis is known for its commitment to advancing social issues and the rule of law and justice for all. Working there has reinforced my belief in being able to make a difference in the world,” she said. 

She feels that women should support one another, especially survivors of gender-based violence. 

“Never turn a blind eye to gender-based violence. You could possibly be instrumental in saving someone’s life. Also, never judge someone who is going through it. Very often, people find it easier to judge than to help. Don’t! You can make a difference, even if it’s just a shoulder to cry on or lending a sympathetic ear.”

The print version of Trials by Fire is available through Micromega Publications via their official website madeinchatsworth.co.za and the ebook is available on Amazon.