- Briefly who are you?
My name is One Pearl Matlapeng,a 35 year old. I am an author of three novels so far. The Ghosts of Life, Bogwera Bo Senang Kgajane and Phuduhudu ga e tlhatlhelwe which is a set book in Senior schools. I started writing my first novel Phuduhudu ga e tlhatlhelwe when I was doing form 2. I was nominated by International Internship University of India this Year because of my craft. I then filled the IIU form and submitted my research on Business Administration in Financial Literacy in Botswana Authors.
- What inspired you to write?
At first I thought I was only passing time with writing stories in class. I would keep a spare notebook which I used to write stories about my classmates; little did I know I had embarked on writing a novel which would, one day, be read in senior schools country wide.
- Do books yield income?
Yes they do especially when they are read in schools. The government buys more books for pupils annually.
- Literacy in Africa, do people read in general?
People do not read. They hardly buy books. Only in schools do books sells, because the government buy for pupils.
- What can one do to increase sales in Africa?
Selling your books door to door and using the right techniques to advertise your books could increase sales.
- Do you feel fulfilled when people buy your books?
Absolutely yes
- Can you encourage upcoming authors to write? Do you see a future for authors?
Anyone dreaming to becoming a Writer,the biggest challenge will always be yourself.So I encourage youth to write,sky is the limit
8.Any movement and toast matters or local government, how did they help in promoting your work?
The government has ensured that it buys a copy of my Setswana novel for every senior school student.
- Ebooks vs hard copies do you think technology has come to kill the traditional hard copy?
I personally think ebooks are simply continuation of the reading culture.
- Your parting short
Be honest with yourself,sit down and write…write write till you are tired of writing ✍️
Mt Kenya Times