Confessions of a libra

Enchanted | Credit: Here

14.09.25

Before Confessions of a Libra, there was a teenage girl with a library card and a dream. Trolling the internet for writing communities, slowly stoking the flames of passion. Coming to Australia, made me slightly more introverted. The land was new, foreign and people always made me feel like an outsider. It was moving to Sunshine, Melbourne that really made me flourish. I met our school librarian Sue Bursztynski, an author in her own right and someone who was happy to nurture anyone with a genuine interest in books.

A lot of the friendships I made in High School, were based on this very passion. I had always wanted to be in a book club, so I began floating the idea around my friends. We approached Sue and asked if she would consider hosting a book club. And it was on! I still remember that the book club was on Wednesdays. It started off as purely a book club but eventually morphed into a book and writing club. One week we reviewed or discussed the books we were reading, the next we would focus on writing-sprints.

I was always drawn to fiction and romance. My then-bestie Dylan was more of a screenwriter, and we actually filmed some of his movies. Sue organised for us to go to book fares (though I don’t recall if that’s what they were called) at other schools. Through her, I got a signed bookmark from Andy Griffiths who wrote ‘The Day My Bum Went Psycho’ which I thought was actually insane in the best way. I met Isobelle Carmody, one of my favourite authors as a teenager. I can’t even explain enough how much her style of writing spoke to me and meeting her, she was so stylish and alternative in her fashion (think red hair, short fringe) – another tick from me.

I do recall questioning her on when she would release the next instalment of the Legendsong Saga (with a bit of sass), and her artfully admitting she did have writer’s block and was working on it. She still hasn’t released it to this day, but as a writer myself, I have a lot more empathy for her now. What an angel! Sue also signed us up with Allen and Unwin, so we could read and review manuscripts before they went to print. Ugh, that was right up my Virgo Mercury, Leo Venus alley! I felt, important. Like my opinion mattered. And in a way, these were all experiences sharpening my blade.

I was super lucky, that in choosing not to be embarrassed by the other teens on my love of reading and writing – I created what can only be described as a magical High School experience! Part of why I look upon that time highly, is because I did everything I wanted to do. My mum also enjoyed reading and facilitated my love for it, since I was a toddler. I made sure the friends I made were ones I could debate at lunchtime on books, and they introduced me to a lot of movies I had missed by having my childhood in Zimbabwe.

As I dared to approach Sue, I got to hang out with an author who facilitated my meeting other authors. Who gave me her unfiltered opinions on books and answered my questions about the industry. Though I have often written journals and thrown them away, I have also created blogs and deleted them too. Yet, the love has always been pure. This leads me to why I am writing this now. I was talking to a friend about Disney Princesses. I asked, if I was a Disney Princess – race not being a factor – which Princess would I be. This was more about archetypal resonance than looks. She said maybe a mix between Belle and Tiana.

As she explained Belle, I told her that one of my favourite books of all time was Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier. Juliet has to be my favourite author as a teenager and I plan to go back and read her books with fresh eyes. Her books evoked in me as a teenager, a similar feeling to how Karen Brooks’ books affect me now. I loved that Juliet wrote complex characters, I was a teenager who had experienced a lot of trauma and parentification. There was sorrow, grit, loyalty, love and romance in her stories. It was perfect. Her books were dense, and never boring. Most of her books were set in Ireland, a place I grew to love from afar due to the mysticism. These books facilitated that adoration and fixation.

Heart’s Blood in particular is a Beauty & the Beast retelling. Caitrin the heroine, escapes her patriarchal household full of abuse and silence. She escapes to a far-away land to work for a local Chieftan Anluan, the ‘beast’. Where Juliet is concerned, my words aren’t even enough, it’s best to just read her books. Super underrated, if I had it my way, she would be a household name. Once I told my friend about my love of Juliet, I recalled Sue facilitating an interviewing Juliet Marillier. And wouldn’t you know it, Sue’s blog is still alive and well! I have the interview linked for you to enjoy, the nostalgia of a young Thando. It’s crazy for me to look back, and it makes me feel very old. That time in my life was a blur of hormones and experimentation. I had a blog back then, called…wait for it… Fallen Shadow Hunter.

Look. I read a lot of fantasy books. I was trying to write a story with a concept of ‘shadow people’ being their own beings with a kingdom… you get it. Back then I was reading books like the ‘Fallen’ series by Lauren Kate and the ‘Wicked Lovely’ series by Melissa Marr among many others. I was deep in the myth and fantasy. I wish I hadn’t doubted myself and withstood more of my own cringe. Either way, I hope you enjoy this little screenshot of a moment in time. My blogspot profile remains, even though the blog was deleted. The current person who owns my old URL isn’t me. It’s never too late to reach your dreams. If you’re lost, try looking to your younger self, for they may have the answers you seek. Thank you for listening to my ramblings. Thank you for being part of my journey of growth. I hope we never part.