FAQ

Instead of an ‘About Me’ page, I select the 10 most common questions I am asked (those that find their way into a conversation with someone about my writing) over the last few months. So these will change every 3 or 4 months as some questions drop in or out of the conversations. I hope you find some of them interesting. The question I am asked with surprising frequency (and pretty unexpectedly, maybe it says something about where the world is at) was what I think is the meaning of life😊 Let’s start with that.

Q1: What do you think is the meaning of life?
I’ve thought more about this recently. I used to think the ‘story’, but that’s not quite right. It’s about creativity. I’m planning more on this for my newsletter in October and will update this answer then.

Q2: What is your favourite book?
As with most people, it changes depending on my mood or a recent experience. But one that always comes to mind is Waiting for Godot. I really did cry when I saw it on stage for the first time as a 22 year old. And every time I see the play, Didi’s desperation at the end really gets me, although I’m pleased to say I don’t cry anymore (usually).

Q3: Bertha’s Law is spread across many African countries, have you really been to all of them? And to the exact places Bertha travelled to?
I’ve been to all the countries in the book except the DRC and Ethiopia. And, yes, I was in many of same places in Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Mauritius and Kenya.

Q4: Your non-fiction seems to be a lot about mortality. Why?
It does seem to be, yes. I even drove a hearse for a while. I’m not sure why. I’ll ask my therapist.

Q5: How many books have you published or are on the way?
One in 2020, one in 2025, a French adaptation of Bertha’s Law coming, I think, this year (2025), and two coming in 2026.

Q6: Why don’t you publish independently?
Mostly because it is an awful lot of work. People don’t realise how much that entails. I have also had a great relationship with my publishers, especially SUNLiT (ASM). As a bonus they are involved in literacy and environmental issues, things I fee strongly about. But you never know when you have a book publishers don’t like and the effort of proposing and pitching may become just too much for me. At that stage I may switch.

Q7: Where do you live now and where were you born?
Are you planning to visit? 🙂 At the moment in South Africa, near the sea, but spend long periods away. Am toying with the idea of moving to another country for an adventure in a year or two. As for born … well, I was told that one day in the semi-desert of the northern Cape South Africa, my parents found a large egg. They kept it and I hatched out.

Q8: Did you always want to be a writer?
No, my first recollection is wanting to be a clown. Then I wanted to be the Pope or James Bond. At about age 16 I realised that wasn’t possible (it takes me a little while to work things out), and thus spent most my life working in science and medicine, although I did study Drama and worked in theatre and television for a few years. I fancied myself as a director, and writing is a bit like directing.

Q9: You have a French language book coming next year, what’s the connection with French?
My name, my love of the language, the times I spend in France and my very odd paternal grandfather who was a traveling salami salesman. The character of Alphonse in the episode Colesberg Call in Bertha’s Law was inspired by him.

Q10: What do you wish for most of all and what sends you into a rage?
My wish: that my son lives his truth, and that the natural world survives the human onslaught. I’m more optimistic about the former. And what sends me into a rage: injustice, cruelty to animals, rude people, bullying, definitely bullying, medicine that tastes bad (I mean is it really so difficult to fix that?)… I can carry on if you like?