THE leap from journalism to writing books did not come easily for award-winning author Penny Haw.

Haw, who worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, was the guest author at a Meet the Author session hosted by Books & Books and the Durban North Library on Thursday.

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Speaking to readers, Haw reflected on the unexpected journey that took her from writing articles and columns to becoming a published author.

Although writing had been her profession for decades, she admitted that the thought of writing a book was daunting.

“The idea of writing a book was terrifying,” she said, explaining that while journalism had taught her how to tell stories, writing fiction felt like an entirely different challenge.

The person who ultimately helped unlock that door was her maternal grandmother, Alice Kirk, whom Haw describes as her role model.

Kirk was a farmer, avid reader, storyteller and animal lover, and Haw grew up listening to her stories. Her grandmother’s influence eventually found its way into Haw’s first book, Nicko – The Tale of a Vervet Monkey on an African Farm, which was published in 2017.

” My grandmother was my role model. She was a farmer, fiercely independent, and a feminist before the word was popular,” said Haw.

The story of Nicko was particularly close to home. The vervet monkey had been rescued by Haw’s grandmother after being abandoned in a mielie field and lived with her and her other animals.

Haw has described the book as her “gateway to authordom”, giving her the confidence to believe she could write a book.

Since then, Haw has gone on to write a string of books, many featuring remarkable women and exploring her love of animals, nature and the interconnectedness of life.

For Durban North Library head librarian Veni Reddy, the event was about creating an opportunity for local readers to connect with writers while breathing new life into the library as a community space.

“We are looking to host more events of this nature, where members of the community can come together, meet authors and mingle,” Reddy said after introducing the library’s amazing team.

Janine O’Connor of Books & Books said the collaboration served a dual purpose — giving authors an opportunity to connect directly with readers while also encouraging people to visit the library.

“It is about giving authors a platform to showcase themselves, but also about bringing feet through the door of the Durban North Library,” O’Connor said.

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