Ace Moloi, author of Holding My Breath, describes his memoir as a graveside conversation with his late mother. In the book, he lays bare the intimate details of his life from childhood to his journey as a student at the University of the Free State (UFS).

“It is a letter to my mother that I wrote to celebrate her but also to tell my story. So you will find that it speaks about the strength of motherhood and at the same time it talks about the life struggles of a young black South African,” said the second time author.

The UFS alumnus’ first book - a fable entitled In Her Fall Rose a Nation - was published in 2013 while he was still a final-year Communication Science student at the university. Moloi’s second volume was launched on 3 June 2016 at the Bloemfontein Campus.

Growing up in the small village of Sekgutlong in Qwaqwa, Moloi dreamt of being many things - a radio presenter, a soccer player, and a writer. The writer in him soon took precedence over the sportsman and radio anchor. Because his mother did not live to see her son reach his many milestones, Moloi has dedicated Holding My Breath to her memory and as a belated Mother’s Day present.

Moloi’s writing accomplishments include winning the Young Writers SOMAFCO (Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College) Trust National Essay-Writing Competition in 2012, being selected as a runner-up in the Beyers Naudé essay writing competition in the same year, and being nominated for the Top 10 Human Rights Desk Essay Competition in 2014. Now he can add being published by BlackBird Books, an imprint of Jacana Media.

The young author said to have been “humbled” by the reception his book received at its official launch on 1 May 2016 at the Kingsmead Book Fair in Johannesburg.