How did your passion for the art of writing come about?
Writing has always been an integral part of my existence, from an early age. I grew up in an environment where reading was highly valued, which naturally awakened in me a love of writing. I have always been introverted, finding in writing the most effective way to express myself. At school, I stood out in composing essays and literary texts, which allowed me to develop a deep passion for writing. Gradually, I evolved into a voracious reader and a curious, creative writer.
Could you describe the creative process behind your literary work? How did the idea come about, and what challenges did you face along the way?
The creation of Elementos was an intense journey, but at the same time a fluid one. It was a period of voluntary seclusion, in which I disconnected from social media and reduced social contact to a minimum, immersing myself in a state of deep introspection. In this way, I allowed myself to explore, to create authentically and to express feelings, emotions, aspirations, lessons learnt, as well as life experiences that I had the opportunity to live through. With a wellspring of ideas in mind, the challenge was to address multiple themes without the book becoming scattered. I organised the themes of interest into categories and began writing without following any specific order. On days when inspiration was scarce, discipline was my ally. There were unproductive moments, when only a single sentence was written, because of creative blocks or lack of motivation, but I held firm to my commitment to be consistent in the writing process. My creative process is quite liberal, allowing ideas from the most absurd to the most fascinating to coexist, and then putting them through a meticulous review and critique, as I have a strong perfectionist streak, which also proved a challenge in conceiving the book. The theme of “elements” arose from an analogy with the four elements of nature: earth, fire, water and air, organising the chapters according to the concepts each element represents. The greatest challenge of this journey was the independent publication of the work, which meant understanding how a publishing house works and hiring qualified professionals for the production of the book and the launch event. I could not be more grateful to have a team made up mostly of incredible women, which has turned me into a flexible leader.
What are your main literary references?
My literary influences are many and varied, but there are some that I consider fundamental, in no particular order of preference: Paulina Chiziane, Lília Momplé, Mia Couto, José Craveirinha, Fernando Pessoa, Luis Bernardo Honwana, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Jodi Picoult, Maya Angelou and Toni Morrison.
Would you like to share with us the central theme of your new book?
Elementos presents itself as a literary tapestry in which authenticity and creativity coexist. It is a self-expression in the form of prose that addresses varied spheres of life from a poetic perspective, highlighting their plurality and singularity. The work is divided into four chapters: Earth, Fire, Sea and Air, which are metaphors for different concepts. These range from recollections of childhood memories, political and social issues, freedom, love, friendship, heartbreak, harmony, social commitment, to individual and collective emancipation, and self-love, among others. The preface was kindly written by Professor Ana Rita Santiago, of the Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, whom I thank for her availability, as I do Professor Sara Laísse for the recommendation.
Your work is available on Amazon. How did that relationship develop?
Amazon is the largest online book-selling platform in the world. As my work was produced independently and without the support of a publishing house, I turned to Entrecho de Arte to help with submitting the work. Making my book available on the platform was a more dynamic process than I expected, with a great deal of support from Amazon. I found out that I am one of the few Mozambican women with a work available on this platform and, although the work is only in Portuguese, the promotional tools provided by Amazon have been a precious help in the sales process.
What advice would you give to young writers who are taking their first steps in the literary world and aspire to succeed in this field?
To young writers, especially women, my advice is to believe in yourselves. Be authentic, invest in your potential and create incessantly. Seek guidance from more experienced artists and share your art. Make mistakes, as you do not need to be perfect to begin. Start your journey and, in time, you will refine yourselves. You will face internal and external challenges, but stay true to your purpose and take advantage of every experience along the way. Remember that everything will eventually fall into place. Above all, use writing as a tool for change, freedom, emancipation and positive impact.
Can you tell us about some of your future plans? Are there projects under development or ideas you intend to bring to life?
Although I have several plans for the future, I would like to highlight two projects already under way: the translation of Elementos into English and performances of recitations of the texts from the work, both due to be implemented later this year. I intend to keep contributing to the development of young people's literature and to take my writing beyond borders.
