For me there are moments of flutter; when thoughts and images flash through me mind. These are thoughts I write down. I have many books with many of these thoughts which over time translate to poems, prose and stories. I love doing research and spend many hours researching content for my stories setting the background and factual tone for writing.
Since I was very young, I have also loved the play on words. I still have the Collier's Dictionaries which my dad gave me when I was 10 years old. I love searching the meaning of every word and although life has been made easy with "Google" and other search engines, I always turn back to my Colliers.
Much of what I write comes from Divine intervention. I do not question that I am merely a conduit for the words, the thoughts and stories which through me come to life. For this I am eternally grateful and ask that my words will always be humble.

The first story I ever read was when I was 5 years old. It was a school book about a family. The book itself did not have much of an impact on me, yet it influenced my early writing.
I started writing when I was 5 years old. The very first poem I wrote was in Afrikaans, my mother tongue. It was titled: "Ek dink" (I think). Then we were living under an Apartheid regime in South Africa, and the first poem I wrote was about the wealth and the money I yearned for in life. Albeit, under Apartheid it was unlikely that this would ever happen, and my first school book depicted this: the happy white family with their cars, and their holidays by the sea, and the material possessions of white privileged children. And, although I had a very fortunate upbringing, I as a young child, thought that I would never amass the wealth I dreamed of. That is how my first poem ended. Years later I changed the ending to this poem and my perception of second-class non-white, to powerful man.

I always have an image in mind for my cover design. I am an artist and my trademark are "Scrapios" - my own abstract art which I have been doing since I can remember. These I use as my covers.
There are other books for which I do my own sketches and I also use pictures if and when they depict the feeling or sentiment captured in my work.

1.) 11 Minutes (Paulo Coelho) - I just loved the read.
2.) The Broken Wings (Kahlil Gibran) - I enjoy his work and writing style. "The Broken Wings" found a special place in my heart.
3.) The New Dragon Book of Verse (published by Oxford University Press, 1977) - Poetry is the words of my soul. I love poetry and this book captures some of the best poets.
4.) I heard the owl call my name (Margaret Craven) - This was my school set-work book in Grade 7. This story captured me. Over the years I continued going back to it. In it lies a message for me, I guess.
5.) Of men and mice (John Steinbeck) - simplicity.

I read poetry for pleasure. I love reading articles on "Google" and other webpages. I try and consume as much information possible, so I am also in the habit of reading labels on packaging and any pamphlets, papers, notices. I really enjoy this! I guess this comes from my child curiosity quenched by unwrapping and reading (yet another) Chappies bubblegum "Did you know?"

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During the day it can become a clutter, but I believe that when I complete my day's work, my desk needs to be clean and tidy.

I grow up in a town called Tiervlei (later renamed, Ravensmead) about 22km north of Cape Town's Central City. When I was 15 years old my family moved to Durban on the east coast of South Africa.
I think growing up in South Africa, under Apartheid, had an influence on all of us as South Africans. As a non-white I always thought I had escaped "it"; I was intelligent and my family had much. Though when I went to University I discovered the real truth and the inequalities of Apartheid.
To a large extent, my writing is influenced by the stories and experiences that shaped us (especially me) as a South African. For this reason, my writing always carries a social message.

I started writing when I was 5 years old.

The story behind my book, "The Sands and My Dream (A Book of Blue Skies)" is of a journey of my own personal awakening, and a celebration of the people I have met on my path. Mostly, this book is about a miracle of words that happened to me. It is a story about my faith and my belief in my Creator, and the life and love of Jesus.

I have a publishing house, Gavin Joachims Publishing (Pty) Ltd. In South Africa the ratio of white to non-white authors remain 90%-10%
Although many things has changed in our country over the past 20 years, the publishing industry remains a "tough nut to crack". For this reason I started my own publishing company giving non-white authors the opportunity to have their work published. For me personally, I continue to search as many avenues possible to bring my words to as many people possible. These are my personal motivations.

Smashwords will contribute greatly to my success. I believe that we attract toward us what is needed to fulfil our purpose here. Having said this, I believe that things happen at the right time, and so Smashwords have come into my space as the right ebook publisher for my work, now.

I love doing it. It is my purpose. It is what I do best.
Herein I experience my greatest joy.

I guess an appreciation of my work through life's eyes. For me personally, the more people loving and reading my work growths my faith and my belief.

I will soon publish a book called, "Colour of Love". It will have some adult content. The story itself plays out in one of the most picturesque rural towns in the Western Cape, South Africa, nestled between the most breath-taking mountain ranges. It is a story I love reading and the characters are "human" to me. I hope you all will enjoy this offering.

Paulo Coelho; Kahlil Gibran; John Steinbeck; Wilbur Smith; John Betjeman; Sydney Sheldon; Andre Brink; Zakes Mda; Malika Lueen Ndlovu; David (from the Bible); David Icke; Credo Mutwa

I love living!

I am a presenter on a local radio station; I do community and social development work; I love spending time with my wife and three children.

Through word of mouth and searching authors.

Yes. It was about a witch that had a beautiful pure heart, and tried to rid herself of her title, that of "witch". I was about 10 years old when I wrote this and lost the book in which it was written.