by Ayo Oyeku

Lori-Ann emerges as one of the finest and most dedicated children’s book authors from South Africa. Her ability to mix humor, wit and relatable experiences in her books like the baking of delicious snacks, makes her a bestselling and highly sought-after writer. In this eye-opening interview with our contributor, Lori-Ann Preston talks to us about how her 20-year career as a teacher turned into a palette of colours with which she paints her amazing stories.

Ayo Oyeku (AO): You transitioned from working as a teacher into a full-time writer. How has the journey been?

Lori-Ann Preston (LP): I loved being a teacher, predominantly instructing Grade R and RR. Every day, I would read a story to my class. After 20 years of teaching, one can imagine the number of stories I have read! Although I miss the classroom, a big part of my work as a writer involves visiting schools. It brings me so much joy to be able to continue engaging with children.

AO: How did you figure out that you wanted to become a writer?

LP: It has always been a dream of mine to be a published writer. At the age of 8, I would cut pictures out of magazines, glue them onto cardboard, and tape the pages together.

AO: Can you mention some books that have influenced your writing?

LP: As a child, my mom would read to me and my brothers. My favourite book was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. I also cherished my collection of Ladybird books, which I would read over and over again.

As a tween, I loved Asterix and Obelix by Goscinny and Uderzo. And, of course, Roald Dahl’s books were always a hit!

I think that reading is a crucial practice. I always have both adult and children’s books on my bedside table. There is no particular genre I enjoy; I read everything!

AO: You came into the limelight after winning the 2016 Golden Baobab Prize. How did the win impact your career?

LP: I was so fortunate to discover the Golden Baobab Prize. While searching for books written by African authors to order and read to my class, I came across the competition and decided to enter. I wrote a chapter book titled The Amazings! Winning the competition was a dream come true and gave me confidence in my ability as a writer. I used the prize money to self-publish and print copies of three chapter books.

AO: You bring lots of humour into your storytelling. How did that influence some of your characters like Trixie and Thabo?

LP: Writing humour is tricky! I’ve found that I’m able to bring a lot of humour into my stories by coming up with original and funny metaphors. I also pay close attention to how children speak to each other and incorporate their direct phrases into my stories. Many of the children that I have taught inspire characters in my books. Additionally, I draw from my own childhood experiences.

AO: You’ve moved from publishing with a small press to working with a big publishing house, how did that happen?

LP: Networking, persistence, and a bit of luck were key factors in my journey. I made it my mission to learn as much as I could about the publishing industry. This involved attending writing workshops, reading the books that publishing houses were currently producing, and chatting to bookshop managers and other writers. After completing a manuscript, I would submit it to various publishing houses and wait for a response. Receiving rejections wasn’t easy, but I persevered.

My stroke of luck occurred when a teacher at one of the schools I visited mentioned to her friend, who coincidentally worked for LAPA Publishers (now an imprint of PenguinRandomHouse), that the children at her school were enjoying my books. Additionally, I had the opportunity to meet with a LAPA sales representative who graciously read and introduced my self-published books to the publisher.

I am deeply grateful to PenguinRandomHouse for believing in my writing and for the incredible support I’m receiving from their entire team. They truly are AMAZING!

I believe that publishing houses aim to strike a balance on publishing various types of books (picture books, chapter books, young adult literature; fiction and non-fiction) and that there is a growing demand for locally relevant content that resonates with children and reflects their experiences.

Currently, I have six books published by Penguin, five of which are chapter books, and the latest release is a recipe book for children.

AO: You’ve published some picture books too. How has this genre of children’s fiction helped to enhance your art and form of storytelling?

LP: The most challenging aspect of being a writer, for me, is thinking of a story! Once I’ve managed to do that, the art of storytelling tends to flow relatively easily. I don’t meticulously plot out the entire narrative, but I do have an idea about how I want the story to conclude.

The daily process of writing fills me with excitement; I love seeing where my imagination will take me. My goal is to write 400 words per day, and I dedicate a substantial amount of time to revising and editing as I progress.

I have had six picture book manuscripts accepted by Nalˈibali in partnership with SABC for their radio programme. More recently, The Wimpy franchise, in collaboration with Ethnikids, published my story, Trevor, the Hero’ as part of their reading initiative aimed at empowering young minds.Bottom of Form

AO: Why do you write?

LP: My primary objective as a writer is to inspire and encourage a love for reading in children. To this end, I have held over 150 free educational literary workshops. I am passionate about motivating and encouraging young readers to explore and enjoy the magic of books.

AO: What’s new?

LP: I am excited to share that next year, Penguin will be publishing two more of my chapter books.

AO: Should we be expecting a middle grade novel and young adult novel from you in the near future?

LP: I am currently working on a middle-grade novel. This project is proving to be quite challenging, as I’m delving into some weightier life issues. I’m interested to see how it will unfold.

AO: If you were left with three things in the world, what would they be?

LP: That’s easy. My husband, my daughter and the best dog ever, Chapter.

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