Beyonce’s ‘Run The World’ keeps playing in my head as I sit down to write this. Well can you blame me considering women writers are on fire and chicklits are rocking it so fly.
The architecture of literature is evolving and we must be ready to embrace the evergrowing, ever exciting heroines. Gone are the days of Sherlock Holmes solving mysteries on the pages of our book. Today it is more about ‘anything a man can do I woman can do too.’ You see chicklits are ruling. From the Bridget Jone’s Diary to Gone Girl this genre is a real game changer in the literary world.
The exciting part is young women are becoming the sleuths. With fragile hearts and souls they are not afraid to explore the narrow limits. You see thrillers have always been around to keep readers turning the pages. And recently more and more women are sitting down to script the best nail biting stories – heroines at the forefront.
When I did the ground work for my debut novel DEADLINE I knew I wanted to write a story that I would enjoy reading. And through it I also wanted to encourage women to believe in their strengths. So the ink flowed and the words turned into chapters. I realised then that I created a young woman who was modern, ambitious yet she had an element of gentleness in her. This fiction story chronicled the trials and tribulations of my protagonist Feriyal Adam.
Chicklit protagonists are, at the onset, single white (Caucasian) women living in the city. These women are generally 20 to 30ish and we read about their issues with modern womanhood – from romance to friends and the workplace. But Feriyal is something else. She is a 20-something South African Indian living with her single mother in a low income part of Durban. She has her sights set on a lucrative position at a daily newspaper and one that will improve her standard of living.
But the day comes when her contract ends and she is left without hope. The storms of life continue to lash out when he mother succumbs to cancer and life holds no hope. But we all know that a determined spirit never gives up. Yes? They grab every opportunity life hurls at them just to come out stronger. She gives love a chance when the gorgeous Shane Black reappears in her life but she takes on a dangerous assignment as well. Brave or stupid one can never really say when this chocolate biscuit, petite girl goes after a serial killer. It doesn’t end there though – she breaks the rules and lands in hot water when she walks right into the killer’s trap. Damn girl!
Time is against her and Feriyal knows she has to give it her all if she wishes to see the light of day again. Held captive in an abandoned building, the killer taunts her and beats her up. He confiscates her cellphone so there is no contact with the outside world. With her energy levels at an all time low she has to play him but does she have enough game left in her? Could she live with herself if he violated her? Maybe if she closed her eyes while he invaded her innocence it may be easier solution – atleast.
Police reports reminded Feriyal that the killer strangled his victims are raping them, then dumped their bodies in a dense sugarcane field. Is that how her life was going to end? He hated women – especially well groomed, beautiful Indian women. Feriyal had no choice – she had to turn on the charm to win him over but is that really possible with a man who has killed so many women?
When was this going to be the end? And who was going to emerge victorious?
Her bag of tricks was low and she had two options – lie there and wait for death or fight with everything left in her. She played brave but God knew she was terrified – she did not have a plan of action.
Time is running out. Tick tock.
About the author
Zaheera Walker holds Journalism and Communication Science degrees. Her debut novel DEADLINE is a chicklit/romantic suspense novel for adults. Born in Durban, South Africa Zaheera gained extensive experience in the court reporting and crime beats. Today she lives in the bustling city of Johannesburg aka the City of Gold and is working on her second novel due for release early March.
Check out her book on Amazon.
Paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Deadline-Zaheera-Walker/dp/0620704462
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Deadline-Zaheera-Walker-ebook/dp/B01G24XXP6