DURBAN - Inspiring people from all walks of life is the idea behind Grashyo Publishers’ Book Inspired Dialogue (BID), to be held this coming weekend in Morningside.
Established in 2013, BID has been at the forefront focusing on helping authors build their platforms independently, and starting dialogues around the continually changing marketplace.
Authors with different backgrounds, experiences, and writing styles come together to explore the pros and cons of the writing experience.
Prominent author and disability activist Musa Zulu, SANDF veteran Nelisile Shozana, comedian Simphiwe Shembe, and YouTube vlogger Nomonde Mhlongo will lead the dialogue.
Mdu Mathenjwa, the host, said the group of authors they selected this year will explore relationships and love – key issues in Thursday’s society. The conversation will move beyond just the experiences of the authors, to a person at home, who is not in that particular professional space.
“We are making space for these groups of authors to have a networking and support structure-based conversation about their writing experiences. The conversations will centre on relationships and love, and all its types. Family love, love of oneself, and all its facets.
“Attendees will get the other side of the author, so to speak. For instance, Simphiwe Shembe, a known comedian, will broaden his horizons and engage in knowing and feeling a sense of being loved and what that means,” Mathenjwa said.
Grashyo Publishers works with authors to help turn concepts into written books.
Mathenjwa said the diverse speaker list will remove boundaries.
Author Musa Zulu, a veteran writer, said he appreciated Mathenjwa’s thinking in finding diversity of voice. Having conversations about real-life experiences between authors was important as they did not exist in a vacuum.
“I was impressed with our host, arranging for the dialogue to have diverse voices. It shows people who live with a disability are not an afterthought but a crucial component of driving the conversation about writing, relationships, and love,” Zulu said.
He has been writing since 2004 and as a motivational speaker, he hopes to inspire others to adopt self-reliance and growth through his books.
Daily News