Malawian woman authors novel

She might be new in the world of publishing. Actually, she is not known at least to her native country. But in her recently released debut novel, Bertha Lillian Munthali will not only fascinate readers with her fiction, she will actually taint the imagination of her critics.

The book is Tainted Dreams, based on a story of Promise, a young ambitious beautiful and intelligent Malawian woman who has big dreams.

At the age of 23, she graduates from the university as a double major; Economics and Biology. She is unhappy with her career in the ministry of finance. She believes the world around her limited her choice of a career.

She wants to be in the fashion industry as a model, to travel the world and to live abroad, she will do anything to go for her dream.

“Tainted Dreams is my first book in terms of publishing, but before Tainted Dreams, I had written Wasted Yearswhich is currently being published by Reach Publishers of South Africa and is expected to be available by mid-September.

“In addition, I have written children’s stories in the Nyasa tales collection, where you find stories such as Princess Yapatula of the Maravi Kingdom, being published by Partridge Africa, The Clay Child and the Prince, Malenga and the Princess Snake. I have also written a collection of what I call Memoirs of a Village girl, some laughing stuff, just for the gags which document my experience growing up,” said the 36-year-old author, who is based in Zambia.

According to Munthali, Tainted Dreams speaks to both the young and the old.

“Each one of us, at some point in life, we sit back and evaluate our lives, we want more out of life, we want to take the leap of faith and jump, but the truth is, it is not always the case that the leap will land us on a safe ground on the other side, at times our jump can be our downfall.

“It is perfectly normal, but when you end up in a situation you never anticipated, the best it to stand up and carry on, fight for what you believe in and turn every negative aspect into something positive. Sounds fictitious huh? Promise fought the demons that had infested her path to success and I must say, she fought well,” explains Munthali.

In principle, the author will have three stories self published by the end of 2014. While she is currently writing another book, Rebooting Donna, Tainted Dreams is being sold on Amazon.

“My reasons for writing Tainted Dreams is based on my desire to tell a story that can bring out several issues at once—desperation, pain, love and a happily ever after. It is a story of a Malawian woman who finds love in the most unusual circumstances and with an unlikely man, an Italian. She goes through a lot of pain to finally earn her freedom.

“Within the same story, I bring out the human will to survive against the odds,” adds Munthali.

For the writer, Tainted Dreams is a self litmus test to see how she will fare in the industry.

“Telling stories for me is a hobby, something I passionately enjoy, when I am writing down the stories, I am a different person, I migrate into that world, and I must say, writing is liberating,” she enthusiastically said.

But how did the woman who spent a better part of her growing up in Karonga find herself writing?

“I have never written a novel before, however in secondary school I used to write plays and direct Aids Toto club and Scom drama. I used to be passionate about writing then, but as a career, it offered little hope and I believe it is still in its infancy in Malawi, but with great milestones.

“Over the years, I concentrated on a career that had security for my survival; even now I consider writing as one of my many hobbies. I am adventurous with life, I believe each person should be bold enough at one point in time, to try do things that in their wildest dreams they would never do, test your limits while not disrupting your career,” she mused.

Her serious writing started unfolding in 2011 when her husband moved to Lusaka and the rest of the family joined him a few months later. Life as a stay home mum became a routine for Bertha and being someone who had been used to working in Malawi, the sudden change to being unemployed was overwhelming.

“I was working with FAO-UN before I left Malawi. Despite the fact that I had anticipated changes as to what I was used to, it was so overwhelming. I am very active when it comes to work and to spend the whole day doing routine household chores was very unlike me, I had to find something to do as I was looking for employment. I started writing, a few words a day. I had started with Wasted Years. It was not an easy story to write because as much as it is fiction, it has a lot of Malawian day to day issues that affect women and I could easily relate with one or two people I know,” she said.

Still raring to do more, Bertha wrote her memoirs of growing up in rural Malawi.

Munthali has plans to launch all her books in Malawi but not anytime soon.

“I need to find a Malawian Publishing house that is willing to publish my books locally. Amazon is making paperback for those customers who need a copy in print, and for those who need an e book, they equally get it. However, I know it is not easy to access the book from Amazon when you are in Malawi. I will make sure the books are available locally,” she says.

Married to Owen Munthali, Bertha is a mother of three; Chindikani, Tumbikani and Owen Jr.

Born on July 16 1978, she is the third born daughter of Mr and Mrs Vunda Mkandawire of Mwachizuulika Village in the territory of Group Village Headman Mwakhwawa of T/A Wasambo in Karonga.

She did her secondary education at Ekwendeni Girls Secondary School in Mzimba from where she proceeded to study for a Bachelor of Education Degree at Chancellor College.

In 2009 Bertha was among the beneficiaries of the prestigious Erasmus Mundus, a European Union Scholarship and studied for a Joint European Masters in Local Development in Italy and Germany.

When she came back from her Masters studies, she joined Winrock International, a US based organisation as a country director. She has also worked for Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nation as a national nutrition officer. Currently, she does part time assignments as a consultant with FAO Zambia where she is based.