By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, July 9, Mana: After publishing a plethora of short stories, poems and other general articles in the country’s various publications, United States of America (USA) based media studies scholar, Davie Danford Mchinga, has taken a giant step in his writing career by publishing his first novelette christened The Fallout: Nyamsengechi’s Odyssey of Turmoil.

In an interview from North Carolina, USA, Mchinga said it has taken him one year to author the 105 paged book.

“It has taken me a good 12 months to complete writing the book. The project started in Malawi but I have completed it here in the USA. I hope and believe that readers will fall in love with what I have written as I tried to put much effort in it,” said Mchinga.

He said his creative writings always originate from his surroundings.

“I pay keen attention to the things that happen in society and this book is mirror to what is happening in our communities,” he said.

The Fallout: Nyamsengechi’s Odyssey of Turmoil delves into the complex interplay of climate change, poverty and cultural practices in rural Malawi.

Through the harrowing journey of one young girl Nyamsengechi who is married off at a tender age, Mchinga sheds light on the devastating impact of environmental changes on vulnerable communities.

“In a nutshell the novelette brings out the consequences on marriage that Nyamsengechi encountered after her husband left for greener pastures in South Africa as a result of climate change which resulted in inability to harvest enough yields to pay back debt and sustain his family,” said Mchinga.

One of the people who have read the book, Eliza Elias, described the novelette as a masterpiece.

“I have read short stories written by Mchinga before and this book is just superb. Mchinga is a writer who takes a reader from one page to the end without the reader getting tired of reading.  So, having read the 105 paged novelette, I feel the author is on a right track in terms of his writing ability,” said Elias.

According to Mchinga, who is pursuing his studies at Fayetteville State University, the book is currently on the market only on soft copies.

“We are selling soft copy at K10,000. However, we have engaged government print and by the end of this month more than 200 copies will be out. So, those who love hard copies should not feel hard done. Hard copies are coming,” said the 31-year-old author who admires the writings of Chinua Achebe, Steve Chimombo, Ngugi wa Thiongo, Jack Mapanje and Wole Soyika.