Teen takes on tough topics in second book

At the age of 17, most authors are dreaming about writing their first book. Monique Hollis, on the other hand, is about to publish her second book.

Monique, who writes under the name Moni Monsoon, launches Give & Take and says much has changed since her first book, Fire & Ice, was published in 2010.

This story is a romance with some fantasy in which lead character, Natasha, a teenager, is torn between two loves.

The Rustenburg Girls’ High Grade 11 pupil was 13 years old when she wrote the first book, and self-published it when she was 14.

Monique raised the funds for publishing by selling hot dogs and ice creams at school.

Immediately after the first book was out, she began on its sequel. A boarder at her school, Monique says she spent many hours writing in the hostel’s dining room, at her desk, or in the tiny prayer room tucked beneath the staircase.

“I felt a bit bad (about using the prayer room), but it was very quiet in there,” says the tall, confident girl, who spent two hours a day perfecting her craft.

Monique describes the sequel as a lot darker than the first, which was all “rainbows and unicorns”. The idea behind Give & Take, which is published by New Voices, is about how much people are willing to give up in relationships, and how much others will take – sometimes without permission.

“As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised that people have more bad times than good times,” says Monique.

She cites the Anene Booysen case, a teenager gang-raped and murdered, as an example of the ugly reality.

The book explores abusive relationships and sex, something Monique doesn’t have personal experience of.

“I’ve never had a boyfriend, or ever been kissed,” she says.

Monique feels many boys find her outspoken manner and directness intimidating, but she’s not fazed by it.

Her take on the subject is that she would rather be alone than bow to pressure and have a boyfriend just for the sake of having one.

It doesn’t change the fact, however, that sex and relationships are happening all around her.

And this is where she draws her ideas from.

In the book Monique also deals with religion and drugs, themes that people her age can identify with.

And she is expecting criticism. While her first book was well received by her peers, she says their parents were a different story.

“My classmates loved it. At my age I was dealing with things the way they saw them, in a very real way. But a few parents started reading the book. I didn’t expect to be judged,” she says.

A friend was told to stay away from Monique, as her mother feared the teen author would be a bad influence.

“That book was tame. Now I’m dealing with sex, religion, drugs, abusive relationships. I’ll definitely be judged by the older generation,” she says.

Her mother, however, has supported her wholeheartedly, saying Monique even helped her understand some of what happened in real-life love scenes.

Speaking of her idols, she names cartoonist, Jonathan Shapiro. “I also like to introduce controversy and humour into my work, and making people uncomfortable,” she says.

As for her pen name, she says her brother came up with it.

“Moni Monsoon is confident. She’s the person I want to be,” she says.

When I enquire which personality I’m interviewing, she replies promptly: “Moni Monsoon.”

While “wearing” Moni, she feels adults take her more seriously. When she’s not writing and giving talks at schools to promote her book, she does drama and tries to keep up with her schoolwork.

Monique says Give & Take is the last book she will write for now.

She has an idea for another book, but feels her talent needs nurturing.

She plans to study English, journalism or playwriting to grow her literary abilities.