Meet K.a. Mulenga

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful K.a. Mulenga a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

K.A., thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?

Keeping my creativity alive involves a combination of practices that nurture my imagination and keep the creative juices flowing:

Reading Widely: I make it a point to read a variety of books, including children’s literature, classics, and even genres outside of my usual scope. This not only broadens my horizons but also inspires new ideas and perspectives.

Observing the World Around Me: Inspiration often comes from the world around me. I take walks in nature, visit museums, and watch how children interact and play. Everyday life is filled with small wonders that can spark a story idea.

Engaging with Children: Spending time with children, whether through family, friends, or events, helps me understand what captivates them. Their curiosity, humor, and way of seeing the world are endless sources of inspiration.

Staying Curious and Learning: I constantly seek to learn new things, whether it’s about a different culture, a new hobby, or an interesting fact. This continuous learning feeds my creativity and provides a rich backdrop for my stories.

Connecting with Other Creatives: Networking with other writers and artists through workshops, online forums, or social media can be incredibly motivating. Sharing experiences and getting feedback often leads to new insights and ideas.

By combining these practices, I ensure that my creativity remains vibrant and that I’m always ready to craft new, engaging stories for children.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Kalenga Augustine Mulenga aka K.A. Mulenga and I was born in Zambia, a country in southern Africa. I later relocated to Johannesburg, South Africa, where I reside with my wife and three children. My eldest recently relocated to Cape Town so the house just has the 4 of us.
My passion for writing runs in my blood. I was inspired by my late father Kelvin, who was a journalist and the first black African editor of the Zambia Daily Mail.
My names – Kalenga and Mulenga – mean ‘Creative Spirit’ in Bemba, a language still spoken in Southern Africa. I was given my name by my great aunt. She must have foretold that I would be a creative spirit. The Bemba tribe is one of the largest ethnic groups in Zambia, known for their rich culture and history. Names are of great importance in Africa.
Today, I am a creative writer and author of over 33 children’s books and several short stories, three of which were on the #1 Amazon Bestsellers’ List. I am also a recipient of the 2023 Coppa Book Award, second place for Best of Children’s Literature.
Writing has been my passion since I was 10 years old. My stories are full of powerful positive messages, styled to entertain and make you laugh.
K.A. Mulenga’s A is for Africa : A Picture Dictionary for Young Readers is my latest book and is a work of love for my African heritage and close to my heart. I would like to let the children of the world know about the special animals and cultures of Africa, and the importance of protecting them for times to come. I am involved with several literacy programs for young people in South Africa, and I continues, through my books and book readings in schools, to help promote reading and writing initiatives for children. K.A. Mulenga’s A is for Africa : A Picture Dictionary for Young Readers was released this month(August 2024)

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey: Hard work, determination, perseverance, faith( I am a Christian) and prayer That’s more than three, lol!
The best advice would be to never give up on yourself, sometimes you want to throw in the towel but just keep focusing on your goals and dreams!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Yes I am! I am looking to collaborate with influencers and fellow children’s books authors. I am on all social media but not so much on TikTok. I would like us to grow our readership together ( children’s books authors) and with the influencers , I would like for them to promote my books so they can reach the 4 corners of the Earth!
Here are all my social media links and my email address is [email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/KAMulengaWriter

https://www.instagram.com/k.a.mulenga_author/
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/125455839-kalenga-mulenga
http://kamulenga.com

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/k-a-mulenga
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalenga-augustine-mulenga-435477201/

@kamulenga

Contact Info:

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