Rutendo Shadaya began writing a fantasy book at age nine as a birthday gift for her best friend, then self-published after struggling to find a traditional publisher. Her Rachel series uses adventure, friendship and perseverance to encourage young readers, while Shadaya hopes to bring more of her Zimbabwean heritage into future stories. Now 17, Shadaya has been named one of Time magazine’s Girls of the Year and uses her growing platform to encourage other young writers, especially girls. At nine years old, Rutendo Shadaya set out to make a birthday gift for her best friend. The idea was simple: write her a book. What followed turned into a years-long writing career, a self-publishing journey and international recognition from Time magazine. Shadaya, who was born in New Zealand to Zimbabwean parents, lives in Tokoroa, a rural town on the country’s central North Island. She began writing after deciding that a fantasy story would suit a friend who loved reading. “I was very good with gift giving, and I knew she liked reading … so I was …