I received exciting news recently...
I was chosen as a recipient of the 2022 South African Children’s Laureate
Award. This honour is awarded to a South African writer and/or illustrator of
children's books, to celebrate their lifelong contribution and outstanding
achievement in the field of children’s literature.
I was totally overwhelmed when I received the message
of receiving the award, it took me quite a while to believe it and some time I
even felt a bit afraid to spread the news in case there was a mistake. But it is
a wonderful feeling that adults do look at ones work with care, and
acknowledgment the amount of time and effort and passion, that goes into these
stories and illustrations we create for children.
The other 3 recipients of the 2022 SA Children's Laureate
Award are Marita van der Vyver and Marguerite Poland, and Chris van Wyk
who receives the award posthumous (sadly Chris died in 2014). Congratulations -
I feel honoured to be included on a list with you.
The SA Children’s Laureate award was given out for the
first time last year, 2021, to 4 people. Niki Daly, Philip de Vos, Sindiwe
Magona and Gcina Mhlophe.
The awards will be presented during the at the
2022 South African Children's Book Festival (20 to 22 May 2022) held in
Somerset West, near Cape Town. More information is available on their facebook
page -A Festival of Children's Literature - Home | Facebook
Wednesday, 11 May 2022
2022 South African Children’s Laureate Award.
Wednesday, 6 April 2022
Got a surprise parcel today!! The English addition of Die Leeutemmer se Assitent (Afr. published by LAPA published in 2017) was published this month, March 2022 by Penguin Children' Books
Wednesday, 16 March 2022
Monday, 14 February 2022
Friday, 11 February 2022
The Ghost-stories-of-Langehoven Book is in print and soon to be in the Book Shops.
Exciting - The Ghost stories Book will be available to hold and scarily hug soon!!!
Thank you, Wendy Maartens, who collected and adapted the stories and Shané Kleyn, who is the editor - It was wonderful to work with you two!.
Print proofs:
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Happy New Year!
2022
is the Year of the Tiger (yin; water) - the tradition of the Chinese
Zodiac animals originated as early as 2,300BC! The tiger, in Chinese
culture, is the symbol of bravery, wisdom and strength, as well as
protection and wealth. Basically everything we need at the moment...
So,
here's hoping that the roar of the tiger will blow away all the little
viruses that have caused so much chaos in our lives, and I wish you a
wealth of laughter, love and creativity.
To each and every one of
you, from me and Johann, and from our children, Alexia and Markus, and
our grandchildren, Klara, Luciana and Talya: Happy New Year!
Wednesday, 26 January 2022
A bit of fun!
Bye Bye 2020 and welcome to a New Year - 2021!
Although belated, never the less, honest wishes to you all from Margie and Johann, may this coming year be a year full of health, productive creativity, laughter, love and lot and lots of magic.
The Chinese animal for 2021 is the OX (last year it was the rat) and the general prediction is that this year, 2021, is going to be lucky, no explosive or catastrophic events will occur. It is a favourable year for economic recovery or consolidation, new career opportunities, so don't let anxiety or negative thinking affect you. But beware... this is going to be a year when we will fully feel the weight of our responsibilities, a year when it is necessary to double our efforts to accomplish anything at all. 2021 is going to be a year when work will get rewarded, and when all the problems can get solved with discipline. In Chinese culture, the Ox is a valued animal because of its role in agriculture, and similarly in the zodiac, the Ox is seen as hardworking, positive and honest
With an extra effort from us this year is going to be lucky. Keep your pencils sharpened!
Bye Bye 2020 and welcome to a New Year!
Happy New Year!
Happy Chinese New Year!
Thursday, 19 April 2018
Monday, 30 January 2017
Here is wishing you a wonderful New Year, full of energy, new inspiration and happiness! 2017 is the Chinese Year of the Fire Rooster and their new year started on 28 January.
According to legend, the Lord Buddha summoned all the animals to wish him goodbye before he departed the Earth, but only twelve animals came to bid him farewell. He rewarded them by naming a year after each one in the order that it arrived. Hence the first year belonged to the Rat, then came the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. This formed the basis of the twelve animal signs of the Chinese Zodiac. The animal ruling the year in which a person was born has a major, profound influence on his or her life.
About this year, 2017, the year of the Fire Rooster, the Chinese say that people will be more polite and less stubborn, but at the same time they will also have a tendency to complicate things. It will also be a year governed by orientation towards progress, honor and maximum integrity.
Sunday, 29 January 2017
* Now I'd like to share with you some of the illustrations from these latest published children's books:
- The Willy Nilly and Thumper series:
The Adventures of Willy Nilly and Thumper
The Adventures of Willy Nilly and Thumper
Book Three – Stella Star [Willy Nilly Stories LLC; USA (published December 2016)]
The Adventures of Willy Nilly and Thumper
Book Two – Hermit’s Last Hairs [Willy Nilly Stories LLC; USA (published May 2016)]
The Adventures of Willy Nilly and Thumper
Book One – The Lost Treasure of Mount Methuselah [Willy Nilly Stories LLC; USA (published May 2016)]
- The Storiemuis (Afrikaans for "Story Mouse") series:
Storiemuis (Book 5 and Book 6) [Human and Rousseau - South Africa (published 2016)]
Storiemuis (Book 3 and Book 4) [Human and Rousseau - South Africa (published 2016)]
Storiemuis (Book 1 and Book 2) [Human and Rousseau - South Africa (published 2015)]
SeaStories (English) and Stories van die See (Afrikaans) [Protea Books - South Africa (published 2016)
