Entrepreneur and podcaster Mpoomy Ledwaba, wife to musician Brenden Praise, recently launched her new book, How Did We Get Here: A Girl’s Guide to Finding Herself. The book is a reflection on her journey to turning 30, capturing the highs and lows she’s experienced along the way.
“I turned 30 and I woke up on my birthday and I realised, oh my gosh I like myself,” Mpoomy shared with TRUELOVE. “As an overachiever, it looks amazing on social media, but I had to share some sacrifices and what it actually felt like in real life.”
Mpoomy’s book also delves into deeply personal topics, including childhood experiences like sexual assault within her family and her relationship with her mother. As a lifelong book lover, she felt writing a book was the best way to tell her story and hopes to inspire others to read more, especially given her concerns about South Africa’s reading culture.
Her writing journey began four years ago when her publisher first approached her. However, she took a break, unsure if she was ready. During that time, she found her unique voice through her weekly newsletter Sunday Nuggets. It wasn’t until 2023, after attending a conference that reignited her passion, that Mpoomy felt ready to complete her book.
“The writing process was quite a beautiful but hard one,” she explained, revealing that she had to balance her businesses with writing. “I had to wake up every day at 05:00 to 06:00 to write as a discipline.”
Writing her book was also an emotional experience. “I dig deep and now I’m sharing a lot about myself,” Mpoomy said. She faced challenges, especially when deciding whether to include people who had played difficult roles in her life, unsure how to portray them.
Mpoomy’s journey of self-discovery and growth is now available for all to read, offering guidance and inspiration to those who seek to find themselves.