HA-RABALI – He is only 15, but he can write poems, and presently he is writing a book of short stories: The Birth of Independent Choice.

Nthangeni Forster Tshiluvhu, affectionately known as “Love,” is a Grade 8 learner at Hillside Combined School, Makhado. He started writing his book last November. The young innovative writer describes himself as a poet as he claimed to have already written a lot of poetry books in 2003.

He said that the book is about a royal girl, who was being forced to get married to the prince, but opted to marry a commoner, adding that the story is like a fairy tale. Forster told Mirror that his book can even be used by Grade 7 learn-ers, but due to the fact that it is interesting, all who can read might like to read it.

At school, Forster is the organiser of beauty contests and ceremonies where good students are rewarded with prizes by way of encouraging them to focus on their studies. “I am getting great support from the school principal; he gives me a lot of encouragement,” he said.

Presently, Forster is writing his short story book, using his school exercise books and then goes to his friend, Tshilidzi Mamegwa, who types the book on his computer. The young writer says that he needs someone who can assist him financially, so that he can publish his book. He is not writing the book in his vernacular language, but in English.