Interview 

 Q.1. Would you mind offering a brief synopsis of your early life — the background story of your current one?

I was born in South Africa during the Apartheid era. When I was just three years old, my father took his life…a truth hidden from me and my siblings for years. His absence was never to be spoken of, but it cast a long shadow over our lives, shaping the years that followed. After his death, we were sent to live on a remote farm. During that time, my mother secretly gave birth and adopted her newborn to a family member, and an abusive stepfather became part of our lives. All of this unfolded against the backdrop of a country embroiled in political turmoil.

When we eventually fled South Africa for America, it felt like a chance to start over. But family secrets and the lingering weight of trauma followed us, making the journey to rebuild far from straightforward. It was in this new chapter that I found love with an NFL player, only to lose him tragically, leaving our daughters fatherless…just as I had been. 
 
 Amid these trials, an unexpected act of courage set me on a path of discovery — of hope, forgiveness, and the strength to rebuild even when life feels irreparably broken. It’s a deeply personal journey that reflects broader issues like the legacy of Apartheid, the immigrant experience, and the lasting scars of abuse. Ultimately, it is a testament to survival, resilience, and redemption, told with raw honesty and enduring hope.

Q.2. Your award-winning memoir, The Colour of The Sun, is perhaps the best memoir I’ve read, beginning with its indelible first words: “I was born among thieves.” Can you speak about the process of turning a notion into a completed book?

Thank you for your kind words about The Colour of the Sun, Joel! Writing a memoir requires equal parts persistence and vulnerability. For me, writing has long been a therapeutic outlet, and over time, this private practice grew into a deep desire to share my story…both to make sense of my journey and to inspire others. It is also a tribute to my late husband, who was the first person to believe in me, and his spirit became a guiding hand in helping me write my book. 
 
 I never followed the traditional path of literature or creative writing courses beyond the college basics of English 101 and 102. While I respect their value, I hope my experience shows that unconventional routes can also lead to meaningful literary accomplishments. Armed with a commitment to share my life experiences and a willingness to bare my soul, I sat down to write The Colour of the Sun. I dedicated time to writing daily, allowing myself to write imperfectly at first. Some days, the pages felt like utter rubbish, but I pushed forward. I’m relentlessly hard on myself when it comes to finishing what I start but it is a trait that proved invaluable in completing my memoir.

Q.3. To explore further, I’d love to hear more about the book’s reception after completion and my early review. On social media, you mentioned an upcoming documentary — what led you to that, and how is it developing?

After completing The Colour of the Sun, I was initially hesitant to share my draft, doubting the quality of my writing. Despite my reservations, I decided to share it with editor Jan Johnson, who not only appreciated the story and my voice but also encouraged me to pursue publication. Breaking into traditional publishing is notoriously difficult, but I was fortunate to find a small press that believed in my work.

Since its publication, The Colour of the Sun has received meaningful recognition, including a glowing review from you Joel…one of the best I’ve received. The book has also earned two prestigious awards:

• Gold Medal in Non-Fiction (Cultural) from Readers’ Favorite, 2021
• Winner of the 15th Annual National Indie Excellence Award in the Memoir category

Regarding the documentary, it’s an interesting twist. Earlier this year, I was approached by Wayne Sawka, a rocket scientist and CEO of Digital Solid State Propulsion Inc., a company that produces safe, “green” energetic materials for the government, space, and commercial markets such as Hollywood and live theater. Recently, Wayne has expanded into film and documentary production. After reading my book and being deeply moved by my story, he contacted me about making a documentary on The Colour of the Sun.

The documentary is now in development, with an anticipated completion date of summer 2025. Wayne and his team plan to submit it for consideration at the Cordillera International Film Festival next year.

Q.4. You also created an audible edition of your book. As one who recently began the process, I would love to hear the details of your experience.

Unfortunately, I cannot provide a definitive answer to this, as I did not create an audio version of my book. From my understanding, it’s likely that someone else…possibly a third-party service produced an audiobook version and listed it on Amazon’s Audible platform without my knowledge or permission. This can occur through a process known as “audiobook rights aggregation,” where companies may automatically convert ebooks into audiobooks without seeking the author’s consent. I’m currently investigating this matter.

Q.5. Memoirs are typically a one-shot deal. Your writing skills and academic credentials are superb. Do you have intentions, plans, or preparatory materials for a future book?

Thank you again for your kind words, Joel! Over the past few months, I’ve been busy writing several political pieces. As you know from my book and with the influence of my politically active uncle, Nicki — politics runs in my blood. A future book is in the works, but at the moment, I’m happily immersed in other projects, particularly the upcoming documentary.