THE Bluff poet, author and artist Sonia Naidoo, 29, has devoted seven years of her life to working on her debut novel, Traumata: The Seasons of Femininity, a raw and deeply personal work of fiction about trauma, mental illness and the struggle of women to survive.

Also read: Poetic verses for the outcast: Poet to launch new collection on The Bluff

The book was officially launched at the Durban International Book Fair on August 16 and is a culmination of Naidoo’s creative journey as a poet, illustrator and writer.

Naidoo said that Traumata is more than a tale, it’s her soul on paper. “It holds pieces of my own suffering, healing and hope, and is a conversation which I would like more women to feel free enough to have,” she said.

Naidoo took an interest in writing when she was four years old, when she discovered how to read and write from her mom, Yasmeen Naidoo. By the time she was 15, she had transitioned to poetry and fanfiction as coping mechanisms for anxiety and depression. “Writing was my hidden, personal way of surviving that allowed me to discover my voice,” she recalled.

Despite the financial struggles, Naidoo pursued her aspirations. She now has a small photography business and a higher certificate in photography, certificate in business administration and diplomas in biblical studies and English Language and Literature. Along with her business and artistic pursuits, she has continued to make herself known in the literary sphere. In 2023, her short story Nothing but Lights appeared in the anthology 320 Days of Sunshine. In 2024, her poem To All the Vultures appeared in The Paper Trail Literary Journal, and now in 2025 Three in One appeared in South African Verses and Earth, Our Mother, Our Child appeared in Poetry is Not Dead.

Naidoo describes Traumata as something completely different. The novella follows Red, a woman recuperating from a suicide attempt and her connection to psychologist Shekinah. In the gritty, poetic diary of Red, the novella delves into feminine trauma, healing, spiritual awakening and survival. The novel also features original drawings by Naidoo and a special painting by her little brother, Kayce Naidoo.

Traumata: The Seasons of Femininity is available worldwide on Barnes & Noble and Amazon. Special hardcovers and signed paperbacks are available on Naidoo’s Instagram (@red_sonia_96), via her email sonianaidoo66@gmail.com or by contacting her on 081 347 8998.

Naidoo said this Women’s Month she would like Traumata to remind women that they are not alone. “There is strength in leaving, in surviving and in beginning anew. It’s a gesture of respect to those who have held on in silence, and a call for much-overdue conversation on mental health, trauma and gender-based violence,” said Naidoo.

For more Southlands Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.