Andrew Pender-Smith

Greetings to the Reader,

I am currently hard at work on a family saga that has been many years in the making. It is called 'Where People Still Dance'.

‘Where People Still Dance’ is a multi-generational saga that chronicles the lives of four generations of the Craighall family from late Victorian England, colonial Zululand, India towards the end of the Raj, Kenya in the 1950’s, and the final decades of twentieth century Britain before a return to rural Zululand in present-day South Africa. In between I have worked on a novella about forbidden love. I shall, of course, let you know when they are to be released.

I taught Dramatic Arts and English for over thirty years. Much of my writing has been for children in the form of short plays, theme programmes and poems. I have written two children's books, a book of children's poems and two novels, one of which has been written under a pseudonym, and three novellas. One also under a pseudonym. I have also published twelve short stories in five different anthologies. My children's poetry is written for children to perform and the children's books contain many passages that can be used as prose passages in festivals and Speech and Drama exams. My background and many years in Speech and Drama is never far from my writing. The books 'COLOUR ME MORE: Teaching English Literature and Language' and 'COLOUR ME MORE: Teaching Dramatic Arts' are filled with hints, tips and discussion to help any teacher new to the teaching of these disciplines.

My teaching career includes many years with what was once one of the biggest schools of the arts in South Africa. At its height, students could attend courses in Speech and Drama, five different types of musical instrument, six types of dance and martial arts. The department, unfortunately, no longer exists. I have also had periods teaching abroad. While working and travelling I visited and lived in places such as Oman, the UAE, Bahrain and parts of India. Earlier travels include brief periods in a number of European countries and the UK. I would love to travel more.

My hobbies include bonsai, breeding tropical fish, photography and dog training. The current dog in my life is a high-energy German shepherd rescued from a local shelter. I also regularly adjudicate public speaking and forum discussions.

The photos are of my large shepherd swimming in a local pond, our garden at home, and some of the flora and fauna found in South Africa. The picture is of the river that forms the border of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, the province that starts several hours' drive south of the port city of Durban, which is where I live.

To other writers out there: HAPPY WRITING. May the stories you tell resonate with many readers.

Andrew Pender-Smith

KwaZulu-Natal

South Africa