Felicia takes children on an incredible adventure
Felicia who grew up in Springs is now a wife and a mother to two children who inspire her to write more.
Felicia Snyman is more than an author. She is also a mother, a wife and an attorney at law.
She always had a love for writing, starting when she was a little girl attending Laerskool Christian Beyers and later as she attended Hoërskool Dr Johan Jurgens.
Her professional writing career started with penning stories she would hear during her time as a divorce attorney.
She later transitioned to children’s stories using the adventures of her daughter and their pet dog as inspiration.
Tell us more about your books?
The books, Die ware avonture van Adelie en Riley: Die swembadmonster and Die ware avonture van Adelie en Riley: Die Amadidas are the first children’s book series I have written.
It is about a young girl and her dog going on imaginary adventures until it is not as imaginary as they thought they would be. Adelie’s best friend is her Boston terrier, Riley, who loves to play and often gets the zoomies. He also drops big stink bombs!
For Adelie and Riley, there are no limits to the adventures they experience. The back garden turns into a world in which all kinds of monsters and strange creatures hide.
In Die swembadmonster a fun day in the pool turns into an adventure in which a big octopus-monster tries to catch Adelie and Riley. Mum and Dad think the two friends are having too much fun. But why is there a piece of slimy tentacle left behind?
In Die Amadidas, Adelie and Riley play on the jungle gym. Suddenly they are surrounded by trees and bushes – the Amazon.
Big, angry birds are trying to get to them. Adelie and Riley have to work together to fend off the strange birds. Mum and Dad think the two friends are playing too much. But why are there big cracks left on the climbing frame?
What inspired you to write it?
My daughter and Boston terrier are the inspiration for the story and why I wrote the books based on their adventures.
Especially during the lockdown, they would spend hours playing together and going on all kinds of imaginary adventures. While watching them the stories started forming in my head and before long they came to life.
What are your hopes and dreams now that it has been published?
I hope the next two books in the series will be approved and published. One of my biggest dreams is that the books can be translated into different languages, especially some of our official languages so that they can reach all children to join in the adventure.
What part of the book was the most fun to write?
The part where Riley lets out a few stink bombs (aka farts) that defeat the monsters – in both books. I had so much fun writing it and making the monsters and birds come to life.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Time. I am an attorney who currently specialises in mediation and business rescues. I am married and have two children. Time is the one thing I crave, but don’t have much of.
When I finally sit down to write, I usually fall asleep with the keyboard printed on my face. I try to plot and plan most of the stories in my head so that I don’t spend too much time on them when I have the time to write.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
Tea! Just normal tea. I sometimes write with music to block out all the distractions. According to my closest people, I have amazing self-control and will not stop until I have reached my goal.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
I wish I could say that it doesn’t bother me at all. I do believe it is only human to feel upset and hurt by negative comments. However, I try to take it as someone’s opinion and it is not a direct reflection of myself or my writing.
Sometimes constructive criticism improves your work, by looking at it from a different perspective. If I can give others advice – never get involved in online mudslinging or defend your writing, if it is not absolutely critical to do so.
How did you celebrate when you finished your book?
I only celebrated when the book got accepted for publication. Before then, I was holding my thumbs and was so nervous.
When I received the good news, my family and I celebrated with champagne (and juice for the little ones), eating my favourite food and just literally jumping for joy.
