Welcome to the Hidden Lives of Writers

Damon Galgut is one of South Africa's most distinguished writers. He won the Booker Prize in 2021 for The Promise, which was his third novel to be shortlisted for the award. Damon joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how writing seems to become more difficult as the…

Marguerite Poland is one of South Africa's most decorated authors, having won the Percy Fitzpatrick Award numerous times, as well as the Order of Ikamang for lifetime achievement. Her career spans many decades and includes books for children, works of non-fiction, and several critically acclaimed novels for adults. Marguerite joins…

David Cornwell is the author of the critically acclaimed novel HELL OF A COUNTRY, which has been making waves since its release date. David joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about the challenges of writing a fictional reimagining of real-life events and how he made his creative choices…

Karen Jennings is an internationally acclaimed author whose work has been rewarded with a Booker Prize longlisting. Karen joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how new ideas sometimes come to her in the form of a colour, and how she writes multiple drafts of the same manuscript…

Jassy Mackenzie is a multi-award-nominated author who combines talent with hard work and an excellent head for business. Jassy joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how she got her start writing gritty, Joburg-based crime, before being approached to write with James Patterson. She talks about the obligations…