Mulberry Dreams

Violette Sohaili Kee-Tui was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Working as a journalist from the age of 18, she found her home at the features desk where she rose to the position of Assistant Features Editor. During her time in the national media, Violette received an Honours Diploma from the London School of Journalism and won multiple accolades, most notably Feature Writer of the Year in the National Journalism Awards. Driven by the need to tell the stories of people and communities, Violette became what some would call a narrative journalist. She wrote and submitted her first short story to Bulawayo's Intwasa Short Story Competition, initially winning third place in 2010, winning second in 2011 and finally the first-place Yvonne Vera Award in 2012. While a full-time working mom, Violette began writing her first novel as part of NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month), an initiative held every November to encourage creative writing by setting a target of writing 50 000 words in one month. She continues to use her journalism training in the spheres of marketing, media, communication training, community outreach, PR and freelance writing. She and her partner own a gift and art shop in Bulawayo, and together run historical and cultural tours and activities in the city.