November 27, 2022 – We caught up with Rhodasi’ Dhasi’ Mwale, winner of the 2020 Kalemba Prize, for
her short story, ‘If it Aren’t Broke.’
We wanted to know what she has been up to and her advice to writers entering the 2023 Kalemba Prize.
Q: What have you been up to since winning KSSP 2020?
I have been doing my best to keep writing, slowly but surely.
I have published two Zambian romance novels with Love Africa Press – www.loveafricapress.com – Note Worthy, a contemporary romance – https://dhasimwale.wordpress.com/…/27/note-worthy-is-out/
The second one and recently out, Damned If I Love You, a paranormal/fantasy romance, available here: https://tinyurl.com/Damned-If-I-Love-You
I haven’t gone full fledge romance writer, though. I share my serialized stories on my Page: https://web.facebook.com/dhasimwale and Blog: www.dhasimwale.wordpress.com/
On the short story front, my story, Bet On Me, set during N’cwala, was featured in an African Festivities Anthology: https://tinyurl.com/Love-At-A-Festival.
My other sci-fi-fantasy short story, One Part Us Two Part Ghost, got an honorable mention in the 2021 Q3 L Ron Hubbard Writers of The Future Contest.
You can read it here https://tinyurl.com/One-Part-Us.
Q: What advice do you have for the writers entering the 2023 KSSP
Don’t aim for relevance or groundbreaking work; aim for honesty.
A thesaurus is great but beware of using words just for the beauty of it. Obviously, edit, and get honest feedback (not from loved ones). Most important of all, SUBMIT it. Remember, you miss all the shots you don’t take — all the best to the entrants.
2023 Kalemba is open for submissions until 10 December 2022.
Kalemba Prize 