Local authors represent SA in Texas
Eighty authors from around the world are expected to meet with approximately 300 readers who will be attending the signing event
TWO South African authors will represent the country at a book-signing event that will take place in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, April 9.
Ashley Giannoccaro (33) from Glen Marais and Tamsyn Bester (24) from Pretoria will attend this invite-only readers and writers event.
The two authors have found huge success in the international market, with both having bestselling books on Amazon.
Eighty authors from around the world are expected to meet with approximately 300 readers who will be attending the signing event in Texas.
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“I’m really excited about the opportunity to meet people who have made my books a success,” said Bester.
“I am looking forward to connecting with new readers,” said Giannoccaro.
Giannoccaro has published four books, while Bester has seven books under her belt.
Bester had her first book published in 2013 at the age of 22.
“I started by writing reviews of different authors’ works in a book blog and then I was introduced to creative writing. I never considered a career in writing,” said Bester. “I totally winged it.”
Both authors are self-published and point out that marketing and promoting a book as an unknown writer is the toughest aspect of a career as an author, and agree that writing as a career is sustainable, with the right team around you.
Bester described her books as new adult fiction, a genre that touches upon many themes and issues to reach the readership that falls in between the categories of young adult and adult fiction.
“I write for the American woman aged between 18 and 35. That’s my primary audience. I’m a romantic. Our industry is confined to a box, but in the UK they’ve literally thrown the box away.”
Giannoccaro, on the other hand, said she could not find a story that gave the same thrill of a horror and the ‘ah’ of a romance, and so she created her own genre.
“I write unconventional stories, set in South Africa in the world of organised crime. It’s a mix of dark romance, horror, crime and thriller,” said Giannoccaro.
Giannoccaro said her books have an age restriction because of the content.
“My daughters aged five and two and a half can only read my books when they turn 25,” she joked.
The mother of two and wife from Glen Marais said she always knew that she could write. It took her three months to write her first book, which was published in 2014.
“I’m passionate about writing. It’s addictive. I can live 1 000 lives without leaving my desk,” she said.
The two authors met online two months ago and both agree that there’s a gap in South Africa in the writing industry.
“Locally there’s no reading culture, and our industry is too small,” added Bester.
The two will be gone for 12 days and Giannoccaro will release her fifth book during the trip.
Their books are available online and in a few bookstores nationwide.
