Staging Post extends its warmest congratulations to Nthabiseng Ogude, who recently self-published her memoir, The Making of a Shareville Girl. A memoir offers readers an intimate glimpse into the life of the author, and their personal challenges, growths, and triumphs. We asked Nthabiseng to share with us how she experienced the self-publishing process in the interview below. We hope that her words inspire you and that you learn from her success.
The interview
What inspired you to write your book?
The SA story of loss, dislocation, and relocation has not received adequate attention in South Africa. Various massacres have affected families in unique ways and at a personal level. Reflecting on these personal journeys can bring about healing. How did the various SA massacres affect ordinary families and the life trajectories of South Africans? Was it a defining moment that re-wrote your life trajectory in one form or another? In my case the Sharpeville massacre changed my life and that of my family irreversibly.
This story narrates how that happened and how I used the adverse events and my relative advantage to contribute to what many lost due to apartheid education and I, through the sheer chance of history, gained through my family opting for self-imposed exile. My contribution to STEM education and in developing a model for addressing poor graduate outcomes in undergraduate education are the contributions I am most proud of.
“In my quiet moments, I sometimes wonder about the identity of the Sharpeville massacre shooters, whose sons were they, what were the names of their parents? Where are their kith and kin now? Did they know or care that the family we were and wanted to be died in that gunfire?”
What Was Your Favourite Part of Publishing Your Book?
I enjoyed the fact that I was telling the story for many reasons and to many people. At one level it is a conversation with myself as I take stock and confront who I really am, what my experiences in higher education on my return meant, and how they changed my life. It is therapeutic to live that life, some kind of sentimental journey, especially meeting the little girl in me once more.
In a sense, it is a story of self-validation and a delicate search for what was taken from us – looking to restore our fragmented history. It is a strand in the history of South Africa that must be told. More importantly, it is a story for the generations to come.
What Advice Would You Give an Author Planning To Publish Their First Book?
Never have doubts about whether your story is compelling or not. It is your story. You cannot control how others receive it. Once you are convinced that your story is compelling, more than 50% of your work is done. Discipline yourself to write a small portion a day.
Write as much as you like and for as long as you like and for as long as you are motivated. Do not put pressure on yourself about deadlines. Your story is not a set of transient events but permanent. It is the essence of who you are and how the time and place you were born shaped you into the person you are today.
Are You Interested In Self-Publishing?
Do you have a memoir or other books you want to self-publish? Not sure how to start? Check out our ‘How-to-Self-Publish Mastercalss’ for more information: https://makeabook.co.za/the-how-to-self-publish-guide/.