Meet Olfa Awedni
Olfa Awedni is a Doctor Engineer in Electrical Engineering and a university assistant professor, but beyond her academic expertise lies a storyteller deeply devoted to exploring the human experience.
She is passionate about connection, empathy, and the healing power of stories. Through teaching, writing, and speaking, Olfa inspires others to find meaning in moments of struggle and beauty in the challenges that shape us.
“I believe stories have the power to heal and unite,” she says. “They remind us that even in silence or pain, there’s always light to be found.”
Her debut memoir, After My Voice Was Gone, marks the beginning of her literary journey a heartfelt exploration of resilience, identity, and rediscovery after unimaginable loss.
The Story Behind After My Voice Was Gone
What would you do if you lost the very thing that defined your identity?
After My Voice Was Gone tells the powerful, true story of Professor Hakim, a beloved teacher whose booming voice once guided students, family, and friends. When he loses that voice to stage IV throat cancer, his world collapses. Convinced that silence means the end of his purpose, he pushes everyone away including his wife and children.
But life has other plans. When his deaf grandson is born, Hakim begins to rediscover meaning in ways he never imagined.
This memoir is a profound reflection on how tragedy can transform into purpose. It explores themes of communication, connection, and the silent strength found within love and family.
Readers will find in this book:
- A moving story of loss and rebirth
- Insights into the power of listening beyond words
- The beauty of family bonds that endure through hardship
- A reminder that healing often begins where words end
Olfa’s storytelling evokes the same emotional depth as When Breath Becomes Air and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, offering readers a journey that is both heartbreaking and deeply inspiring.
“This is not just about losing a voice,” Olfa says. “It’s about finding a new way to speak with the heart.”
Writing Habits and Creative Process
Olfa approaches writing with sincerity rather than ritual. “I don’t have unusual habits,” she explains. “I simply write from my heart whenever inspiration calls. I believe in honesty on the page because when writing comes from truth, it always finds its way to readers.”
Literary Influences
Olfa draws inspiration from memoirs that illuminate hope and resilience. She deeply admires When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby two works that capture the fragility and strength of life.
Her favorite author since childhood is Victor Hugo, whose compassion for humanity and poetic realism have influenced her own voice.
What She’s Working on Now
While balancing her work as a professor and researcher in electrical engineering, Olfa continues to write. Her next book explores the feeling of being “late” in life compared to others a universal reflection on timing, purpose, and self-acceptance.
“I want to remind readers that everyone’s journey unfolds differently,” she says. “It’s never too late to begin again.”
Challenges in Promoting Her Work
Like many new authors, Olfa admits that marketing remains a challenge. “I haven’t yet found the perfect method,” she shares. “Promotion takes time, and I’m still learning how to reach readers in a way that feels authentic to me.”
Despite the struggle, her sincerity and the emotional depth of her writing continue to resonate with those who discover her work.
Advice for New Authors
Olfa’s message to aspiring writers is simple but powerful:
“Keep writing, keep working, keep believing. Even if your spark feels small, one day it will be seen. Don’t give up.”
Her own journey balancing an academic career and creative calling is proof that persistence and passion can coexist.
The Best Advice She Has Ever Heard
“Failing at 100% is better than succeeding at 30%.”
For Olfa, this quote serves as a reminder to give everything heart, effort, and courage to every project and dream.
What She’s Reading Now
Olfa is currently reading Educated by Tara Westover, a memoir that resonates deeply with her own values of perseverance and learning against all odds.
What’s Next for Olfa Awedni
As she continues to teach and research, Olfa remains devoted to her craft. “I’m a deep thinker,” she says. “Sometimes, inspiration comes from the smallest things others overlook. As long as I’m inspired, I’ll keep writing and sharing stories that connect hearts.”
Her goal is to publish more of her unpublished works, each one reflecting her belief that every story, no matter how quiet, deserves to be heard.
Books She Would Take to a Desert Island
If stranded on a desert island, Olfa would bring books that mirror her love for courage, purpose, and meaning:
- How We Learn to Be Brave by Mariann Edgar Budde
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
- We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter
“These books remind me that even in isolation or despair, humanity and hope endure,” she says.
Connect with Olfa Awedni
- Website: Olfa Awedni Official Site
