Super Fan: Part IV
All That Glitters
The story followed the girl's journey to the United States, a country she had only read about and watched on T.V. As the writer, I had to imagine what that would have felt like because I had never been to America. But, at least I could write about being on an airplane because I had been on a plane once when I was eight years old, a short flight from Bulawayo to Harare, and I used what I could remember from that experience to describe the plane ride. The rest was pure imagination.
I imagined the girl being picked up at the airport by a limo driver holding a banner with her name. I had seen this scene on T.V. I described how she would have been overwhelmed by her modern surroundings compared to her humble African environment. When the limo pulls up to the mansion, the girl is mesmerized. I was inspired by the scene from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" when Will Smith steps out of the taxi and looks up at the mansion, his new home. So, that "Bel-Air house" became the mansion in my book.
Then she met the brothers, and they looked nothing like they did on T.V. They were neither as good-looking nor friendly. She later discovers that the celebrity life shown on T.V was exaggerated and staged. The brothers didn't get along as a band or as a family. They fought constantly, and each member threatened to leave the band to pursue a solo career. The brothers lived with their parents and managers, and they disagreed on just about everything. These rich and famous boys were overworked and miserable (think The Jackson Five).
The gist of the story was that the African girl who initially felt unwelcome soon warmed up to this dysfunctional family. Weaving her way into their lives, forming unique bonds with each member, and eventually getting them to appreciate each other and work together, like how Maria in "The Sound of Music" positively influenced the Von Trapp family, and they lived happily ever after.
The brothers liked her and invited her for a day at their school. And there, again, she was disappointed because it wasn't as cool as it looked on T.V. Some of the kids made fun of her accent, clothes, and hair. However, one of the brothers saved her from a bully. And when everyone discovered that she was staying with the famous brothers, she became popular, to the mean girls' despair. I took a lot of inspiration from Saved by the Bell to write that storyline. That was my idea of what an American high school would be.
I don't remember all the story's details, but I think there was a romantic storyline with one of the brothers and maybe a first kiss. By the time the month was up and the girl had to return to Zimbabwe, the brothers were back to being a united boy band. Their parents had stepped down from management to focus on parenthood. She thought going to America would change her life, but she changed the lives of her American host family.
That was my first book as I remember it. I wrote dialogue and detailed descriptions. My experience of being a super fan of The Boys, who never replied to my fan mail, inspired the idea for my first book.
My schoolmates at St. James high school liked my story. As I wrote and developed the story, I remember people lining up to read it, chapter by chapter. I loved the writing process, creating a fantasy, and putting it on paper for others to read. I wrote several stories after that, including short stories with illustrations and comic books (co-written with my sister Mutsa). The writing bug has come to bite me throughout the years, but I never completed any of the writing. Instead, I'd save to my computer or share with a friend or two and leave it. Then, life happened, and I didn't have the time or drive to write again.
In 2018 that urge to write returned, and this time it was fierce. The idea for my book came to me while I was at work, and I couldn't wait to get home and start typing. So, finally, the book is ready to be shared with the world. I am excited and can't wait for you to read it!
Watch the Videos:
Dial My Heart music video: https://youtu.be/ZhKKK7AgTIs
A little romance music video: https://youtu.be/9dl07EUPZiY
THE END
The story followed the girl's journey to the United States, a country she had only read about and watched on T.V. As the writer, I had to imagine what that would have felt like because I had never been to America. But, at least I could write about being on an airplane because I had been on a plane once when I was eight years old, a short flight from Bulawayo to Harare, and I used what I could remember from that experience to describe the plane ride. The rest was pure imagination.
I imagined the girl being picked up at the airport by a limo driver holding a banner with her name. I had seen this scene on T.V. I described how she would have been overwhelmed by her modern surroundings compared to her humble African environment. When the limo pulls up to the mansion, the girl is mesmerized. I was inspired by the scene from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" when Will Smith steps out of the taxi and looks up at the mansion, his new home. So, that "Bel-Air house" became the mansion in my book.
Then she met the brothers, and they looked nothing like they did on T.V. They were neither as good-looking nor friendly. She later discovers that the celebrity life shown on T.V was exaggerated and staged. The brothers didn't get along as a band or as a family. They fought constantly, and each member threatened to leave the band to pursue a solo career. The brothers lived with their parents and managers, and they disagreed on just about everything. These rich and famous boys were overworked and miserable (think The Jackson Five).
The gist of the story was that the African girl who initially felt unwelcome soon warmed up to this dysfunctional family. Weaving her way into their lives, forming unique bonds with each member, and eventually getting them to appreciate each other and work together, like how Maria in "The Sound of Music" positively influenced the Von Trapp family, and they lived happily ever after.
The brothers liked her and invited her for a day at their school. And there, again, she was disappointed because it wasn't as cool as it looked on T.V. Some of the kids made fun of her accent, clothes, and hair. However, one of the brothers saved her from a bully. And when everyone discovered that she was staying with the famous brothers, she became popular, to the mean girls' despair. I took a lot of inspiration from Saved by the Bell to write that storyline. That was my idea of what an American high school would be.
I don't remember all the story's details, but I think there was a romantic storyline with one of the brothers and maybe a first kiss. By the time the month was up and the girl had to return to Zimbabwe, the brothers were back to being a united boy band. Their parents had stepped down from management to focus on parenthood. She thought going to America would change her life, but she changed the lives of her American host family.
That was my first book as I remember it. I wrote dialogue and detailed descriptions. My experience of being a super fan of The Boys, who never replied to my fan mail, inspired the idea for my first book.
My schoolmates at St. James high school liked my story. As I wrote and developed the story, I remember people lining up to read it, chapter by chapter. I loved the writing process, creating a fantasy, and putting it on paper for others to read. I wrote several stories after that, including short stories with illustrations and comic books (co-written with my sister Mutsa). The writing bug has come to bite me throughout the years, but I never completed any of the writing. Instead, I'd save to my computer or share with a friend or two and leave it. Then, life happened, and I didn't have the time or drive to write again.
In 2018 that urge to write returned, and this time it was fierce. The idea for my book came to me while I was at work, and I couldn't wait to get home and start typing. So, finally, the book is ready to be shared with the world. I am excited and can't wait for you to read it!
Watch the Videos:
Dial My Heart music video: https://youtu.be/ZhKKK7AgTIs
A little romance music video: https://youtu.be/9dl07EUPZiY
THE END
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