The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living by Joseph M. Marshall III

I've grown quite fond of Joseph M Marshall's voice and writing, and The Lakota Way is one of the titles that I accessed through my Audible subscription that gave me much pleasure – and much to chew on in terms of how to consider life and living. And it's most certainly a book that I need to get a hard copy of in my library at some point.

Perhaps what I appreciate the most of Marshall's writing is his empathy – not only towards other people and the environment, but also empathy and kindness towards self. Yet he also does not shy away from discussing topics that are painful, and he does so within the framework that allows you to pause and reflect. 

Marshall effortlessly blends his people's cultural stories and history with his own experiences in a rich tapestry that is full of wisdom and quiet reflection – something that I feel we need, and that serves as a reason to engage more fully with ourselves, our motivations, and how we can approach navigating a world that is increasingly filled with callousness and cruelty.

I also feel that this book is suited to those who wish to engage with philosophical concepts in a way that is approachable and easy to understand – a good starting point for further reading. The Lakota Way is a book that asks you to sit still by the fire and listen. And after listening, find ways to move forward in the world with a softer touch.

The Week in Review – May 3, 2025

It was Cape Town Comic Con weekend, and as always, it was a bundle of fun. This was my third time speaking on panels, and yesterday (May 2) I was on a panel with Sam Wilson, Masha du Toit, and Shreya la Cock, all talking about the challenges that SFF authors face in South Africa. As someone who's been in the trenches since the mid-2000s, I can honestly say it's wonderful to see that newer authors are making waves despite the lack of will from the large traditional publishers in this country. Opportunities abound that were not available back in the day when I was a relative unknown. Not only can indie authors now get their books into major South Africa retailers but they are being recognised by institutions such as Comic Con. Also, we have robust small publishers like Mirari Press now looking to fill the gap for quality SFF in southern Africa where the big players are relaying on imports instead of developing local voices. Which we have. In abundance. 

Sam Wilson, Nerine Dorman, Shreya la Cock & Masha du Toit

I hope that we, as South African SFF authors, can change this mindset local readers have that all South African fiction is just about a limited set of topics. I recall walking into the main bookselling area of a big literary festival a few years ago, and the books that were promoted front and centre mostly related to politics, sports celebrity, and crime. South Africa is so much more than that.

Likeable or relatable? What's in a character?

So, this is a debate I've seen doing the rounds on social media a bit, and I felt I need to weigh in. I've seen so many readers give novels poor reviews because the characters are unlikeable. I get it that we often read because we'd like to project ourselves into a world, to escape aspects of our own that we don't like, so if a character doesn't match our own preferences, it's easy to not like them. I can think of a bunch of characters I don't like. Off the top of my head, there's Anakin Skywalker. He's an entitled little prat for quite a few of the movies, and then he becomes the dark lord himself. He kills countless people. He's cruel. He's petty. And yet, right at the end, he has that glimmer of goodness that redeems him and tips the balance of an entire saga. I find him fascinating. I don't want to be Anakin, but I do love watching character arcs like this. If I take an example from literary fiction, Holden Caulfield annoys the ever-loving crap out of me, and I'll likely not reread The Catcher in the Rye again unless it's for any tertiary studies I might do. But Holden still makes for an interesting character worth discussing.

The crux of the matter is that characters have quirks. I consider how my views on Cathy and Heathcliff and their support cast have changed since the first time I read Wuthering Heights at age 14. As a teen, I felt they were wonderfully tragic. As a middle-aged adult I want to slap some sense into them. When you write characters, write to provoke. To make memorable characters. In a world of Bella Swans rather write a Circe Lannister.

Reviews to make authors purr

I had such a wonderful batch of reviews for The Company of Birds this week after the Instagram readalong. 

Mr Pink Ink writes, The pacing of the novel does require patience, especially in the first half, where much of the world-building takes place. However, once the story gains momentum, the payoff is immense. The depth of the world, combined with Dorman’s lyrical prose, makes for a read that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Riley Herbert-Henry writes over at Goodreads, Nerine Dorman’s prose is elegant and lyrical. She conjures worlds that are rich and vivid and otherworldly. Her characters are flawed and deeply human. You feel with them, ache with them, route for them. Dorman manages to find the perfect balance between working with introspective character monologues and high-stakes conflict, all while asking difficult moral questions.

Do go pick up your copy direct from the Mirari Press website.

Mini Review: Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

I purchased a copy of this book a hundred gazillion years ago when the publisher was having a massive sale, and it's been languishing far too long on my Kindle. I'm so glad that I gave it a spin, because it turns out that Eames' writing is exactly what I needed this past while. The premise of the novel is simple – in a world where monster-hunting mercenary bands are treated with the same awe as rockstars, a band has a reunion and goes on a not-so-merry adventure to rescue the daughter of one of the members.

At times absurd, playing with all the well-worn fantasy tropes and at times having quite serious social commentary to make (I'll give a hint, the bad guys are not simply the bad guys for the reason of being bad), this epic saga is at times funny in an almost Pratchettesque way but also goes to some dark places. It's a perfect blend of action adventure and humour in a fantasy setting, and I'm immediately jumping into book two. I've heard through the grapevine that book three is in the works.

You're not pizza – a healthy attitude to bleh reviews

One of the things I've learnt over the years is that I'm not pizza. Not everyone's going to enjoy my writing. It might be a pacing issue. It might be an unlikeable character. Hell, it might even be the subject matter. Whatever it is, I'm not going to please everyone, and I'm okay with that. That doesn't mean that those bleh reviews don't sting. But here's my advice to any author who's received that first lukewarm-yet-stinging two- or three-star review. Or heaven forbid, a genuine one-star DNF stinker. 

Here's what you do: I want you to think of the most recent novel you read that you absolutely adored, that felt as if it was written just for you. Go to Goodreads or Amazon, and go look at all the reviews for that novel that are three stars or less. There. Do you feel so bad about your own writing?

This is a subjective business. That is one truth I've seen again and again in the decades that I've been seeing my stories wander off into the wide world.

Unconquerable Sun (The Sun Chronicles #1) by Kate Elliott

We need to pause a moment to talk about Unconquerable Sun by Kate Elliott. We also need to talk about why we don't get more readers of SFF dropping her name. I've been meaning to return to Kate's writing for years now and had dipped into her Crown of Stars series half a million years ago. So it's been high time for me to return to her writing – especially since I appreciate what she has to share on social media. 

I must also add that I'm vastly fascinated by the story of Alexander the Great, so when Kate first started mentioning that she was writing a gender-bent Alexander the Great space opera, I perked up my ears. And while I did pick this title up as an ebook, I ended up listening to the audiobook via my Audible subscription rather. And wow, what a ride.

First off – Kate does world building that's second to none. And at the start it might be a little overwhelming to figure out who's who and what's what, but I can promise you, she rewards patient readers. 

We follow the doings of Princess Sun, who's a promising military commander, save that she has a temper and she's chafing at being held back by her mother, the great Queen-Marshal Eirene. And though Sun might be the heir to her mother's power, things are not all plain sailing. Not only is the republic facing a threat from the outside, there are machiavellian political manoeuvrings from within, too – perhaps even from Sun's closest and most trusted companions. 

In an action-packed caper that never allows the characters (or readers) to get complacent or comfortable, we follow Sun as she keeps on the go – and there is a lot of action. Enough for me to want to go back to read the actual book instead of listening to the audiobook, as there's quite a lot I suspect I missed the first time around. And there is most certainly A LOT going on in this book. And it's very different from what I experienced with the Crown of Stars which, if I recall, got quite esoteric at times.

As for the Asian elements brought in – as an African, familiar more with Western and African elements in my fiction, I am not going to delivery commentary in that regard. All I'll say is that I enjoyed the non-US/West-centric flavouring and leave it to Asian folks to comment on that side of things.

So, did I enjoy this epic? I will admit it took me about a quarter of the novel to get invested, but once I was, I was fully on board. Yes, the cast is large. Yes, it's likely difficult to give enough of the characters airtime, and there's also no spoon feeding. The pace is relentless, the mood more action-orientated than cerebral. And I immediately got the audiobook for the book two when it came out – so that says something. Now, if I could only make the time to listen to the darned thing.

This one may well appeal to Trekkies who want a world that's broad in scope, with plenty of action to keep them turning the pages. 

The Week in Review – April 27, 2025

Yesterday ended up being far too weird and exhaustapating, so I simply didn't have the spoons for blogging. As I'm writing today, it once again feels somewhat like a warzone. The mountain is burning over at the Silvermine/Tokai side, so we have choppers and spotter planes, and emergency notifications about staying off the mountain. For the most, our air has been good but now the wind has shifted, so we're starting to smell smoke. The light outside has taken on a brassy quality that triggers some vague mammalian reflex to panic. But I have faith in our firefighters and disaster management, and the fire is far away enough that I'm not concerned. 

Ghosts from my past

I've been thinking about some of my older books that came out in the 2000s and early 2010s. Particularly Raven Kin and The Guardian's Wyrd, where there is occurrence of slavery in the story. And I describe societies where this is normalised. Raven Kin specifically was set in a faux-Roman Imperial setting, where the main character is the associate of a woman who is the daughter of a slave dealer who liberates a barbarian captive, thereby inadvertently hurrying up the fall of said empire. In The Guardian's Wyrd, the main character, Jaye, does a rescue mission where he meets slaves who aren't fussed with their situation because they'd bee zicked out of worse situations on earth. Now for The Guardian's Wyrd I really feel like I need to rework that book somewhat – so I don't really promote the story much. But I'm not sure if I should take it down quite yet either, since I'm working on the sequel in fits and starts, and am thinking that when I'm ready with part two, to take book one down and smoosh both together. Then take a stronger, less measured stance from the MC's point of view. Especially considering that he's descended from people who were initially brought to the Cape as slaves. 

I need to make it quite clear – I believe slavery is abhorrent. If I write about it in my fiction, it's to highlight the awfulness of these extreme power imbalances as something that needs to be fought against tooth and nail. So when I put these themes in my novels it's to explore ideas of why it's important we should resist authoritarian regimes that disregard people's freedom – the issue of freedom being one of the most important themes in my fiction.

But that hasn't stopped me from thinking about these two books of mine and wondering if I should perhaps take down The Guardian's Wyrd for now. It's not like it's selling enough copies to warrant keeping it available. Heck, it's not even being pirated, so um, yay? I'm not mortified by the book but by the same measure, it's not exactly one that I go out of my way to recommend to others as a read. 

A few years ago when I got the rights back for Camdeboo Nights, I made the decision to not republish it myself. I instead cannibalised it for parts, so we now have Stars Don't Glitter, which is sitting with my lovely agent. I think SDG is a far tighter story that packs even more wonder and will give me far more mileage than TGW. Camdeboo Nights wasn't bad – for a novel written by a relatively inexperienced writer back in the late-2000s. But it also wasn't particularly good, if you ask me. I put too much in there that I felt would add flavour, instead of focusing on good bones. If you know, you know.

Would love to know hear your ideas about what to do with these older books.

Generative AI – it needs to be said. Again.

This week one of my clients came to me wanting to rebrand all her books with AI covers. I respectfully told her that I cannot help her – not with something that I believe is damaging the very creative industry that I rely upon for my income. I get that hiring an illustrator is expensive, but goodness gracious, you can get premade covers for as little as $99. I've seen some advertised for less. And we're talking good, quality covers that will more than sell up your novel to the right audience. Made by human beings.

This notion that we need to cut out the pesky middlemen such as artists, editors, and writers, to get to the juicy product while making huge piles of profit is so damaging to the creative process. And I'm afraid I see a greater divide between those who are chasing those profit margins vs. those of us who believe in the humanity in every step of the path to making beautiful books.

 When I appreciate art – whether it is music, a painting, sculpture, or a book – I want to feel as if I'm connecting in some way with the intentionality of the creator. We don't have that with something that is pooped out by a machine.

The bottom line is a) generative AI is built on stolen datasets, b) it's genuinely bad for the environment, and c) it's making us dumber.

Look, this is a huge discussion, but if I have to lay out the argument in very small, simple words, these are the three points I make. The next person who tells me that generative AI is "democratising art" will get a swift klap upside the head with a pap snoek. (South Africans will get that last statement.)

Robert Mapplethorpe – a mini review

A few years ago, a friend in the US made me a little happy packet with goodies in, and this wonderful large book was tucked in among all the items. At the time, my husband was still busy doing quite a bit of fetish photography, so my friend had thought we'd appreciate the book. And we did, and although I did page through the book, it went to go live on my bookshelf in the study.

Now, to rewind a smidge – I majored in photography at university, so we did at some point touch on Robert Mapplethorpe's work, and I think if we did look at some examples, they were not quite the ones that we see in this volume (!!!).  As they say, IYKYK. My suggestion is to not page through this book with anyone who is a bit sensitive about nudity and sexual imagery. 

A few years down the line, I think I have better cultural context for Mapplethorpe's work. I'm currently on a bit of a deep dive hyperfixating on Patti Smith and the milieu in which she was active, so her profound relationship with Mapplethorpe also needs to be examined. If anything, this has gotten me thinking about visual communication again, especially in terms of black-and-white photography with regards to messaging and composition. 

I started out in the dark room, and while we're spoilt for choice with our digital cameras, I do feel that we've lost something about the art of making beautiful pictures. Even the ones that come out slightly wrong.

At any rate, the essays in this book, while thought-provoking, I feel are also a bit too ... I dunno. I get impatient with folks who get all high falutin' with jargon and esoteric with how they approach descriptions of image-making. I never really was much one who was of an academic bent. But the pictures are pretty, and they are worth a hundred words.

Writing advice...

And for those who're idly curious, here's a link to a writers' workshop I hosted about worldbuilding. Enjoy!

Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith and Jess Hendel

Look, this has been an extremely difficult review for me to write. It takes A LOT for me to DNF a book. And judging by the premise alone, I thought this book was going to be right up my alley. Which is why I initially picked it up. But I think I managed to get about 30% when I simply couldn't anymore. It was not the writing – the authors start out strong, and thorough structural edits I think this book might even have worked.

But.

It was the lack of even the slightest bit of research into world building that drove me out of my skull. I don't know if the editor was sleeping at the wheel, was simply ignored or what was going on here, but it was the factual inaccuracies that made me give up.

The first was characters travelling through the Saharan desert and picking coconuts from palm trees at oases... While coconuts do occur in Africa, thanks to global trade, they will only thrive in areas with sufficient rainfall. I did much eye-rolling. It didn't end there.

Later, the main character ends up in Scandinavia. And I mean, the premise is awesome – a young black woman, traded as a slave, finds her way to the far north where she becomes the warrior she was always dreaming of being. And that's fine. That's a fantastic story.

Then more world-breaking stuff happened for me.

I always have a quiet chuckle when I read scenes where characters run through a forest at night. Having done wide games during my youth in Girl Guides, I can attest to the fact that running through even a pine forest is not advisable at night when you do not have a flashlight. Yes, there was running through a forest at night. There was also a spot of single-handedly slaying a wolf with a kitchen knife. At which point I sighed mightily and spent much time researching the physics of knife-throwing and the strength of wolfskin. And I could not suspend disbelief.

Then said character single-handedly lugged a large deceased wolf back home. Now, I consider myself to be quite fit and strong for a female person. But there was that time when I had to lug a semi-comatose 54kg boerboel x boxer from the vet and upstairs to my home. It didn't happen. I only got as far as the stairs because the dog could kinda stumble. A friend of mine who has Newfoundlands tells me that back in his younger years carrying an anaesthetised dog of 85kg from the vet's consulting room to the car was "like wrestling a bag of wet cement". 

So, a young woman singlehandedly carrying a large dead wolf (possibly weighing 80kg or more) slung over her shoulders through a forest at night back to home base? And barely breaking a sweat? Sorry, I know fantasy gives us dragons and wizards, but I simply could not suspend disbelief for this. I struggle to lug a 20kg bag of laying pellets from the boot of my car upstairs to my house.

But wait, there's more...

Said character then skins the wolf that very same night and makes her friend a natty wolfskin tunic to wear the next morning. Oh, and she makes a necklace from the teeth, too. Even Ayla (IYKYK) couldn't have this girl beat, I tell you. And hot damn, that's gonna be a super-stinky tunic in a day or so.

This is the point where I gave up. I'm sorry. I tried. The premise was definitely one that I would have loved like crazy, but these are the types of glaring issues that I would not let fly with the authors I edit or beta read for. To see this make it to print with a traditionally published book... I don't care who the author is. 

Other than the factual sinkholes, the writing is all right, if somewhat workmanlike. There were often parts that I felt were rushed, where there was not enough motivation to carry me through to why characters do certain things. But yeah... I think the editor was either inexperienced or ignored when this one went out into the world.

The Week in Review – April 19, 2025

It would appear that this week is one for inviting a bunch of TERFs to my block party. With She Who Will Not Be Named further proving to the world that she's become Voldemort, it's more important than ever for good people to stand up for the smallest of minorities who are being impacted by her actions. So yeah, I'll say it again, because it must be said: trans rights are human rights. You cannot in all good conscience support the Harry Potter franchise while the bitch still lives. Trans lives are more important than Harry Potter. 

Anyhoo, so back onto what's happening in my world. This week was an amazing one for me because I finished two massive editing and/writing projects. The biggest one for me was having to write alt text for over 20 backlist titles for the big publisher I work for in the UK. I pretty much had to do all the work in 10 days as I still had other deadlines that gnawed at me, but the relief at handing over that final file was cathartic to say the least.

Which left me free to finish edits on another rather challenging edit for a local author – challenging because there were so many areas for improvement in the manuscript, and it's very much a case of as editor being able to deconstruct the work that needs to be done, highlight the aspects that need attention, then draw up a list of resources and a battle plan for the writer that a) will give specific feedback and b) not discourage them. A good editor will be able to see to the heart of the story and make the appropriate recommendations. 

In this case, I had five pages of handwritten notes to go through and put into order – which took quite some time. It's also not something I'd do if it weren't for the fact that I believe that this novel can be overhauled. If you ever receive such detailed feedback from an editor, realise that they took the fucking time to put all these thoughts in order and that it's not coming from a place of malice but rather a genuine intention to help you become a better writer. It's a calling I have, to invest in my local writing community when and where I can.

I'm feeling kinda giddy right now because I don't have these arsewhomping deadlines. It also means that my availability is ... well ... available. I do have a few small projects that I'm working on, but nothing that's going to turn me into a semi-masticated pile of goop. So, if you need edits, want to look at a bit of coaching, drop me an email at nerinedorman@gmail.com

Land | Lines by Shari Daya – a mini review

I must draw attention to this slim volume of poems by Shari Daya. A few months ago, I was blessed to attend one of Helen Moffett's Salon Hecate events at the Noodhoek Artpoint Gallery, where she hosted local poet Shari Daya to launch her collection of poems entitled Land | Lines (Karavan Press, 2024). And what a selection of beautiful words it is.

Daya possesses a rare eye (and ear) for evoking space and senses, each poem encapsulating moments of presence in the world and the complex accompanying thoughts and emotions. She has a talent for evoking instances in vivid colour and texture with only a few deft brushstrokes, and for those of you who grew up in Cape Town, this one's a must. Many of those poems linger. For me it was very much "The Work of Dying" with this passage:

My father, when the hours were numbered, knew
to call on muscle memory for each slide,
each breath, each grip-release, as onto ice,
fresh water running strong and clear beneath.

If you're an avid collector of quality words, then reach out to Karavan Press for your copy of this thoroughly profound little book. You will return to the words within, I promise.

Call the Fire – State of the Thing

Some of you might recall this year's big new of my five-book deal with Mirari Press for the Scatterlings of Fate, a rather ambitious project of mine that's been on the backburner primarily because Toby and I were so busy with The Splintered Fool five-book series. (which is still under production, I'll have you know – I'm currently drawing a map.)

The scary thing about picking up the threads around eight years after writing book one for Scatterlings is that I don't have any notes nor any deep familiarity with the characters and their predicaments. In fact, somewhere between moving desks around in the Treehaus and writing a bunch of other novels and stories, I lost whatever notes I had. Were they stashed at the bottom of a tray, saved as Google Docs or a random Word Document stashed on a hard drive somewhere? WE'LL NEVER KNOW.

This is both terrifying and liberating. It also meant I needed to reread the document and make copious new notes, draw maps, and build up a rough wiki with cultures, languages, plants and stuff. A lot happened since I wrote the end on book one, Call the Fire, and me bravely (or foolishly) telling my publisher when he made an offer that there'd be five books. It was always supposed to be five books: four origin stories for four friends dragged into far-flung reaches of a vast world, only to be brought back together by cruel twists of fate that see them possibly at odds with each other. While a world burns and empires clash. 

I finished my read-through of Call the Fire last night at 11.30pm whereupon I immediately wrote my publisher a completely bonkers wall o'text detailing my cunning plans – #sorrynotsorry, Marius. I couldn't put the fucking book down. Who is this past Nerine and how the hell did she manage to write this marvellous book? What drugs was she on? (None, I can assure you. This was pure braingasm.) There's something to be said about loving a relatively old manuscript when I can barely look at some of my older stories that I will honestly admit have problematic elements when viewed in light of today's societal conventions. You don't need to call me out on those. I know. I can do better. Be better.

Anyhow, getting back to Scatterlings – my next step is going to involve very careful management of timelines and story beats. Since for of the books happen along the same timeline I need to know who is where and when. How much of certain events will be foreshadowed earlier. How the four timelines brush up against each other before they eventually converge. I'll be making tables in InDesign. I foresee this in my future. I am the Table Queen. Hear me ROAR.

I already have a number of elements I'll be folding in, which includes a nod to a few historical figures such as Napoleon, Dr James Barry, and the Golden Age of piracy. I'll be cannibalising one of my other WiPs for an undead mummy assassin (a story that was legit based on a dream I had). There will be some fantastical beasties, such as giant eagles and griffins, selkies, and yes, maybe even gnomes. Because people asked, and this epic is also about creating a world that features things you want to read. So, this is the part where I invite you to leave any requests in the comments below. What do you want to see in this absolutely unhinged epic fantasy?

Photographs

I've had a few inquiries about my photos and where prints can be available. And although I'm not reliant on photography for my income, I've decided to make select works available over at my Redbubble store. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll know that I very much have a vibe that favours things of a taphophile theme. If this is your jam, then do swing past my store and consider supporting my work there. I have a range of different options available.

Die Kapokdokter deur François Loots

Ek is al vir ’n lang tyd gefassineerd met die lewe van Doktor James Barry, ’n Engelse doktor wie gedurende die jare van 1816 tot 1827 aktief was in die Kaapse Kolonie. Maar die ding is, James was geen man nie, maar ’n vrou. Die enigste manier wat destydse Margaret Anne Bulkley geneeskunde kon studeer was om vir haarself as ’n jong man voor te gee – dus het sy James Barry geword. So suksesvol was die aanpassing van identiteit dat Margaret heeltemal in James weggeraak het, en toe James by die weermag aansluit, het ’n hele ander wêreld vir hom ontvou. As mense ooit iets van die waarheid verdag het, het dit nooit uitgekom nie – eers na sy dood in 1865.

Die Kapokdokter deur François Loots is ’n fiktiewe narratief wat vrae stel meestal oor identiteit. Meeste van die storie speel af gedurende die tyd wat James in die Kaapse Kolonie geneeskunde beoefen het – en ons sien hoe hy geworstel het met sy verlede en hede binne die konteks van die gesig wat hy vir dié rondom hom wys en wat hy innerlik voel. Die stres van sy geheim is groot, en al sukkel James met die verskillende situasies waarin hy homself bevind in die Kaap, moet hy nog boonop nog vir almal die mees belangrike geheim wegsteek. Ek sal maar sê: dis gekompliseerd.

Ek het in die begin ’n bietjie gesukkel met die styl – en het gevoel asof Loots doelbewus inligting wat James sal weet van lesers weerhou – maar die verhaal speel hom mooi uit, so dit was nie iets wat vir my die einde van die wêreld was nie. Ek voel diegene wie van historiese romans hou, en nuuskierig is oor James se lewe, hierdie boek sal geniet. Dis ’n stukkie van die Kaapstad van die vroeë negentiende eeu wat lewe vind tussen die blaaie deur die lens van ’n besondere mens.

The Week in Review – April 12, 2025

It's always with a sense of immense relief whenever I finish up a massively intense deadline – like the past three or so weeks have been where I had to write alt text on 17 backlist titles for the big publisher in the UK I work for. Of course, invariably, with a job like this, much like the creative process in general, it ends up with the memeworthy "doing all the work while crying".

Anyhoo, I got through it – the largest title taking me more than five hours of describing highly complex bar graphs for the visually impaired. It's ... definitely a skill. But it wasn't all dull stuff. A highlight for me was writing alt text for three Patti Smith books and oh my gosh, why have I never delved deeper into her work? I do believe I'll be purchasing hard copies of these titles – there's something to be said about a creative person who works across multiple disciplines and is still going strong in her latter years. She's a decade younger than my mum. Respect.

I briefly want to talk about the whole thing with the de-extinction of the dire wolves according to the work that Colossal has been doing. On one hand, my inner SF author is absolutely gobsmacked by the science behind this while another part of me has had time to sit back and listen to other opinions. So I have mixed feelings.

These are not dire wolves in the historical sense – it's been pointed out that the animals that died out over 10,000 years ago were not actually related to grey wolves at all, but were closer to dholes. All Colossal has done is mod the genes so that they have larger, edited grey wolves that share traits with dire wolves. No actual dire wolf genes were spliced and diced, but rather certain genes were nudged in the modified grey wolf DNA (at least that's how I understand it and am trying to explain it in plain English).

But evolution is a weird thing. Case in point is the Aldabra rail – a fascinating story of how the form of the animal was so well suited to the environment that under similar circumstances the same creature evolved after the first iteration went extinct. And let's look at parallel evolution. We have porcupines in the Americas and Africa, but they are not closely related, even if they are both rodents. They both have quills, however. 

If these hypothetical dire "wolves" can occupy the same ecological niche the original ones did, then they will have similar form and function, so in a sense do behave as the dire wolves should. Nu-dire wolves, anyone? Not that there's much in the way of megafauna for them to hunt these days.

I've seen people saying we should rather protect the species that we already have, and that to have these 'de-extincted' beasts running around is unethical since we can barely manage the vulnerable or critically endangered ones we already have. And yes, I totally see their point.

Yet it is also my hope that the work being done can be applied to helping restore species that are under significant pressure. Or nudging along programmes such as The Quagga Project that has already done a much gentler job of de-exctinction for the quagga. The current generation of Rau-quagga, as they're called, are really starting to look the part.

I do, however, have a great fear that we're going to see many more 'designer' exotic animals created for wealthy billionaires who don't have anything better to do with their fancy yacht money. Le sigh.

Anyhoo.

On to books.

Mini review

I just read Knee-Deep in Cinders by Ashley Capes, an author I've reviewed before, and I'm happy to say that I enjoyed this book even more than his first, that I read a million years ago, it feels like. In this one, we meet Vilas, who's the endling of his people, who were brutally murdered and used for magic potions by a conquering race, due to magical properties in their bodies – primarily their immortality. Vilas is now kept under lock and key, collared so that he cannot access his magic, and he vows that one day he will break free and wreak vengeance on the city of Onath. Yet when an existential threat looms, Vilas may very well be the only one who can save the city he has vowed to destroy. 

Capes offers well-written, action- and intrigue-packed adventure fantasy set in a well-realised world populated by a broad cast of characters. This is very much the type of story that carries me away so that I forget that I'm reading and get swept up in the action, with some nicely executed descriptions as well. I know that with his previous book I felt that there were moments where characters acted without sufficient motivation and I'm pleased to see that this time, he's gone deeper, with a far stronger-realised setting and characters. A solid read, and one that I recommend.

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I read The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon yoinks and yoinks ago, and I recall enjoying it, so I was certain that when I picked up The Priory of the Orange Tree that I'd enjoy it. Her writing is often hyped and in this case I'd say that the hype is warranted. Shannon writes the kind of fantasy I can sink my teeth into, and her solid grip on evoking a sense of history and place in her writing is what keeps me reading. But also, the covers. Oh my, Bloomsbury has outdone themselves with the covers – and not only for The Priory but also for the other book in this setting that is currently sitting next to its chum up on my bookshelf – A Day of Fallen Night. These are pretty books that look simply delightful in my permanent library, avid book dragon that I am.

Speaking of dragons, this book has 'em. 

We meet Tané, a dragonrider; Ead, a mage belonging to a secret order who must safeguard a queen; and of course Queen Sabran who must face great adversity to rule her land. I don't want to go into too many particulars – this is way beyond the scope of this review, but I will touch on themes. We do have an outside, existential threat that reminded me somewhat of The Lord of the Rings in terms of the world-breaking aspect that the different protagonists face. It's a ticking clock, if you will, with it being quite clear that if East cannot treat with West, then everyone's doomed.

Sabran is very much a Queen Elizabeth figure, while our enlightened meddlesome mages with their orange tree are suggestive of our Assassins or yore, and of course our dragonrider's culture is very much a nod to Imperial China – and it's really a lovely combination, with plenty of adventuring and derring-do. And the sapphic angle was wonderful to see so effortlessly front and centre.

But...

Of course, there's a but.

While the story starts off strong, and Shannon has oodles of awesome happening, I feel that she falls afoul of the the law of 'too much awesome'. One of two things should have happened: the novel should have been reeled in and simplified with perhaps fewer subplots and viewpoint characters in order to focus more on shoring up the stronger main arcs or, alternatively, it should have been expanded into two or three books, with more attention given to fully developing all the narrative arcs.

While I still found this an entirely enjoyable read – enough so that I immediately purchased the next book in this setting, I felt that about 3/4 of the way in, Shannon suddenly came to the startling conclusion that she needed to wrap the story. Whether this was due to the publisher's deadline or a self-imposed one, who knows, but the last quarter of the story feels somewhat dashed off. She gets off to a strong start but then either lacks the will or the wherewithal to see it through to the end. And this is a big book – one I'll likely read again in a few years. The world is big enough that it wouldn't have hurt to develop this further to give The Priory a more dynamic ending. It's not a deal-breaker, but definitely a thought I've had.

As you can most likely gather by now, I feel quite strongly about Samantha Shannon's writing, enough that I'll go on a limb. I really love what she's doing, however, and I'm glad that she's getting the opportunity to tell her stories.

The Week in Review – April 5, 2025

There's a lot I can say about the world at present, but I've already deleted the introduction to today's blog once because I think I was dropping too many F-bombs.

Anyhoo, before I go back on my decision to make this post family friendly, it's time to kick off with this week's roundup...

I've not had nearly as much time as I would have liked to read, but I did finish wonderful little field guide by Peter Ryan. Yes, I'm more than a little obsessed with birds, so the Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa is one that I particularly enjoyed. Granted, my eyes complained about the size of the type, but this is a field guide, so if it weren't the kind of book you'd conveniently slip into your backpack before going for a cruise on a ship, then it would have to be the kind of hefty coffee table book you could clobber annoying people over the head with. (I'd really like that, too.)

What I appreciated with this slim volume was how much they managed to pack into it. Not only do we get an overview about seabirds in general – and they really are amazing, considering some of them hardly ever go to land – but we're also reminded how fragile our oceans are. We are one of the reasons why seabirds are vulnerable thanks to our fishing habits and also all the awful plastics we seem to be choking our oceans with. 

But if you get past that, Ryan gives us an excellent overview of all the important species that are found in and around our coast ... as well as the ones who sometimes wander here by mistake. And I learnt a new word (for me, all right) for a type of albatross. Whoever came up with "mollymawk" deserves a badge. I may want to include it in a colourful, Shakespearean insult one day.

Nevertheless, this fantastic little book has loads of photos, and while I'm not going to tell my shearwaters apart from my storm petrels anytime soon (without a lot of handholding), I really do appreciate all the photos that will assist with IDing. I suppose I really need to get off my posterior and go for a boat cruise soon considering that Simon's Town and Cape Point are right on my doorstep, so ostensibly I don't have to go far for some birdwatching.

Bookish stuff

This past week I attended one of editor and all-round awesome person Helen Moffett's Salon Hecate events at the Noordhoek Artpoint. One cannot ask for a better environment to sit and listen to folks talk about their passions – there are always amazing new artworks up on the walls. This time around it was on April 1, and the talk centred around why certain people do the things they do (publishing, volunteering, doing book fairs) in a country that doesn't exactly have a huge reading culture. 

Speakers included Julia Smuts Louw (Off The Wall poetry), Darryl David (assorted book festivals), and Colleen Higgs (Modjaji Books), all interrogated by Helen. My big takeaway was that one needs to put your trust in the universe and take that leap of faith to do that thing that makes your heart beat faster. You might not always succeed, but when you do, it's magic.

And to a large degree, that's what I've found. If I look at my career thus far, I'm certainly not wealthy, but I've had some incredible successes that involve winning major literary awards, speaking at literary festivals and Comic Con, working with some of my favourite authors and illustrators, and of course, seeing my books out there in the wilds. It's not so much the number of books, but rather the journey that sees you arrive at various destinations. 

If you think it's a mountain that has one peak, you're very much mistaken. I liken this more to a steady climb full of false summits that never end unless you decide you're done.

I'm not done yet.

Going wide

I've steadily been going wide with my books. What that means is that I've given up on Amazon's Kindle Unlimited for my most recent titles. My sales there have been so dismal. I don't know if it's the boycott of Amazon goods or simply that the industry is so volatile what with all the junk AI books and general oversaturation. Or just that I really suck at marketing. Or perhaps all of the above. What I am grateful for is my small cabal of rabid readers who go out to buy my books when they do release. THANK YOU.

So, my books are now going to be going up at Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and all the others, as soon as their terms with KU finish up (it's a 90-day contract). And I'll also be directing folks to purchase the ebooks directly from my Ko-fi store as that's the venue where I get the biggest slice of the pie when it comes to the splits. PayPal doesn't steal nearly as much from me as Amazon or the other vendors do. So if you're looking for something to read, do stop by my Ko-fi store. I've just put up the ebook for my novelette The Princess Job this past week. I'll still be using Amazon for my print fulfilment, however, as the system works, even if it's not that author friendly. I just shudder what the print costs are going to be now with all the tariffs. But, as we say here in South Africa, ons sal maar sien.

The Week in Review – March 29, 2025

This has been one of those weeks where I really don't have much to say – pretty much subsumed by work with a pack of brutal deadlines. I broke all my previous records and proved that when I have a fire lit under my arse I can type 2,500 words an hour. I don't recommend doing it, but I still have it in me. This was for an alt text job that I misjudged the number of images I had to write descriptions for. That was *fun*. Not. But hey, it pays the bills.

 

Anyhoo, I've not done nearly as much reading as I'd have liked to. I've just been so knackered in the evenings, and honestly, when I've spent my entire day reading and editing and writing, the last thing on the face of this planet I can bear doing is more reading. Nope, I watch short prank videos on IG. And chortle like a lunatic.

But today being my birthday, I'm taking things slow. The husband creature and I went to buy some nice things at the shops and we've got a few friends coming around for tea. Which is something we don't often do. My brain is itching for me to write, and my next WiP is nibbling at my grey matter. I've got some ideas I'd like to weave in. Mostly, I want to make some acerbic commentary about current global events. But it's good, also, that I'm not actively writing today. I need a break. I'm feeling a bit crispy at the edges.

And yeah I know, I'm blogging today, but I enjoy this; it's one of my guilty pleasures. In a few years' time I might look back at these words and cringe, but for now it's a valuable outlet. I'm not so vain to think I'll ever have a biographer looking through my dog ends of thoughts and opinions. But I'm not likely to inflict my memoirs on anyone either. Haha.

Which reminds me of a a writers' meeting I once ran. There were a dozen participants, of whom only one was a teen. The rest were all retired. There was the one prerequisite man with faulty hearing aids predictably sitting the furthest away from me (he was writing a political conspiracy theory thriller – of course he was). The rest were all ladies who were either writing poetry or their memoirs. The teen was sitting next to me, looking rather wide-eyed at all the older folks, and she leaned over to whisper, "What is a memoir?" At which point I laughed a little too loudly before I explained it to her.

We all want to be remembered. Have our names memorialised on stone. But when I walk in the local cemetery as I am wont to do, so many of the headstones are so badly eroded you cannot see the names. Particularly tragic are the ones that were initially intended as shared plots, with the one spouse's details on the joint headstone blank. There's a story there, except no one's around to tell it. Or the sad little stones, choked in long grass, of the little children who lived perhaps a day or two, who were so loved and wanted by their parents that they had their names carved into pale marble with a bible verse. The parents are now in the dirt, too. All gone. And homeless people make their beds on the graves.

I guess I'm always slightly maudlin about the ephemeral nature of life, conscious of trying to pack as much living into each moment before it's gone. I'm reminded of that immortal line from Highlander, when the Kurgan tells Connor McLeod: "It's better to burn out than to fade away" – and that's kinda been my ethos over the years.

Though now approaching 50 I have learnt to pace myself. 47 is plenty good to get stuff done, and I would prefer to be able to go at a decent pace for a good few years still. I like to remind myself that Robin Hobb wrote her breakout novel Assassin's Apprentice at age 47, when she'd already written and published countless other novels under the name Megan Lindholm. So perhaps there is hope for me yet.

And lastly... Because this is a bit of a rambling mess of a post. I have been slowly putting my ebooks up at my Ko-fi shop because honestly, I'm tired of Jeff Bezos getting more fancy yacht money out of me. If you've yet to read any of my books, do consider buying one of mine or simply buying me a cup of coffee just for shits and giggles. It being my birthday and all that... 

Almost Human by Lee Berger and John Hawks

I will admit straight-up that I'm terrified of caves, so there were parts of this book that had me kinda claustrophobic in a big way. But oh, what a wonderful read. I've been fascinated by the work done by archaeologists, anthropolgists, and palaeontologists since I was a wee lass, so Lee Berger's story in Almost Human (narrated by Donald Corren) about how he pulled together the team that discovered and described an early hominid and one of our ancestors – Homo naledi – was absolutely riveting.

What many of us often don't realise when we're watching a nature documentary is how much behind-the-scenes effort goes into these expeditions of literal blood, sweat, and tears at times. Lee Berger is a paleoanthropologist who has spent many years here in South Africa studying the ancient remains of our ancestors and near cousins, and he really digs deep into how he pulled his team together and how they faced and overcame the many challenges they encountered in their work.

What I love about his writing is that he not only comes across as a scientist who knows his stuff, but he tells a darned fine story, too – a rare combination. So his writing is very much accessible to those of us who may not be conversant in all the scientific terms. His approach of sharing his findings with the scientific world at large also goes contrary to the methods of many researchers who are not so forthcoming with their research – his attitude geared towards getting as much input as possible from those in the know.

The basic story of the H. naledi discovery is particularly fascinating because not only is the species a crucial, missing link in our understanding of human evolution, but also the the remains themselves were discovered in a practically inaccessible cave, making it an incredible challenge to not only analyse the site but to retrieve the remains for further study using a scientific method.

And for once this was an opportunity for women to shine – with young women researchers being the ones who had the physical characteristics that made them best suited to squeeze through the tight spots guys would struggle with and then still spend hours at a time at their work carefully retrieving the remains.

This was a thrilling account that turned, ahem, dry bones, into something exciting. 

The Week in Review – March 22, 2025

The big news this week has, of course, been the whole shitshow with Meta having been caught out for training its AI on a database of pirated books. The Atlantic made a link available where authors can search to see whether their books have been used... And lo and behold, six of my novels and one short story anthology that contains one of my stories appears there. I'm unsurprised. I'm not even angry anymore. Just sad and resigned that creatives' work has been reduced to mere 'content' to feed the capitalism machine. 

That won't stop me from continuing to write, however. But it does serve as a wakeup call that writing fiction will be relegated to a hobby, going forward, much like you still get some people who weave, crochet, or make crafts despite the availability of inexpensive, imported mass-produced goods. I know what I prefer in my home, and it isn't made in China.

THE BIG NEWS, OF COURSE...

Some of you may already have seen the Very Big Announcement on social media, but in case you haven't, I've just been contracted for a five-book fantasy series called Fate's Scatterlings with Mirari Press. You can read more about it here. But the short of it is that a few years ago, I wrote a book called Call the Fire, which was always intended as book one of an ambitious four- or five-book series. Life got in the way, as it invariably does, and quite by chance I figured out that Marius from Mirari might just love this story, which is a queer, adventure-packed fantasy. Turns out I was right. And now I've got a sufficient carrot to set aside the time to write the rest of the epic saga, which, my dearly beloveds, is going to be wonderful. 

Moving on from Amazon

I'm a little over Amazon, and am starting to see the need to diversify where my books are available. I'll still be using Amazon for my international print fulfilment because a) their quality is excellent and b) they know how to get stuff from A to B. But for ebooks, I'm getting seriously tired of handing over such a large piece of the pie every time I sell a book. Hence, I'm slowly going to be taking my works off KU and going wide. My shop of choice, however, will now be Ko-fi for my ebooks, and I've already put my very early Books of Khepera there. Go check out my shop, and if you're looking for a starting point for my weird and wonderful fiction, Khepera Rising and Khepera Redeemed will be a fun, and rather dark pair of reads. I'll let everyone know as the other titles come available there.

Witchmark (Kingston Cycle 1) by CL Polk

This one's been on my radar for quite some time, and turned out to be every bit as enjoyable as I'd hoped it would be. Witchmark by CL Polk brings us a recognisably modern fantasy setting reminiscent of early 20th century London, where the elites control magic and use it to manipulate the world (and by default others). This is very much a story that engages with the ideas of class consciousness while also unpacking the issues surrounding countries with jingoistic, colonial aspirations who seek to wage foreign wars. I'd say this was very much a parallel with Britain's actions in India, instead it's Aeland vs. Laneer.

Our magically gifted main character Miles Singer would have spent his days in a gilded cage, enslaved to do his family's bidding. Instead, he sought to flee, by going to fight in the war. While there, he had the opportunity to reinvent himself and start fresh with a new identity back home, working as a doctor, where his skills as a healer can go some way to repairing the incalculable damage that has been done to others. 

Yet he gets dragged into conflict nonetheless, torn between his desire for freedom and navigating the Machiavellian power plays of the nobles who are always hungry for more power. Added to this, he crosses paths with a man who's dangerous to know and love. 

With themes centred on the class struggle and freedom from oppression, this little book packs a powerful message. I am definitely going to hunt down the sequel.

The Week in Review – March 15, 2025

This week's very much been a case of 'butt on chair, fingers on the keyboard', and to an extent, I've been able to block out the awfulness of the world at large by focusing on work. It's not always easy, but rather concerning myself with the aspects of my life I have direct control over is better for my long-term mental health. I admit that I'm very lucky to be in the position that I am – working from home, doing work that I'm passionate about – whether it's designing printed assets for a large, multinational pet food company or editing a Daddy Dom book. My life is a far cry from what it was in the run-up to 2015, where I was depressed as all heck and stuck in a career in newspaper publishing that was fast going down the tubes. Life isn't boring. Also, I don't have a toxic work environment.

ABOUT LAST WEEK...

So, I was super anxious about my book launch at the V&A Waterfront Exclusive Books last week. As it turns out, I had nothing to worry about. It was AWESOME. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to making the event successful. And there were OREO CUPCAKES. 

But seriously, if you're yet to pick up a copy, hie yourself down to your nearest branch of Exclusive Books or Wordsworth, and if they don't have a copy of The Company of Birds, order it. For too many years my South African readers have complained that it's been so difficult to get my books in print in South Africa, and that's all set to change as I'm now focusing rather on my local readers. 

With the world socio-economic situation being well [gestures vaguely around her] and with paper and fuel prices being horrific, it makes sense to focus on being sustainable and keeping it local. Late-stage capitalism has basically broken this planet. But anyhoo, let this not turn into a frothing rant.

As an author, I'm in a really happy place right now. I've got the long-term ghost-writing project that is helping to keep the lights on, and I've got multiple other projects on the boil. My editing income is steady, and I've enjoyable QA and alt-text writing work from a big publisher in the UK. Nerine in 2015 could only dream of what Nerine in 2025 is doing.

And on to Egyptian stuff...

So, The Egyptian Society of South Africa has its next meeting happening at the end of the month. 

In 1798 Napoleon launched a military expedition to Egypt, leaving France with 335 ships, the French army and 167 scholars that included many engineers, writers, artists, linguists, scientists and mathematicians. Although the expedition was a military disaster, with Nelson having destroyed the fleet, it revealed the splendour of a forgotten civilisation and gave birth to Egyptology.

This is just a taster of the lecture "Napoleon and Ancient Egypt" offered by Peter Loyson on March 25, at 7.30pm at the St George's Grammar School, Richmond Road, Mowbray. Parking is available on the premises. Free for members of TESSA, Visitors pay R30. Refreshments R10.

I've really enjoyed being an active member of TESSA again because oh my goodness, the library is just brimming with books that are giving me all the joy. Plus I get to hang out with people who are just as passionate about ancient Near Eastern history as I am.

How do I become a better writer?

The other day on Threads I encountered a heartbreaking post from a writer who'd had a bad review. They'd been told that the idea behind the story was great but that the writing could have been better. They were at a loss at where to start. Now, the advice I give to anyone who wants to take their craft seriously, is that all good writers are, first and foremost, rabid readers.

And I don't just mean reading in the genre that you want to write – I mean reading all sorts of books, be they the most recent TikTok sensation, a classic, a crime novel, something non-fiction ... A good author is conversant with more than their chosen genre. They have a good sense of style. They choose words not only for meaning but also for how they'll sound. And to this, I also advise you to read and listen to poetry, and to listen to audiobooks narrated by gifted human voice artists.

And then the hardest part: put what inspires you in others writing into practice. Be kind to yourself if you feel that you fall short. Get to understand what areas of your writing need improvement and be aware of them when you write new pieces so that you don't keep breathing life into the same gremlins over and over again. 

A good writer is someone who is constantly evolving and reinventing themselves. I look back at my earlier writing and I often wonder what on earth I was thinking when I did certain things – things I'd certainly never do now. And I'd like to think that I am a better writer for having made all those happy accidents.

If you're looking to embark on a career as a writer and don't know where to start, I do offer affordable, one-on-one coaching. Drop me an email at nerinedorman@gmail.com, and let's chat.

 

The Week in Review – March 8, 2025

At the time of writing, it's a few hours away from my big book launch at the V&A Waterfront branch of Exclusive Books. To put it rather indelicately, I'm kakking bricks. The last time I had a launch at an EB it was the larney one up in Joburg at the fancy mall where they have those hair salons where you have to take a second mortgage to have your highlights done. And that was back in 2019 when I won gold in the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature. So if you're reading this now, a few days later, I hope I acquitted myself well and that things weren't a complete clusterfuck. This being a Cycle Tour weekend and all, which means I somehow have to negotiate Cape Town's foreshore to reach the Waterfront.

ANYHOO...

So, other than the obvious, I am finally able to share the following:

Sauúti Terrors: The Dark Side, co-edited by Eugen Bacon, Stephen Embleton, and Cheryl S. Ntumy, has been acquired by Flame Tree Publishing, distributed by Simon and Schuster. This acquisition was facilitated by Bieke van Aggelen of the African Literary Agency, who came on last year to represent this collection.

“We were confident from the onset in the capabilities of Bieke and her team, comprising Martijn Lindeboom and Debbie van de Zande, on this second major Sauútiverse project!” said co-editors Eugen, Cheryl and Stephen jointly.

Read the full story here at Brittle Paper.

I have a short story included here called "Endling" which draws on all my terrors of deep space and to a large degree inspired by the Alien franchise and the horrors of The Event Horizon. To say that I'm frabjous about this tale being included is an understatement. I love working with Eugen, Stephen, and Cheryl – so thank you for inviting me on board. And a HUGE thank you to my delightful agent Bieke for securing this deal.

But wait... There's more...

This week I received most tantalising news, but of course I'm going to have to leave you in a state of antici....

BUT OKAY, IMMA GONNA TALK ABOUT DRAGON AGE NOW OKAY

Those of you who follow my various accounts across FB, Threads and Bluesky are probably sick unto death about me blathering about Dragon Age but I make no apologies. Back in 2014 when my husband shoved Inquisition in my hands and said, "Hey, you're probably going to enjoy this game" little did he know what demon he was unleashing. 

Ten years down, it's right up there alongside the works of Tolkien for me in terms of world building. It came on the heels of me recovering from years of substance abuse, suicide attempts, and depression, and along with music and art, has been part of me regaining my joy.

Last night I finished my second run through Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and I loved it as much and had as many feels as I did after the first run. I got the ending I wanted, that tied up so many loose ends from Inquisition and its DLC Trespasser, and my headcanon is now in a happy place.

Was it a perfect game? No game is perfect. But this is the first Dragon Age game where I felt equally attached to all the companions. Each had a story that I felt was beautifully expressed, and the game in total foregrounded empathy, teamwork, reconciliation, diversity, and fighting against authoritarian fascist dictators. I can see why certain people embarked on a campaign to ruin this game for others.

This is not their game. And if anyone else hears that you're thinking of playing Dragon Age and tells you to 'play better games' tell them to go back to playing Call of Duty or Fortnite or whatever and to let you figure out for yourself if this game works for you.

Anyhow, this round, I did the Emmlich run, and it pleased my sense of taphophiliac macabre. I could have spent more time in the Nevarran Necropolis. I will say this much for all the other unrepentant Solavellans out there – if you get certain choices just right, you will have the closure you need. And it was lovely. I am pleased.

I'm going to take a short break to play Baldur's Gate 3 because it's healthy for me to play other games. And I will likely return to Veilguard in a year or so to do my Veil Jumper run.

OTHER STUFF    

I am now on book six for my ghostwriting client, and am also at the 30k-word mark of my children's fantasy story that I'll be translating into Afrikaans. And there's a short story I want to write, too, so I've got over enough to keep me out of mischief. I am in a really happy place with my writing, and I can honestly tell you, that if you're reading this and you're a pre-published author wondering what you should write – write the stories that spark joy for you. Don't try to ride on the coattails of all the authors who are currently being lauded for their romantasy and whatnot. By the time you've got your dragonrider book out the market will be oversaturated in dragons and the Next Big Thing will be selling piles of copies. 

But I'll give you a little trade secret – if you want to see what sorts of stories are perennial favourites, look no further than the fanfiction stories that are the most popular. But then find a story that makes your heart sing and run with it.

....pation

The Week in Review – March 1, 2025

Possibly the most telling bit of social media I've seen this week was a meme saying something along the lines of anyone merely posting "He's an idiot" will have like 90% of people knowing exactly who you're talking about. That's all I'll say. At any rate, it's somewhat staggering for me how prescient some of my older writing is when it comes to saying fuck you to the patriarchy. On Friday this past week, The Company of Birds saw its official release here in Cape Town and I've been absolutely overwhelmed by all the people letting me know that they'd bought their copies.

Here I am, living the author life by signing copies at my local Wordsworth, where I'm told they sold out within a matter of hours.

Anyhoo, while I'm not going to be buying that second property in the Klein Karoo anytime soon for that eco-retreat for artists that's my pipe dream, it's still lank cool to be able to have my book on shelves. But it's been a busy week, as you'll well see.

WRITING WORKSHOPS FOR TEENS

Something I've been passionate about for ages is the fact that there's so few resources available to encourage young people to write and to furnish them with the very important skills and knowledge to embark upon a career as a writer. The industry itself is either heavily curated by gatekeepers or is rife with predatory companies and individuals out to make a quick buck. And self-publishing itself is a veritable minefield of misinformation. I'm very pleased to be partnering with Fish Hoek Library to provide free monthly workshops for teens who wish to learn more about writing better stories, and am also available to advise and assist with any questions about the industry. We had our first meeting this past Thursday, and I'm once again blown away by the enthusiasm and brightness of the young minds I encountered. This is my way of paying it forward. Spaces are limited, so please get in touch with the library to book your spot.

RSVP 021 400 7101 or email fishhoek.library@capetown.gov.za

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BIRDS

I'm tickled pink to say that I'm not having one but TWO launch events for The Company of Birds. On Tuesday, March 4, I'll be participating at the amazeballs Helen Moffett's Salon Hecate event at the Noordhoek Artpoint Gallery at 5.30pm. Rumour has it that local authors Sam Wilson, Diane Awerbuck, and Alex Latimer will be there, too, and they're some of my favourite people. So, join us for an evening of SFF bookish things, snacks, wine, and great company. My publisher, Marius, will be there with copies of The Company of Birds that you can pick up. What could be better than books in an arty environment? If the launch event at the V&A Waterfront Exclusive Books is a bit too much for you, then I recommend swinging past Noordhoek instead. 

Then, of course, this is your reminder that the official launch event will take place on March 8, at the wonderful big V&A Waterfront Exclusive Books branch. This is honestly a dream come true for me to have my first solo launch event at an EB. In hindsight, I've always been part of some bigger event in the past. Please RSVP and join us on the day. I have it on good authority that there will allegedly be chocolate cupcakes. 

MORE BIRDS

It's my birthday month. I forget how old I'm turning. I've been 46 for the past two years, LOL. Anyhoo, in lieu of gifts, I'm encouraging my friends to adopt a penguin on my behalf. Why am I so passionate about penguins? Well, back in 2000 there was a moerse big oil spill when the Treasure oil tanker ran aground off our coast. It got ugly. I wasn't working at the time, so I got roped into volunteering for a week at SANCCOB treating, feeding, and cleaning penguins. Needless to say, it's a quarter of a century later and I'm sure I can still wrangle penguins in my sleep. You spend a week covered in guano in a porta-pool with 100 angry African penguins... I had fish scales in my ears, up my nose, in my bra... hells, I even found fish scales in my knickers. No idea how they got there. It took me at least half a decade before I could ever eat pilchards again.

But anyhoo, thing is, the African Penguin needs our help. According to IFAW fewer than 19,800 mature birds remain. These happy little chaps live on my doorstep, and I would love to see them delight future generations with their antics. Adopt a bird today!