Young author releases new poetry collection
The launch will be held at Noah's in Ansteys Square, Bluff on May 31 from 14:00 to 16:00.
Ekta Somera (25) is a young author from Umkomaas who will be releasing her latest poetry collection Social Misfit this month.
“In a world that often places status above sincerity and wealth above wisdom, it is easy to overlook those who live with intention, compassion, and humility,” explained Somera.
“Social Misfit invites readers to reflect on how we treat each other and to remember that sensitivity is not weakness, and simplicity is not lack.”
Divided into two parts, The Rejection and The Acceptance, the collection uncovers the resilience that comes from choosing softness in a world that often expects people to grow a thick skin.
The author goes on to say that these poems are for anyone who has ever been judged for having less, mocked for being different, or made to feel small for dreaming big.
“This is not a book of bitterness. It is a book of becoming – a soft rebellion in verse,” she added.
Social Misfit reclaims what it means to live authentically, to value kindness over status and self-worth over external approval.
In this collection, the word ‘misfit’ is not a label of shame, but a badge of honour, a celebration of the beauty in not fitting into every space, and the power in forging your own path.
The cover is illustrated by a fellow author and artist, Sonia Naidoo, and features a tiger. The tiger’s heart does not make it any less fierce, a reminder that sensitivity and strength can exist together.
This new release continues the socially conscious and deeply personal work Somera is passionate about. She is the founder of Paper Trail Literary Journal, an editor at Sakura Book Publishing, and a community facilitator at Youth Capital which advocates for policy change around youth unemployment in South Africa.
Her previous collections Made in Poetry and Twenty-Two explored themes of identity, growth and finding one’s voice in a world that often demands silence.
Somera has already received early praise for Social Misfit.
Well-known radio presenter Krsna Priya Dasa said that her writing was incredibly powerful and evocative, filled with raw emotion and a deep sense of introspection.
“The way she weaves together personal pain, societal judgment, and self-discovery is both moving and profound,” said Dasa.
The launch will be held at Noah’s in Ansteys Square, Bluff on May 31 from 14:00 to 16:00.
To find out more, email ekta@sakurabookpublishing.com
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