‘Seasons’: Women writers in short story anthology

THEMES of marital rape, violence, love, healing, success, sisterhood and personal development find place in a new anthology of short stories titled Seasons which brings together representative work of 15 local female authors who are part of the Women Writers Support Network, headed by entrepreneur and author Sympathy MaNgwenya Sibanda.

As a way of promoting a culture of writing, the group made a call for submissions earlier this year for its inaugural anthology of short stories which saw 13 new voices ranging between the ages of 20 and 50 years finally becoming published authors. Of the 15, only Tammy Muchenu, who published a book in the UK under the name Rose Mayer, and Nama nominee Pretty Ndlovu from Bulawayo, have previously published books.

Released last month, the book features 18 stories written by women in the corporate and education sectors, namely Tsungie

Manyeza, Rachel Mazvita, Pretty Ndlovu, Kumbi Murisa-Kundiona, Jeahan Zvavanjanja, Noreen Munengoni, Shamie Fox, Placidia Chiwita, Gillian Makuza, Evelyn Mutsamwira, Mejorie Nhamoinesu, Memory Macheza, Audrey Gonyora, Sunshine Zhou and Tammy Muchenu.

e Harare-based writers support group brings together women from all walks of life and has programmes aimed at using journaling and talking as a way of creating waves of impact.

“e Women Writers Support Network uses writing as a form of therapy. It is a group for women who are keen on networking and sisterhood. We have been operating for close to a year and have previously invited tutors from different genres and specialties to come in and train our members about matters to do with the art of writing. We believe in telling our authentic stories,” project coordinator Sympathy Sibanda said.

Rachel Mazvita Sabondo, a certified life coach whose story is about her personal development journey where she encourages women to yearn for the next level and acquire skills despite their roles in the family, said: “Being part of this collection has made me feel that I can write my own book which has been stalled for the past three years. I can safely say I am an author, thanks to the anthology.

“As women, we do not have to wait for the stars to align, just start doing something to improve yourself and your mind.”

e book is mainly written in English with a few words and phrases in Shona, Ndebele and Tonga.

Sibanda, however, who is also a communications strategist, believes writing is more of a therapeutic form of escape from the doldrums of despair and that writing helps society to heal.

“I found healing through writing; so I thought why not share it with other sisters,” she added.

Each author got a copy of the book as well as a certificate, medal, gift bag and handcrafted jewellery.