SURVIVOR AND ZIMBABWE AUTHOR; GRACE MAGURI
By: JJosephaNews
Reading Time: 3:00 mins.
Twitter: @JJosephaNews
THE JOSEPHA-MAGURI INTERVIEW
Josefina JOSEPHA: Hello Grace! Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell us about your journey on becoming an author?
Grace Maguri: “My name is Grace Maguri. I am a forty-six (46) year old teacher from Zimbabwe. I remember growing up in a normal middle class family. I hated sports but loved reading. I got into trouble several times because of my love for reading. When I was ten (10), I wrote a story for a class assignment, and I remembered it vividly. It was titled "The Day I Will Never Forget". How ironic it was; that same day, the teacher called me and asked me where I had copied it from. According to her assessment, I was not clever enough to write such a story, however; I insisted that I had written the story myself; being naively pleased; that she had been impressed by my work. I was sent to the headmaster's office and caned for lying. That was when I learnt that "the truth did not always set you free."”
“I wrote many stories after that incident, many I either; lost or were destroyed, but I never dared to actively pursue a career in writing, so; preferring to play it safe; I entered the teaching profession."
"However; I did not stop writing; short stories. My friends and loved ones had an opportunity to read and share my work. It was just three (3) years ago; during the COVID-19 pandemic; that I decided to defy the negative thoughts and complete my first novel, and I say first; because there are many more bursting to come out!”
MOTIVATION
Josefina JOSEPHA: Grace, what was your motivation to challenge the negative thoughts?
Grace Maguri: “My motivation? I am recently divorced and a survivor of a physically abusive relationship. As I talked about it with different people; I encountered a lot of stereotypes and judgements; Some of which were terrible enough to make me doubt my position.”
“When I chatted with a friend, we both noticed that there were very few stories in our communities that celebrated survivors of physically abusive relationships. Many times women who were brave enough to stand up for themselves, were labeled all sorts of things. Yes! Legislation in these concerns are important and all awareness campaign are important as well, but as long as women have a default button somewhere that makes them ashamed of protecting themselves; then they will never leave abusive situations.
So; we decided to start telling the stories of the survivors of physically abusive relationships and celebrating these survivors of abusive relationships, therefore; teaching the next generation that, it is OK to protect yourself, hence my first novel: Picking Ants”.
THE NOVEL
Josefina JOSEPHA: Tell us a little about your novel.
Grace Maguri: “In the novel; Picking Ants; we follow Portia as she tries to find her mother. She comes face to face with a few uncomfortable truths about herself. The realization that privilege gave her a different perspective on life. That women are treated differently according to their level of vulnerability and that the biggest weapon women have against a slew of injustices is an enlightened mind!
Portia falls in love and brushes against the political and economic issues that affects these relationships.”
Thank you Grace for an introductory lineage to your first of many books; and as one female author to another; let me affirm on behalf of JJosephanews and JNN conglomerate, we wish you all the success that you deserve, and do not be a stranger!
This interview was very inspiring and it is always a blessing; to follow up on unique and sobering experiences, and to venture into the minds of talented authors!
JJosephaNews and JJosephaNews Media Network (JNN), believe in creating opportunities and giving back to communities in our own auspicious ways, and more importantly; to help create and promote positive values for a better world! Contact us and tell us about your experience, your book or your project via Our Twitter or Facebook @JJosephaNews
Fact Check:
We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you should read or see something that doesn't look right, Contact Us!
To read more from JJosephaNews:
Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Stay tuned for more news @JJosephaNews!
©2022 JJosephaNews. All rights reserved.
No comments:
Post a Comment