The best-selling author Jaco Wolmarans recently launched his fourth novel DOLOS. It is also a top seller ranking in the top 3 books in the first week of publications, it sold out! Heritage Travel magazine met Jaco at a book discussion with Daniel Lotter in Wellington.
Jaco and his wife Nicky shared stories of their favourite Heritage site to visit with us and the heritage focus was written. An interview with Jaco as Artist feature can also be read in the new issue of Heritage Travel magazine, as Jaco Wolmarans debuts and rocks the cover page with a double feature- ‘its extensive”, he commented.
A photographer and videographer, Jaco Wolmarans started writing later in his life. “I started late”, he said when we first met him. He always loved books. He writes what he wants to read and is always hungry for books. He wrote his first book when he was only 13 years old, but did not publish. The journey to DOLOS started with his first published book IVOOR, next came BOS and SKAG, all best-sellers.
In his Artist feature and in the Heritage focus, Jaco opened up about his travels and his creativity. He loves red wine and spicy curries. “…the rugged Pella area in the Northern Cape. The mountains and quiver trees and weird shapes keep me enthralled.” He comments.
“I travel to Namibia annually to cover the world windsurfing speed sailing event held at a man-made canal outside Lüderitz. The area is extremely windy in November, and the 500m canal is dug at the precise angle that will allow the highest downwind speeds possible. The world record of over 53 knots was set here by the Frenchman Antoine Albeau in 2016 and still stands, although every year, the participants get very close. One of the highlights is the deserted diamond mining town of Kolmanskop a few kilometers inland of Lüderitz. As a photographer, I can literally spend hours crawling around the sand-blown old homes and buildings and not even come close to satisfying my creative urges.”- Jaco Wolmarans
Stef Cupido lives in Wellington and is the mother of a twelve-year-old girl. She loves animals and music. 'I'm first of all a writer and then a poet. I also like to draw trees and scenes from nature, but I see myself as an amateur in that regard.' At the moment she's concentrating on writing short stories and poems, and she is especially fond of using the haiku as a form. 'In 2018 when I decided to write full-time, I fell in love with the haiku. I started the collective Falling to introduce poetry in all its forms. The project has been launched this year on Nelson Mandela Day with the Illustrated haiku collage about social distance & corona virus. 'When I received the news that I was chosen for the Kommadagga Workshop, it was such a shock! I was in the internet café and I put my hands to my face out of joy! I kept shaking my head and the people around me must have thought I went totally off my rocker!' Stef wants to discover the stories deep inside her and is grateful for the opportunity to meet other writers and to be able to talk with other people with ink in their blood. 'This project brings me more self-confidence; I don't have to have doubts any longer.'
