Former medical doctor turned award-winning author and publisher Keli Hariparsad is preparing to release her third book this July.

The book, Splitting an Empire, is a sequel to her debut novel, The Four Hundred Club, which was published in 2019.

The book not only marked the start of her writing journey but also earned her the Best Upcoming Female Author title at the 2022 National Book Behind Awards.

Since stepping away from her medical career, the Ballito writer has also co-authored a non-fiction guide titled Creating Literary Art: How to Weave a Tapestry of Words into a Perfectly Publishable Book, with ghostwriter Theresa Bhowan.

Keli, who writes under the shortened name, ‘Keli H’, has further diversified her interests in the literary industry. Aside from her writing, Keli also started her own publishing house, The KREST House, in 2020, a year after her debut novel.

“The KREST House was founded on the principle of sharing the most inspiring stories the world would ever read. We began searching for authors right off the bat, who had unique, inspiring, or boundary-pushing books,” she said.

The publishing house has since racked up 13 literary and business award nominations, and is currently nominated for the 2025 African Excellence Awards.

Beyond her own writing, Keli H nurtures local literary talent through The KREST House internship, which offers aspiring publishers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an industry that’s notoriously difficult to break into.

“We look for candidates with strong soft skills, because so much of this work is about managing creatives and communicating clearly,” she said.

Keli’s love for storytelling began long before any of her accolades.

“I’ve loved stories since I was a kid. Before I could read or write, I would scribble on paper and pretend I was reading a story out loud. That passion never left – it just got louder,” she said.

Keli H initially pursued a career in medicine after matriculating in 2011, but left the field to follow what she calls a lifelong calling.

Her books are available at major bookstores or via kresthouse.co.za.

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