S05 E04 Cliffordene Norton

Loading player...
Cliffordene Norton is the celebrated author of young adult novels and short stories in Afrikaans, and has a new title coming out in 2025.

Cliffordene joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about why Afrikaans readers show up so consistently for their writers. She shares the secrets behind writing for teens, and having her short stories regularly snapped up by magazines like HUISGENOOT.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Ask us your writing-related questions. Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you!
Please join the conversation:
Email: hiddenlivesofwriters@gmail.com
Instagram: @thehiddenlivesofwriterspod
Twitter: @hiddenwriterpod
YouTube: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Threads: @thehiddenlivesofwriters
Facebook discussion group: The Hidden Lives of Writers
Chapters
  • 00:12 Collaborative Writing Project Discussion
  • 03:03 Manuscript Revision Process
  • 05:16 Reading and Book Discussion
  • 14:20 Cliffordene Norton's Writing Journey
  • 20:51 Young Adult Writing and Research
  • 58:39 Social Media and Book Marketing
14 Apr 2025 English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S07 E07 Damon Galgut

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…
4 May 1 hr 14 min

S07 E06 Marguerite Poland

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…
27 Apr 1 hr 12 min

S07 E05 David Cornwell

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…
20 Apr 1 hr 07 min

S07 E04 Karen Jennings

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…
13 Apr 1 hr 03 min

S07 E03 Jassy Mackenzie

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…
6 Apr 1 hr 10 min