{
  "id": 8208428,
  "title": "FRENCH LETTER: All I Know… Thoughts on travel, book tours and school visits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/french-letter-all-i-know-thoughts-on-travel-book-tours-and-school",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T08:44:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-09-18-all-i-know-thoughts-on-travel-book-tours-and-school-visits/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the course of three weeks of relentless travel, the experience has been a treasure trove of books, school visits, South African flavors, breathtaking sights, and delightful surprises. As the tour continues, it has been a joyful voyage through the tastes, sounds, and memories of home. I admire and envy those writers who maintain their writing discipline regardless of their surroundings or circumstances. Though I am accustomed to traveling extensively, I once felt guilty for not being able to write while on the road. However, as I have grown older, I no longer allow these feelings of guilt and inadequacy to hinder me. I now recognize that travel allows me to absorb everything - people, places, conversations, and emotions. Upon returning home, I am able to process these experiences, transforming them into the basis for my stories.\n\nThis particular book tour has been particularly challenging, as I wear two hats: speaking to adult readers about my adult novel, My jaar van vrees en vryheid, and engaging with teenagers in schools about my two young adult novels. The former, Al wat ek weet, was published ten years ago and has now been reprinted as the story will soon be adapted into a film. Additionally, I have released Twee halwes maak ’n hele, which is set to be translated and adapted into a movie. Talking to adult readers is comparatively easy, as they are already familiar with my work and eager to hear my thoughts. On the other hand, speaking to school children is a mission, as many of them have never read a book, let alone mine. They attend out of obligation, and converting a few of the uninterested students is my goal. The moment when an unenthusiastic student begins to listen, smile, or even laugh shows their appreciation, and witnessing their eyes light up brings a sense of fulfillment. These moments reaffirm that school visits are both exhausting and immensely rewarding in my life as a writer. Each time a child purchases my book for the first time or a librarian expresses surprise that an unlikely reader has taken my book after my talk, it fills me with joy. I am driven by a desire to share the power of words and stories, and if I can inspire others to find solace and inspiration in literature, I believe I have achieved something truly meaningful.",
  "summary": "Three whirlwind weeks of travel bring a feast of books, school visits, South African flavours, spectacular sights and unexpected delights. From inspiring young readers to celebrating new literary and film milestones, it’s a joyful journey through the tastes, sounds and memories of home.",
  "key_points": [
    "Tour lasted three weeks, filled with books, school visits, and South African flavors",
    "Writer adapts to speaking to adults and teenagers, finding fulfillment in inspiring students",
    "Successful moments include students purchasing books and librarians surprised by unlikely readers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}