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We did a brief Q&A with Love Interrupted author Renielwe Malatji back in May that we’d like to share with you. Love Interrupted has already been getting some high praise. Foreword Reviews writes that the stories these stories “pack an emotional punch as they examine post-apartheid patriarchy through the eyes of various observant black women characters,” and Kirkus notes that “Many readers will see themselves in—and find themselves rooting for—the women in Malatji’s solid debut.”
Love Interrupted releases on on August 7. (And for a in-depth look at the design process for the collection’s cover, make sure to check out this Q&A with cover designer Karen Vermeulen)
Reneilwe Malatji wants to tell women’s stories. In a world where those stories can often be pushed to the background, her work not only foregrounds them, but amplifies them. Those are the voices you’ll hear in her debut collection of short stories, Love Interrupted.
In this collection, Reneilwe lets readers take a peek into the intimate lives of South African women. Their voices, their lives, their feelings, their heartbreaks, and their triumphs are all on display.
Renielwe is a writer and educator from South Africa and is currently a lecturer for Contemporary and Multilingual Studies at the University of Limpopo. We chatted about her writing process, what’s currently on her reading list, and her upcoming release Love Interrupted. The collection releases on August 7, and you can pre-order your copy through Indiebound or Amazon.
What brought you to writing?
It’s something that has always been in me since I was in primary school. I have always loved reading books and wished that I could become an author one day. I have always been able to express myself better in writing than speaking.
What’s your writing process?
I just free write from my mind and it’s only in the rewriting that my work takes a definite shape. The stories just shape themselves as I am writing without a definite plan.
Do you have a writing routine?
I prefer writing in the early hours of the morning. I wake up at 4am, sometimes earlier. It is at that time that my mind seems to be at its most creative.
What was your inspiration for Love Interrupted?
The world around me and experiences of people I come across in South Africa.
Who are some writers that inspire you?
Bessie Head, Tsisi Dangaremba, Chimamande Ngozi Adichie, Maya Angelou, and many others.
What are you reading now?
We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
What’s your next project?
More authentic African Stories especially those that speak to gender struggle and identity as well as racial scuffles.
