Rutendo Shadaya

Rutendo Shadaya is a 17-year-old New Zealand author of Zimbabwean descent, celebrated for her fantasy series featuring strong female leads. She first gained recognition when she self-published her novella at age nine, inspired by a desire to create a meaningful birthday gift for her best friend. Shadaya has since published multiple books, won a young audience, and used her platform to encourage aspiring writers, earning her a spot on Time magazine's 'girls of the year' list for her contributions to literature and advocacy for young women.