In my first of back-to-back interviews, EA: Creatively Creative sits down with a writer who released her debut novel, Tough Girl last week, which was ranked as an Amazon best-seller, and is currently in the top 10 for Urban Life genres, 11th for Romance. Introducing from Johannesburg, Gauteng, author Bonita Van Gerve.
EA: Tell us about your journey to becoming a writer.
BVG: Honestly, I used to hate reading and writing. We always had essays in school and my marks used to be always low and a lot of fault finding. Tough Girl is one of my oldest creations, I always had it in my mind but never took the opportunity to put it on paper. And just one day I started writing down all my ideas (stories) and found a free website (Wattpad) to post my stories. I did struggle at first to get fans and readers but I continued to write and invent stories. And before I knew it, I actually started falling in love with writing and my characters. Inkitt advertised a writing contest and I thought that I would take a risk and entered Tough Girl. And 3 months later, I got an email telling me that they want to publish my book.
EA: What is it about writing that you enjoy it more than a movie or a TV series?
BVG: The fact of creating a character, you share the emotions and you pretend to be the character. Movies and TV series doesn't make you connect with the characters; books have their way where the reader connects emotionally with the character.
BVG: Cleo Peitshe. I got a free copy from her Dangerous Man series. It was an adult book, but the way she created her characters and how you feel herself living into her books made me want to write like her. Have some romance, humor, and small cliffhangers.
EA: What is the concept of Tough Girl?
BVG: Tough Girl is based on me. The reason why I connected so easily with her character is that I share the same pain. Low self-esteem.
Alex Anderson is described as a Tough Girl who used to be a professional cage fighter but retired at the age of 18. The 23-year-old Alex runs her own bakery still with the old her stuck somewhere deep within her. She is a girl with a low self-esteem because of one man who hurt her emotionally and now she believes that she is not worthy or even beautiful to find love again But then fate turns the tables and she meets the one guy that had a big influence on her life. The famous Ryder Cane, who carries the title of being the heavyweight champ in MMA. He makes her see what she can be capable off, he brings out the girl that has been dying on the inside and turns her into a confident woman. Alex is not just a tough girl because of her history of being a fighter, but it is her everyday battle with herself that makes her the tough girl.
EA: Tough Girl has recently become a best-seller on Amazon. Describe the feeling of your first published book becoming a best-seller.
BVG: I am ecstatic. Shocked and scared at the same time. I have never thought I would ever get to this point of publishing a book. My friends always encouraged me and told me that I should go for it because of all my followers on Wattpad.
BVG: Definitely not. Writer's block does really exist and it is terrible and pushing yourself can lead to an unsuccessful book. You have to connect with your characters, you have to be them. And sometimes what you write, not everyone understands what you are trying to say. And well, I am from South Africa. I was born and raised in Afrikaans. My English classes consisted of reading and writing essays and of course, spelling. It never helped me to develop my English. I used to be terrible at speaking English. I made some progress along the line purchasing books and reading them. Listening to readers as they point out my grammar mistakes.
BVG: Never stop believing. Miracles do happen and if you keep on pushing and continue writing you will also get a day where you will get your book published. Never doubt yourself. You do get critics, but they just help you along the way to write a better book next time. They are the honest ones that help you see your mistakes, and help you fix them.
EA: Finally, tell the readers why Tough Girl is a must read.
BVG: I know there are a lot of boys and girls out there that has the same dream as me, like meeting your idol. This book gives you the chance to believe in miracles that everything is possible if you keep on believing in yourself. I write from experience and I know Alex will help all of those girls who share the same emotion as she can make them believe they are beautiful and capable of anything.
Epilogue
Going back to the concept of Bonita's story, I, too, struggled with low self-esteem for many years, particularly as a teenager. It's an internal fight to overcome, but what helps me get beyond it is the importance of encouraging myself, believing in myself whether others believe in me or not, and a profound statement I heard a few months ago: "Don't put your self-esteem in the hands of people. Don't give people that kind of power over you."
It's funny how I find myself starting to talk to more authors who actually hated reading/writing growing up. For me, it's about how compelling, well-developed, and believable the character is. If he or she meets or exceeds those expectations, I can connect with them whether it's a movie, TV, or a book. Finally, they are two types of critics: the ones who will offer constructive criticism to help you become a better author, as Bonita alluded to, then there's the ones who are spiteful and want to undermine your work, just because they can. Both can used as a source of inspiration, it depends on how you respond to them.
I would like to thank Bonita for speaking with me. To check out Bonita's Tough Girl, visit the hyper link below.
Amazon: Tough Girl
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