{"id":164845,"date":"2017-11-02T06:02:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-02T04:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/164845\/lebea-puts-pen-to-paper-for-third-book\/"},"modified":"2017-11-02T14:27:09","modified_gmt":"2017-11-02T12:27:09","slug":"lebea-puts-pen-to-paper-for-third-book","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2017\/11\/02\/lebea-puts-pen-to-paper-for-third-book\/","title":{"rendered":"Lebea puts pen to paper for third book"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the GCN first met Lebea Sekhala, from Roodekop Extension 23, he was preparing to release his first book<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Northern Sotho book Nnete, Maaka Le Boradia (Truth, Lies and Deceit) was inspired by service delivery protests and was the realisation of a lifelong dream for Lebea.<\/p>

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However, it was not the end of his time with the pen – he has released a book of poetry (also in Northern Sotho) titled Kgoka didiba Mphato o Tswele and an English novel titled Ties that Bind.<\/p>\n

Lebea chose to self-publish once again.<\/p>

<\/div>\n

\u201cKgoka didiba Mphato o Tswele is a 50-page book filled with my original poetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is my first attempt at poetry,\u201d he said with a smile.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just woke up one morning filled with the urge to write a poem and then one led to another, led to another and so on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though Lebea\u2019s poetry book was published first, he began writing his English novel before he began writing poetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI woke up at midnight one night, not long after the first book had been released, after what can only be described as a vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got up scribbled the title down and went back to sleep,\u201d he said with a laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis book took some time to finish, so much so that I wrote the poetry book in the middle of writing the book.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring the process I even asked God what I was meant to write about. I was given the title but did not know how<\/p>\n

I should fill the book.\u201d<\/p>\n

He began work on the book and managed to write two chapters before progress came to a halt.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was stuck with just two chapters for months,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

During a chance visit from a former Unisa invigilator he found his inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile she was waiting she saw the manuscript lying on my desk and asked to read it.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter she had read it she came to me and said it is a very emotional and powerful story she cannot wait to read.”<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom that moment I was filled with inspiration and ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eleven chapters later and his book was finished.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

ALSO READ:<\/p>\n

Carlyle turns another page in her career<\/a><\/p>\n

Children are inspired to pick up a book<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Lebea, who prides himself on telling African stories, describes his new book as a spiritual book that can be read along with a bible as it contains bible verses, which deal with spiritual welfare.<\/p>\n

When asked why he decided to write this book in English, after releasing his first in Northern Sotho, Lebea said: \u201cI don\u2019t want people to feel left out.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople have asked me to translate my first book so they can read it but I don\u2019t want to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lebea hopes the reader will learn something new when reading his book.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want someone to pick up my book, read it from cover to cover and learn nothing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want them to learn something new on each page that they can share with others in their everyday life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

When asked what the future holds for him Lebea said he aims to continue writing. He wants to focus on Northern Sotho and English before maybe branching into other languages as he speaks 11 of them.<\/p>\n

Lebea continues to draw inspiration from a newspaper cutting he saw on the wall at his first post when he was a security guard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was posted in Heidelberg and there on the wall was a newspaper cutting showing footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints and other times only one and the words were a conversation between a man and God.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe man asked God why when there were difficult times there was only one set of footprints whereas in good times there were two sets. God replied that it was because he had carried the man through the hard times.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis stuck with me and I believe to this day that I am able to accomplish all I do thanks to God,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Lebea hopes to be an inspiration to young writers who hope to publish their own stories.<\/p>\n