Former teacher and mechanic launches novel in Labasa
If you want to read a novel during the remainder of the school holidays, grab Chronicles of Blahz, Spells of Witches, which is the first edition.
The 801-page novel is about how the main character, Blahz, faces the two worlds of witches and hunters to save those who once saved his own life.
The author is Dill Shard Hussain Ibrahim, 46, originally from Labasa Town.
Mr Ibrahim is from a family of black-smiths and he proudly carries the legacy of his ancestors. After completing his Bachelor’s Degree majoring in Physics and Biology from the University of the South Pacific, and having acquired higher trade merits from Fiji National University, he manages his family business, Ibrahim and Sons Pte Limited that has been around for more than a Century (100 years).
The idea to write a novel was generated when his two children, Arshad and Rabia, on a daily basis asked him to tell them a story.
“It took more than one year and
three months to write this book and get it published with the help of Amazon,” Mr Ibrahim said. “Everyone and every house has a story of its own.”
The only son and third youngest of four siblings said he had a story of his own also who roped his experience in this novel.
“After completing Year 13 I went to Saudi Arabia to study language on a scholarship,” he said. “’Upon return I worked for 10 years in my father’s engineering workshop which was established in 1918.”
When his father realised he was capable to manage his business, he allowed him to pursue his teaching career.
He taught for five years and his last school was Labasa College in 2014.
Then his father called him back to manage the business because of his deteriorating health condition. “Since then, with the support of my wife and two children, I have been managing this family business and able to write this novel,” he said.
“Now I am working on the second edition of Chronicles of Blahz Wanders and the Barren Bloods.”
He advises people to face each day with a positive mind and use the opportunities given.
“My life wasn’t like an ordinary straight path. I had to leave aside my desire to fulfil family responsibility as a son,” he said.
“However, whatever dream and wishes I had in life I worked towards it.”