Have you ever discovered an author whose writing just melted in your mouth as you savoured their sentences?
This happened to myself and my daughter recently when we discovered Witchfield by local author Nicole Rimensberger. We were both delighted with this middle grade book aimed at age 8 – 12 year olds so keep your eyes peeled for our reviews soon.
In the meantime, please enjoy a Q&A with Nicole in our Homegrown series, highlighting the best of local talent in South African authors.
– Do you have a specific routine that you follow when you sit down to write, or are you able write at any time?
I would love to be able to say I have a routine when it comes to writing, but the truth is I don’t. As someone who works fulltime and has kids, it goes without saying that life is busy. I end up writing in whatever cracks of time that are available to me – I can’t be fussy, otherwise there would never be any sentences on the page. So, basically, writing is punctuated by endless interruptions and happens in messy bits and pieces.
– What book/s are you currently reading?
I’m usually always reading something, but I have found the lockdown has affected my ability to sit down and be still enough to absorb a novel. This has made me quite sad. Recently I did read Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling and I’ve just finished Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. I’m really hoping that I’m slowly crawling my way out of this reading slump!
– Which SA authors have inspired you in your own writing?
Lauren Beukes, Marlene Van Niekerk, Clare Robertson, Fred Khumalo. There are, sadly, not many South African middle grade authors out there (if you are one – please say hi, I would love to meet you!)
My current favourite children’s authors are Lemony Snicket, Sophie Anderson, Sharon Creech, Kate DiCamillo, Chris Riddell, Neil Gaiman… how much space am I allowed?
– Did you always have a passion to write a book or did it / they stealthily creep up on you?
It’s always been there, like a bad habit I couldn’t shake.
– Which book has been your favourite to write so far?
What? That’s like asking which is my favourite child.
– What were your favourite books as a child?
I have to admit, I was a big Enid Blyton fan – those improbable, page-turning adventure stories and the endless possibilities offered by the magical elements like the Faraway Tree. They got me hooked.
– To date, what is the worst book you have ever read, and why?
That’s a difficult question! I don’t actually have one I would describe as worst. There are books that I’ve read that have not spoken to me, but that’s something that happens between the reader and the text. For example, I admire Zakes Mda’s work and his skill as a writer, but for some reason I don’t fully understand, I just don’t connect to his work – and I’ve tried a number of times with different titles.
– Do you think SA women writers and authors are treated differently to their male counterparts in the publishing world?
I honestly can’t answer this question because, having gone an independent/alternative route, I’ve not had much experience with publishers!
– If there was one piece of advice you could give to aspiring SA authors, what would it be?
To write. Regardless.
BONUS LOCKDOWN QUESTIONS:
– If we weren’t in lockdown and you could have any authors around your table for dinner, who would they be and why?
J.K. Rowling of course! I really admire what she did for children’s books and reading in general – I want to pick her brain about all sorts of things.
– What is one item you have either made/ tried/ learn’t while being in lockdown, and was it successful?
I have had a very un-Pinterest friendly lockdown and can sadly report no crafting, meditating, baking or acquiring of new skills (other than remote working). It’s just been survival – I’ve done things like feed my children (usually food they make faces at), clean the toilet, do laundry, do Zoom. The kind of stuff no one really wants to know about.
– While the lockdown was fairly sudden, and our new normal sprang up quickly, what has been a silver lining to you during this time?
Being together as a family and not having to do the mad morning rush to school and work.
I’ve also discovered that there is a kind of magic that is trapped under the canopy of trees that one only sees when lying under them.
– We have all had time to realise that we miss certain things or places during this time, what is yours?
A glass of wine with friends! Book shops! The wide-open spaces of the Drakensberg.
– What is something that you struggle with in your current situation with who you live with?
It’s been intense – being stuck at home means being “on” all the time when it comes to parenting, regardless of how much stuff you have to get done, but I wouldn’t say I’ve struggled with being home with my partner and our girls. If anything, I’m very grateful I wasn’t alone through lockdown!
Thank you so much for joining us, Nicole, for the {HOMEGROWN} series. Now that bookstores are open, (we are thankfully no longer in Level 5 Lockdown, and in fact, will soon be heading into Level 3) you can head to your local bookstore or buy Witchfield online via Amazon. Find Nicole on Instagram @hellotypewriter. Head on over to our Instagram or Facebook page to enter our Giveaway to win yourself a copy of Witchfield.
Stay safe as we continue to brave our new world.
