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First novel healed her

She came up with the title Crooked Halo after having encountered boys who pretended to be angels, but were not

WANTING to tell a truly South African teenage love story Sinovuyo Nkonki wrote her first romance novel, Crooked Halo, when she was 19 years old.

"I used to read American romance and I wanted to tell an authentic South African story centred on a matric dance rather than a prom," Nkonki, 24, says.

The main character, Petra, based on herself , is a confident, untouched diva from a privileged background, but is reluctant to date the school and neighbourhood heart-throb, Kevin, who is attracted to her.

He charms her and she falls for him. She thinks he is an angel, but Petra is just another victim of a R5,000 bet among friends.

She came up with the title Crooked Halo after having encountered boys who pretended to be angels, but were not.

Compared with her character in the book, Nkonki says, she is still freaked out when she thinks about how gullible she was.

"I am a lot less daring than Petra," she says.

Nkonki adds that the book was in response to a gap she saw in the black African romance market.

"I have never read a book of this kind about a young person and felt there was a need for such a story," Nkonki says.

Based on actual events around her first love at high school, Nkonki's story was painful to tell but the writing process was healing.

"The process was therapeutic. The bad parts were not so painful anymore. The more I wrote the more I let go of all the negativity," Nkonki says.

She says the details were exaggerated to make the book more interesting, but she wrote her story for the benefit of others.

"I had just got over my experience, but I had to do this for other young girls going through the same thing. Young people should know that they're not alone."

Nkonki says it is sad that some young people commit suicide when a relationship ends.

"Life isn't all about having a date. Take love seriously, but if things don't work out, move on," she says.

She says the main message of the book is not to abuse the words, "I love you".

She insists writing the novel was not an act of revenge and she protected the boy by not personalising his character.

Originally from Eastern Cape, Nkonki moved to Johannesburg in 2005. She says she experienced a culture shock on her arrival.

"Things go faster in Johannesburg. Though the people are very friendly and more open, it took me a while to feel at home. Writing was a comfort," she says.

She has a B A with majors in English and Communications. She wrote her first unpublished manuscript at 14 and has two unfinished novels on love and romance in progress. She started writing poetry in high school.

Nkonki is currently focused on her book and writing, but earns a living editing on a freelance basis.

She says it is wonderful that so many South Africans are writing.

"There is a lot interesting work from young writers. Much has been written about our history, but now we need to write our own stories, the life of South Africans as we know it, she says.

- monnakgotlam@sowetan.co.za

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