Our #WCW is Audrey Chirenje who is a Marketing and Procurement professional who is passionate about reading, writing, and traveling.
She has a degree in marketing and currently works in the hardware department of a chain wholesaler in Zimbabwe. She is a single parent to three beautiful girls, and she comes from Chihota. She grew up in Avondale West and did ECD at Chirenje School, then proceeded to Avondale Junior School up until grade 5. Then she went to boarding school at Waddilove Primary School until grade 7, and for high school, she was at Waddilove High School.
As for her inspiration, she said, “My late dad was an avid reader, so naturally we adopted that culture. Our house was full of books growing up. I was also always ‘artsy’ as I was in the school choir in all the schools I went to. I was also in the Drama and Interact Club. I was always an inquisitive person, and I would question things.”
“My characters are flawed people with issues just as most of us are in real life. So, I want people to realise that there is always hope, they can always try again, and it might just work out no matter the situation whether it’s relationships, business, or a career.”
“It’s been interesting, I am an Introvert, so I was initially scared to be in the public space. My sisters strongly encouraged me to publish. The feedback from the readers has been my high and some big names endorsing me. Another pleasant surprise was one talking of turning the one book into a film production. The low has been on the time aspect, it’s now crazy hectic. Also, people then want to label you based on their own perceptions.”
“Mainstream focuses more on Academia hence why most people are resorting to the self-publishing route. The writers are very supportive of each other though by buying each other’s books. On social media they also rally behind each other and that must be commended.”
“We should encourage a reading culture outside schoolbooks in the country from an early age. The support for Writers and Poets should increase so that it can be something that people aspire to be. Methinks more attention is given to Sports people and Musicians.”
The founder of Chances & Inspiration Inc, a Publishing and Marketing consultancy firm, Audrey has so far written ten books, namely: Life Will Humble You, Chances, Appearances Or Not Guilt, My Mother, My Hope and the children’s illustrated books The Mhofus, Vana Mhofu, OMpofu, Day In The Park. She entered into the poetry world with her debut Anthology titled ‘This Version Of Love’ which has 45 Poems.
She strives to entertain, motivate, inspire, and enlighten people across the world through her writing.
Audrey is a mother to three girls, and she is a Believer and a Realist whose motto in life is “LIVE”.
