I am an award-winning and USA Today bestselling South African author, social anthropologist, and transformational life coach. Human transformation and the question of human social nature are key themes in all of my writing, which explores the experiences of people on the margins or with a background of overlapping cultures. I am a book dragon who loves reading adventures in almost every genre and that broad scope of my reading explorations has wormed its way into my writing style which, though broadly defined as fantasy, encompasses elements from other styles in a rich and ‘aromatic’ blend.
The Alchemist was gifted to me at a really important crossroads in my life, and it was just what I needed to read: an uplifting, insightful read about the meaning of life set in Southern Spain and North Africa with a touch of magical realism. The philosophical insights made me stop and think and take stock of my own life, and that reflection helped me propel myself into harmony with myself by beginning the shift I needed to make in my thoughts and perceptions. The historical implications of the setting also inspired me to examine our history and the psychology of conflicts, exploring our human nature in greater depths.
A global phenomenon, The Alchemist has been read and loved by over 62 million readers, topping bestseller lists in 74 countries worldwide. Now this magical fable is beautifully repackaged in an edition that lovers of Paulo Coelho will want to treasure forever.
Every few decades a book is published that changes the lives of its readers forever. This is such a book - a beautiful parable about learning to listen to your heart, read the omens strewn along life's path and, above all, follow your dreams.
Santiago, a young shepherd living in the hills of Andalucia, feels that there is…
The Little Prince has been a constant companion for as long as I can remember. Although I have no memory of the first time my mother read the story to me, the iconic cover with the little prince standing on his little planet always looked down at me from the bookshelf. Once consciously aware, I actually read The Little Prince in the French original, and it is the first book I ever read in French, another reason it is close to my heart. The blend of child-like wonder with philosophical musing and the exploration of human nature always gets me. It’s one of those books I believe everyone should read multiple times because the voice of that little boy is the voice of our inner child, and we should take the time to listen.
Few stories are as widely read and as universally cherished by children and adults alike as 'The Little Prince'. Richard Howard's new translation of the beloved classic-published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Antoine de Saint-Exupery's birth-beautifully reflects Saint-Exupery's unique and gifted style. Howard, an acclaimed poet and one of the preeminent translators of our time, has excelled in bringing the English text as close as possible to the French, in language, style, and most important, spirit. The artwork in this new edition has been restored to match in detail and in colour Saint-Exupery's original artwork. By combining the new…
It is April 1st, 2038. Day 60 of China's blockade of the rebel island of Taiwan.
The US government has agreed to provide Taiwan with a weapons system so advanced that it can disrupt the balance of power in the region. But what pilot would be crazy enough to run…
I absolutely adore the concept of taking the epic Star Wars franchise and transforming it into a Shakespearean play. It is humorous and so totally unexpected, which is the best thing about reading adventures—I love surprises! Blending ideas or combining very different styles resonates very deeply with me because of my own blended background as a German-Italian-South African. I absolutely love it when the unexpected melding of two different things bring forth something entirely new, like fusion cooking.
The popular, NYT best-selling Elizabethan/sci-fi mashup series continues, with a Shakespearean take on the first Star Wars prequel, The Phantom Menace. When the best-selling William Shakespeare's Star Wars presented the classic George Lucas film in the form of an Elizabethan drama, the results blew the minds of Star Wars fans and Shakespeare buffs alike. Now the curtain rises once again on that star-crossed galaxy far away, this time revealing the tragedy, hubris, and doomed romance that will lead to the fall of the Republic and the rise of an Empire. The saga starts here with this reimagining of Episode I,…
I adore all of Kay’s books, but my love for this one is very personal because of the underlying exploration of identity that is the cornerstone of this book. Who are we? What makes us so? And how does group identity work? What does loss of identity do to a person, or a people? Kay takes a long, hard look at all of that through the lens of this epic fantasy novel. Another reason I love this book is the circles within circles: that exploration of how life is cyclical and how everything repeats itself unless we consciously make an effort to break the cycle. And the writing style! Who said fantasy couldn’t be literary? Kay has a way with words that is magical in its own right, conjuring the most incredible pictures in my imagination.
With this rich, masterfully written extravaganza of myth and magic, the internationally acclaimed author of THE FIONAVAR TAPESTRY trilogy has created an epic that will forever change the boundaries of fantasy fiction.
Set in a beleaguered land caught in a web of tyranny, Tigana is the deeply moving story of a people struggling to be free. A people so cursed by the dark sorceries of the tyrant King Brandin that even the very name of their once beautiful land cannot be spoken or remembered.
But not everyone has forgotten. A handful of men and women, driven by love, hope and…
A fake date, romance, and a conniving co-worker you'd love to shut down. Fun summer reading!
Liza loves helping people and creating designer shoes that feel as good as they look. Financially overextended and recovering from a divorce, her last-ditch opportunity to pitch her firm for investment falls flat. Then…
This is another one of those books that changed my life, influencing how I view the world. It made me learn to question the things I take for granted and examine what is said, and what is done. It taught me to look deeper at the undercurrents of politics and religious doctrine, and to think for myself. The magical setting both enchanted me and taught me so much about scientific breakthroughs I most certainly wasn’t learning about in science class.
Philip Pullman invites you into a dazzling world where souls walk beside their humans as animal companions and powerful forces clash over the nature of the universe.
When fearless young Lyra uncovers a sinister plot involving kidnapped children and a mysterious substance called Dust, she sets out on a daring quest from Oxford to the frozen Arctic. With armored bears, witch queens, and a truth-telling compass as her allies, Lyra must face choices that will shape not just her destiny—but that of countless worlds. A thrilling blend of adventure, philosophy, and wonder, perfect for curious minds.
The Alchemist meets fantasy with a splash of space opera in this 2021 Author Elite Awards finalist by award-winning and bestselling South African author, Astrid V.J. This gem of transformation fiction explores our human capacity for achieving success in the face of adversity in a magical setting.
Viola Alerion, a renowned storyteller in the Haldrian Empire, wants to be left in peace. For years, she’s been hounded by her past, never to find a moment’s rest. Then she meets a boy who wants to become her apprentice. He refuses to take no for an answer, and she reluctantly yields, even though she knows taking him with her could endanger his life. As their journey progresses, Viola begins to understand she’s not the only teacher in the equation…
Secrets, lies, and second chances are served up beneath the stars in this moving novel by the bestselling author of This Is Not How It Ends. Think White Lotus meets Virgin River set at a picturesque mountain inn.
Seven days in summer. Eight lives forever changed. The stage is…
"Is this supposed to help? Christ, you've heard it a hundred times. You know the story as well as I do, and it's my story!" "Yeah, but right now it only has a middle. You can't remember how it begins, and no-one knows how it ends."
