Karabo Kgoleng, writer, broadcaster and public speaker, says of Sue Nyathi’s new book: “A contemporary African saga that serves up all the ingredients: rags and riches, hero women, sex, the megachurch. And romance – so much romance!”

Here Nyathi talks to The Reading List about writing, reading and the things that get in the way.

TRL: What are you most excited about people discovering in your book?
Sue Nyathi: I am more excited by the fact that people have discovered my books, never mind what they discover inside them! But I think what excites me is the thought that people may discover certain aspects of themselves in the novel.

What were some of the unexpected challenges that came up while you were writing?
Sue Nyathi: I think the most challenging aspect of this book was writing what I call the final version. I was not sure what to leave out and what to reinvent. I have been writing this book since I was 20 so it has been quite a journey in terms of rethinking and rewriting things, as my perspective changed over the years.

What was unexpectedly easy?
Sue Nyathi: The characterisation. The characters were birthed a long time ago and they have grown with me, warts and all, and have got refined with age.

What question do you think readers are going to ask you the most?
Sue Nyathi: Did you have to end the book the way you did? (I won’t say more, as that would be a spoiler!)

Quote the paragraph or line you find most interesting in your book.
Sue Nyathi: “Woza lay’umakoti.” This line is repeated over and over again, their voices rising to a feverish crescendo. Weddings are celebrated as something of a spectacle and filled with much ceremony. It is a moment every woman is groomed for throughout her life. Primed, primped and plucked for the day when she is ripe for matrimony. They will start a family and the process will repeat itself. From one generation to the next. Same script, different cast.

If you could co-author a book with anyone, living or dead, who would you choose and what would it be about?
Sue Nyathi: I would definitely choose Desiree-Anne Martin (We Don’t Talk About It. Ever. A memoir). I love the way she writes and I think we could create magic together. I have no idea what the book would be about but it is certainly a conversation worth having.

George Orwell said: “Never use a long word where a short one will do.” Would you agree?
Sue Nyathi: I don’t disagree, maybe it worked for him. I am not pedantic about writing in that sense. I use the word that comes to mind at that point, I don’t deliberate on whether it’s long or short, it’s more a question of, does the word convey the meaning or capture the essence of what I am trying to say? The thing is, I am not trained as a writer so I don’t get bogged down with technicality. I write intuitively.

What’s your favourite writing spot?
Sue Nyathi: I prefer total silence when I write, so you will never find me in a Starbucks or Mugg & Bean! I don’t have a spot; I just prefer silence when I write. So home can be my favourite writing spot if it offers me total silence.

Pen and paper or keyboard and screen?
Sue Nyathi: Definitely keyboard and screen. When I used to write longhand I used to go through a lot of paper because whenever I wrote something I didn’t like I scrunched up the paper and started again. I was not really being kind to the trees! Keyboard and screen is ideal because of the wonderful invention of backspace, delete, cut and paste. You can rearrange paragraphs, chapters. It offers a lot more flexibility.

What habit distracts you most from writing?
Sue Nyathi: Earning a living – and living. As a writer it’s easy to switch off and exist in a world with your characters but you also need to live and be mindful of those you exist with in the real world. What I mean is being present. When I am writing and I am in my mojo I hate being disturbed. When you are on a roll you want to do nothing but write … but the demands of everyday life call to you, you actually have to do things that pay the bills, fend for my son and those mundane household chores.

After readers have read your book, what should they read next?
Sue Nyathi: People should read whatever they want, but I would recommend All My Lies are True by Dorothy Koomson. It’s one of the best books I read this year. DM/ML

Sue Nyathi was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and raised and educated there. She has a Master’s Degree in Finance and worked for more than five years as a research associate for an economic and strategic planning consulting firm in Johannesburg, where she currently resides. The Polygamist, her bestselling debut novel, was published in 2012. The Gold Diggers, her second, was longlisted for the Dublin Literary Award as well as the Barry Ronge Fiction Prize. A Family Affair is published by Pan Macmillan (R290).

Visit The Reading List for South African book news daily, and read an exclusive excerpt from A Family Affair here.