By ELEANOR DOUGLAS-MEYERS
For our latest Insider Info feature, I sat down with Cape Town-based author Fazila Cariem to talk about writing, publishing and the rather unexpected journey that brought her here.
A chartered accountant, author and one-third of Three Goose Media, Fazila is proof that life doesn’t always need to follow a carefully mapped-out plan. In fact, some of her biggest adventures have come from simply going along with whatever life throws her way.
But before we even got into her books, her accidental career in finance or the realities of being an author, something rather unusual happened.
I was not the most excitable person in the room.
For anyone who knows me, you’ll understand how rare that is.
Fazila is bubbly, energetic and seemingly incapable of standing still. Even during our interview, keeping her in one spot was a challenge. Her enthusiasm is infectious, and you quickly realise this is someone who doesn’t just experience life. She throws herself into it.
And her story is proof that sometimes the best things happen when absolutely nothing goes according to plan.
She wanted to be a journalist. Life had other ideas.
Here’s my favourite part.
Fazila wasn’t actually supposed to end up in finance.
She wanted to be a journalist.
But when she arrived at college, there had been a mix-up, and instead of journalism, she found herself studying finance.
Now, personally, I would have had several questions, possibly a small meltdown and definitely a conversation with someone in administration.
Fazila?
She just went with it.
And somehow, that accidental detour turned into a career. Today, she’s a qualified chartered accountant working as a finance manager in the renewable energy industry.
The irony, of course, is that the girl who wanted to be a journalist eventually found her way back to writing anyway.
Just not quite the way she’d imagined.
From emotional exorcism to published author
Fazila’s first book, Her Peace at War, was self-published in 2023 and came from a deeply personal place.
She had experiences and emotions she needed to get out, and writing became her outlet.
But independent publishing meant doing practically everything herself, from getting the story onto paper to figuring out how to turn it into a book people could actually buy.
And while she valued that independence, she also learnt something important.
Sometimes, you need help.
Her second publishing journey took her down a different road, this time through traditional publishing with Mirari Press.
Having experienced the independent route, Fazila has a newfound appreciation for the people behind the publishing process. The guidance, expertise and support have made a real difference.
And I loved that she was so open about it.
We live in a world that celebrates doing everything yourself, but there’s something refreshing about someone who can say that having people help you is actually rather wonderful.
Eighty days. Between gym and work. Seriously.
Did I mention she wrote a book in 83 days?
Because apparently being a finance manager and doing training wasn’t keeping her busy enough.
And no, she didn’t disappear into a beautiful mountain cabin with endless coffee and nothing but time.
She wrote between her gym session and starting work.
Some of us use that time to scroll through TikTok, contemplate breakfast or mentally prepare ourselves for the day.
Fazila wrote a book.
What struck me wasn’t just the speed, but the fact that she made writing fit into the life she already had.
There’s something quite inspiring about that. You don’t necessarily need to change your entire life to pursue something creative.
Sometimes you just need to make room for it.
Three Goose Media: Because writers shouldn’t have to dance on TikTok
Of course, Fazila’s story doesn’t end with writing books.
Together with fellow authors Faziela and Namreen, she’s also part of Three Goose Media, a venture focused on helping authors navigate the often overwhelming world of marketing.
Because here’s the thing.
Writing a book is one challenge. Getting people to discover it is another entirely.
And not every writer wants to become a social media personality.
Not everyone wants to dance on TikTok, film themselves talking to a camera or spend hours trying to understand what Instagram wants this week.
Frankly, why should being a brilliant writer automatically mean you’re brilliant at social media?
That’s where Three Goose Media comes in.
The three authors understand both the beauty of literature and the realities of getting a book noticed. Their aim is to make marketing more approachable, helping writers connect with readers without feeling completely overwhelmed.
And I particularly love that they’re working to make both writing and reading more accessible.
Because a wonderful story deserves to find its audience, even if the person who wrote it would rather hide behind a book than stand in front of a camera.
The inside info? Sometimes you just go with it.
What stayed with me after chatting to Fazila wasn’t just the 83-day writing achievement or her ability to juggle finance, training, writing and entrepreneurship.
It was her attitude.
She wanted to be a journalist and accidentally became an accountant. She needed to process personal experiences and became an author. She discovered the challenges of publishing and marketing and found herself helping other writers.
None of it seems to have followed the original plan.
And yet, somehow, it all makes perfect sense.
Perhaps that’s the real insider secret here.
Sometimes you don’t need to have your entire life figured out. Sometimes you just need to see where it takes you.
And if you’re Fazila Cariem, you might as well write a book along the way.
As for me? I walked away entertained, inspired and slightly bewildered by the discovery that there are, in fact, people who make me look calm.
And that’s saying something.
Find out more: Explore Fazila Cariem’s work through Mirari Press and discover more about Three Goose Media on Instagram.
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