Working for a foremost publishing company has its perks! I am lucky enough to have the inside scoop to what is hot in the publishing industry. This winter is predicted to be bitterly cold and seeing as I provided you with a recipe for hot chocolate… I thought it would be fitting to kick off my first guest post with reads for the winter. Sapphire Press is an imprint of NB Publishers, dedicated to real Mzanzi romance. These novels are guaranteed to thaw a cold lonely heart or heat up an existing romance!
Sapphire Press
Discover where true love reigns
Winter is in the air, bringing the first chilly weather and painting nature’s greenery in shades of yellow, orange and red. Seasons come and go, but love remains unchanged and evergreen. This month our two must-reads are both debut novels: From the First Kiss by Zanele Nondzimba and In Love with the Enemy by Kholo Matsha. Treat yourself – and your loved ones – to both!
From the First Kiss
Zanele Nondzimba
Thando swore off men after her last boyfriend cleaned out her bank account. When a business mogul tries to chat her up at the gym, she’s determined to give him the cold shoulder. But his slight stutter softens her to him . . .
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About Zanele
This author has a master’s degree in media studies and is currently a communication specialist and editor at Metropolitan Retirement Administrators. She has written for various South African publications and loves jazz and going to the theatre.
Zanele literally dream up her first book! “A friend and I had been discussing the meaning of love, and I remember thinking that our conversation could be one that a man and a woman would have over a dinner date in a romance novel. I couldn’t get the idea out of my head, so it came as no surprise when I dreamt up the story that very night. Eureka!”
She holds the characters in From the First Kiss close to her heart because they are based on people she knows and loves. A couple of years ago, Zanele was part of a cultural exchange programme that took her to the United States, where she came up with the Thando character. “She was floating in my thoughts but I wasn’t sure what her story would be. So when Sapphire came along, I was excited to cook up a story about this feisty woman.”
Asked what advice she would give aspiring writers, Zanele replied, “Don’t fear rejection when you write your first book. Look at it as an opportunity for growth. Love what you do and keep writing!”
Zanele loves the drama series The Jeffersons. It’s no longer on TV but she owns every season on DVD. “The colourful characters overcome obstacles with love, dignity and humour. And the chemistry between all of them is amazing.” Her favourite soapie is Isidingo. She finds the story lines so riveting that her eyes are glued to the screen every evening.
Autumn is a special time for Zanele. “I’ve always enjoyed watching the leaves fall from the trees. It’s like the branches are shaking off old, nasty habits and saying, ‘We’re ready for change, for something new!’ I hope this autumn will bring everyone wonderful new opportunities. Try to keep warm with love and laughter, and dare to wear bright autumn colours that will make you smile.” We concur with that!
In Love with the Enemy
Kholo Matsha
Basetsana’s life revolves around raising her late sister’s twins and becoming a partner in the law firm where she works. She has no room for romance in her life – until she meets the opposing counsel in her current case.
About Kholo
This twenty-five-year-old graduate has been writing since the age of sixteen and fell in love with acting because it turns the drama she has in her head into real life. After completing a degree in Drama, she studied Environmental Sciences.
Kholo found writing this novel quite difficult. She knew what kind of story she wanted to tell, though initially she didn’t know how to put it on paper. The legal side of the plot was a challenge but she asked her sister who was studying law for help. After adding some imagination and research, her novel came together perfectly.
Seeing her first book in print is still a great thrill. “I love seeing my characters come alive, the story I’ve created, my name in print, and knowing many people (not my family!) are reading it at any given moment, discovering Basetsana and Nare…”
Basetsana is a special character to Kholo. “I set out to create a strong, intelligent, beautiful and very independent woman – and she lives up to that. Nare is also dear to me because (I’m sharing a deep secret here!) he’s partly based on a guy I had a crush on years ago at varsity, a man I still cannot forget.”
This author has good advice for aspiring writers. “Reading someone else’s work helps you find your own voice. Also, don’t read for fun only; pay attention to small details and ask yourself questions about the plot.” A simple trick she recommends is using the five W’s: Who, Where, When, What and Why? You have to know who the story is about, where he/she is and when, what he/she is doing, and why.
Kholo regards autumn as a symbol of truthfulness and resilience. “In life, you have to bare yourself and go through winter without any protective covering (leaves), even though it may be harsh and bleak – then you can emerge with a new sense of being when spring comes. The same goes for love, so never mind the pain of shedding leaves – if the love is real and true, it will see you through.” How’s that for an autumn resolution?
We hope you’ll enjoy our latest two books even more now that you’ve met their authors. Happy reading!
