M. J. Soni is a former eye surgeon turned author. Originally from South Africa, she now lives in Mystic, Connecticut. In this talk, Ms. Soni will give a brief overview of her experiences growing up in South Africa under the system of racial separation called Apartheid, drawing parallels with America's own past and present experiences with racism. This is especially important as the recent Black Lives Matter protests sweeping through the nation have made many Americans question their own beliefs and long held assumptions about race and privilege in America.
Ms. Soni's debut nonfiction book, "When Lions Roared: How Brave Young People Defied Apartheid", was published by Amazon Kindle Singles in 2016. Her first short story, a psychological suspense, was published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in 2017, She the winner of the Leon B. Burnstein/MWA-NY Scholarship, and the 2020 runner up to the Eleanor Taylor Bland Crime Fiction Writers of Color Award. She’s currently working on her #OwnVoices mystery/suspense which is set in a small town not that different to the one she lives in.