There is no place like home under the African sun
Stephanie du Toit
A NEW VOICE IN FICTION
Stephanie du Toit, a born and bred Capetonian. She grew up in the picturesque fisherman’s village of Hout Bay, nestled between mountains and dense forests, a few kilometres away from Cape Town.
Early literary inspiration for Du Toit came from authors such as Roy Campbell (“Horses of the Camargue”) and D.H. Lawrence (Lady Chatterley’s Lover and The Mountain Lion). She is fascinated by a wide range of subjects: History, Spirituality, Religion, the Supernatural, the Paranormal, the Mars Rover, Archaeology, Aliens, and Rituals, with an avid love for research.
Her storytelling inspiration came from her daughter (six at the time), who insisted on personally crafted bedtime stories.
This led Du Toit to create mystical tales about a little girl named Jennifer. A dream was born.
Du Toit’s early career began as an organiser of music concerts and school tours at the Cape Performing Arts Council, now ArtsCape in Cape Town. Here, she was exposed to the dynamics of opera, ballet, theatre, and music—an experience she looks back on with great fondness.
While she carved out a corporate career, her dreams were put on hold. Armed with a certificate in accounting and a diploma in graphic design, she spent nearly three decades as the right-hand woman to the owner of a successful multi-disciplinary consulting engineering firm.
She drew inspiration from a colleague, Ian Sutherland, who has published two successful novels. This was when she decided to gear her focus on her dream of being a writer. COLD FIRE: Alchemy of a Broken Curse, was sparked by a vision that echoed in Du Toit’s mind, a nagging premonition that begged her to fulfil her dream of writing.
It took her four years to publish COLD FIRE, a journey she described as insightful, moving, and an excellent learning curve.
“Beware of him who bears the mark of the serpent.”
An introvert, Du Toit loves spending time at home with her husband, Willem, and children Anya, Carel, and Tiaan, along with their headstrong, red, long-haired dachshund, Faffie. When not writing or reading, you’ll find her with another kind of pen in her hand, a crochet hook or knitting needle, busy being creative.
Currently, Du Toit is working on a werewolf romance, Redemption to Freedom, in collaboration with fellow writer Annette du Toit (not related).
The novel explores the identity of a lone Lycan who navigates the human world until she accidentally meets Daniel Sherwood, an Alpha Lycan – sparks fly!
Serendipity
Annette du Toit
Born in Swaziland during the reign of the Queen, Annette du Toit enjoyed a restful and quiet life, living on farms and in small towns. From an early age, she developed a deep love for reading across all genres. Poetry, romance, and short stories became integral to her creative pastime as a teenager.
Annette’s passion for writing children’s books began with crafting stories for her grandchildren. While she never published any of these works, her creativity flourished unfettered.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected changes. Like many, Annette was retrenched and considered too old to return to the workforce. Embracing retirement, she finally had the opportunity to fully dedicate herself to writing.
Today, Annette lives on a picturesque farm with her son, Pierre, close to Hluhluwe, a small town in Zululand where her daughter, Monique and grandchildren, Devan and Liane, and Mother Pat Strydom also reside.
Joining forces with Stephanie as a co-writer has been a true blessing. This partnership offered Annette the platform to share her creativity with the world. Together, they explore the thrilling realms of crime and mystery, while Annette continues to write poetry and children’s books, fuelled by an imagination brimming with stories waiting to be told.
Joining forces with Stephanie as a co-writer has been a true blessing. This partnership offered Annette the platform to share her creativity with the world. Together, they explore the thrilling realms of crime and mystery, while Annette continues to write poetry and children’s books, fuelled by an imagination brimming with stories waiting to be told.
“Birds of a feather flock together”
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