Worth Noting:
- Ria got her start as a writer and speaker in high school. She used to share the inspiring word of God during school assemblies. The poet contends that reading other people’s work has taught her how to write poetry. This is because she used to read other people’s work in order to enhance or improve her own poetry ability. In 1994, she was selected as a winner and her poetry was published in Tribute Magazine.
- Her mentor, Dr. Joe Mabuela, used to encourage and push her to write her first book for several years. Finally, she completed her first book “Black Barren Yet Blessed-Why am I not pregnant”
Being a woman in this kind of male-dominated society is one thing, to be a black (African) woman is another. Throw barrenness on top ….. aaahhhh, Problems! Ria Thetswe does an amazing job taking the reader through her emotional, painful, yet triumphant journey. Many will relate.
The part that hit me hard is where she relates how during her season of barrenness, she would try to play with little ones in the church, and fellow churchers would snatch their kids away telling her to “go make your own babies…”.
The pastor would not allow her to lay hands on the sick or on those that needed blessings for fear that she’d transfer the spirit of barrenness to people.
You should read this book, which is well edited by Thabile Mange.
Ria Thetswe is walking the greatest path to the future
By Gofamodimo Modukanele
It is rare to find a leader like Ria Thetswe, who is gifted in multiple areas. The combination of her convivial personality and her never-say-die attitude makes her an outstanding writer. This lioness comes from the royal family in Ndzhelele, Limpopo. She grew up in the dusty streets of Dobsonville, Soweto, South Africa. In addition to being a mom and wife, she’s also a preacher, conference speaker, and author. She’s a businesswoman studying to become a marriage officer with the Department of Home Affairs. Her many hats include Master of Ceremony (MC), radio personality, marriage Bootcamp coach, infertility activist, and brand ambassador for Unjani Clinic.
Ria got her start as a writer and speaker in high school. She used to share the inspiring word of God during school assemblies. The poet contends that reading other people’s work has taught her how to write poetry. This is because she used to read other people’s work in order to enhance or improve her own poetry ability. In 1994, she was selected as a winner and her poetry was published in Tribute Magazine.
Her mentor, Dr. Joe Mabuela, used to encourage and push her to write her first book for several years. Finally, she completed her first book “Black Barren Yet Blessed-Why am I not pregnant”
Time management and setting deadlines are her main responsibilities as a writer. Ria says that it helps her focus and finish things without letting them hang around unnecessarily.
Though her work does not limit what she can write about, she gets to express herself and engage with others for the right information.
Her script went through some challenges as it went for proofreading, where she had to research more content information. “I realized it’s a very emotional and psychological exercise, and it took a lot out of me”, she says.
Ria believes that every writer should have the ability to communicate effectively. “You must be adaptable, disciplined, organized, and thorough in your research, as well as follow readability principles” she explains
“When I first started writing my book, I jotted down my thoughts and did not worry myself about the flow of the book,” she says. Many people told her she wasn’t cut out to be a writer. As a result, her abilities today have been enhanced. Her book is published and sold out and still selling across the country.
BLACK BARREN YET BLESSED
What is the purpose of this book? It is to:
Instil hope to the infertile men and barren women.
Remind the victims that God’s purpose supersedes their challenge of not bearing children. Therefore, they are not defined by their challenge but by God’s purpose.
Remind them again that their blessing is not conditional. Whether God blesses them with a child/children or not, they are BLESSED. PERIOD!
It took a lot of courage for me to write this book. The thing is: it is not my style to lay my life, including that of my family, bare to the public. But I strongly felt that the book needed to be written. Somebody out there may be saved by the book’s message.
This book is not an autobiography. It is a tell-tale of my experience during the years I struggled to conceive. I was persecuted for being “barren”. Many women face a similar challenge but have no courage to talk about it.
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