*What inspired you to write “Her Thirst, The Silent Struggle”?*
HER THIRST, The Silent Struggle, was inspired firstly by real-life events and then by the need to draw the attention of all parents and guardians of young girls in particular and children as a whole to issues concerning their upbringing and growth. The idea of writing this book dates back 13 years. It is a book inspired by the consequences of Annie’s upbringing, which on one hand shaped her positively and on the other left scars that Annie grew up wishing the narrative had been different. It is a book inspired by the need to get the word out. There are several Annies out there in our communities, and they need to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel, and to reach that light, they must find alternative positive ways of overcoming their obstacles. They must know that at the end of the day, they have a greater role to play in their life’s drama.
*How do you hope readers will be impacted by Annie’s story?*
Although the culture of reading is on the decline, HER THIRST, The Silent Struggle, is a household book authentic for readers aged 18 and above. It belongs to that category of books that make readers glued to the story as if they were watching a blockbuster movie. “…I couldn’t stop reading…”, “…what happened to…”, “I can identify…” are some of the comments I get from people reading. That said:
i) My book will help keep parents/guardians on their toes when it comes to raising a girl child in particular and be aware of the role they play in building or destroying the manner in which their children relate to each other.
ii) More and more girls will learn to speak out and find someone to confide in on their journey towards puberty. This can widely be achieved if this book can be introduced to schools.
iii) Many young people will come to realize that they don’t have to let the past influence their present and future negatively. They have to ask themselves these questions: “What do I want for myself?” and “What do I want to become?”
iv) We don’t give up on the people we genuinely love. Their positive influence on our lives should give us reasons to fight for their love and understanding. At the end of the day, the blessings will be ours.
*Why did you choose the epistolary technique for “Letter to Father”?*
The epistolary technique, not just being an aspect of style, is a technique in my book that plays the greatest role in the success story of HER THIRST. It shows a young and fierce Annie who makes up her mind to grab the bull by its horns. It shows a girl who feels that she is destined to find a solution to a problem that to her should be nonexistent, a girl who doesn’t give up on a father she has lived all her life yearning to share a daughter/father love with. A child who seems unable or not courageous enough to have verbal communication with her father is inspired to use the epistolary technique, the eventual game-changer in a family story that was once a nightmare. Yes, she found another way of getting it right through letter writing.
*What’s the most important message you want readers to take away from your book?*
No matter how or who raised you, if you succeed in coming out of it, you are responsible for who you become. At the end of the day, you have a mind of your own and you face reality. It’s your choice to let the negative experiences of early childhood affect your present/future negatively or strive to roll up your sleeves and conquer.
*How does your own experience influence your writing on family dynamics?*
Growing up for me was quite complex. I spoke less and tried to reason more. I was quite secretive and managed most of my struggles myself. I had a lot I yearned for, one being the desire to relate more intimately with my guardians. It was a struggle marred by a serious lack of communication because of strict barriers and the absence of people who specifically cared about changes in my life and the needs that came with such changes. Although I made it out of such struggles, the story would have been told differently or there would have been no story.
