FROM scribbles on pieces of paper to writing and illustrating her own book, nine-year-old author Tatum Naidoo was a guest speaker at Articulate Africa in the Umnini Thusong Community Centre, Umgababa on May 5.

Also read: Magabheni and Sheshisa schools celebrate World Book Day

When she was just seven years old, Tatum, a learner at Kamalinee Primary School, wrote and illustrated her first book entitled Tatum and Max Playtime Adventures, which was later published thanks to her proud mum, Leann Naidoo.

“I loved reading and drawing from a really young age. I was lucky enough that this passion of mine was encouraged by my parents and grandparents. Having them encourage my passion nurtured my confidence and helped develop my talent. Reading stories from different books like Peter Rabbit sparked a curiosity and dream in me and that’s how I came up with my first book,” said Tatum.  

Tatum and Max Playtime Adventures

She explained that it is about her and her late pet Labrador, Max, going on adventures during playtime.

“Growing up, Max was my playmate and sidekick. Our love was unconditional. He was funny, lovable and a great companion who enjoyed exploring just like I did. In the book, I recreated adventures we went on, like looking for buried treasure in the garden, chasing seagulls on visits to the beach, playing hide and seek, and pretending to be a space dog and space girl,” said Tatum.

Also read: Teen author pens book

She hopes that her book brings readers joy and inspires them to make their dreams a reality. She added that speaking at Articulate Africa was an exciting experience, and that she felt proud to share the platform with fellow authors and be a part of an event that celebrates South African heritage.

“Writing a book has opened an exciting door of opportunities for me over the past two years, most importantly reading has helped me excel at academics at school,” said Tatum.

Tatum’s three steps to get started

1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Spelling and grammar can be fixed later. The most important thing is getting your wonderful ideas onto the paper.

2. Ask “What if?” What if your toy robot suddenly started talking? What if you found a secret map in your backyard? Those questions are the start of an adventure.

3. Just keep trying. Sometimes it’s hard, but the more you write, the better you get. You have to get all the ‘bad’ ideas out to make room for the ‘good’ ones. Your stories are gifts that you can give to others. They make people think and feel. The world needs your unique voice!

For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.