S02 E08 Craig Higginson

Loading player...
Craig Higginson is an award-winning novelist, playwright, and theatre director. His most recent book, The Ghost of Sam Webster, is currently making waves on the South African literary scene.

Craig joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how writing for him is a thing that flows in to fill the spaces that are left in a day. Sometimes this means writing in his car in the parking lot before work, and sometimes it means trying to write while on holiday in the countryside.

Craig talks about how he got his start writing poetry, and how he is once again working on putting together a collection of poetry for publication. He describes how the mentorship of the late Barney Simon introduced him to the theatre world, and why he was only really able to find his voice as a novelist when he returned to South Africa after a long time abroad.

Gail asks whether the story or the writing comes first for Craig, and Fiona asks about the inspiration behind his latest novel, The Ghost of Sam Webster.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Fiona and Gail would love to hear from you! Please join the conversation on our socials.
6 Nov 2023 English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S05E03 Terry-Ann Adams

Terry-Ann Adams is the award-winning author of the novel THOSE WHO LIVE IN CAGES and the short story collection WHITE CHALK. Terry-Ann joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what it is like to embark upon an MA in Creative Writing after you have already been published and…
7 Apr 53 min

S05 E02 Penny Haw

Penny Haw is the highly successful author of several works of historical fiction. Her latest novel FOLLOW ME TO AFRICA is hitting bestseller lists all over South Africa right now. Penny joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about her early forays into children's fiction, thrillers, and now historical…
31 Mar 1 hr 12 min

S05 E01 Shameez Patel

Shameez Patel Papathanasiou is taking her writing in a new direction. The author of the Selene Trilogy of fantasy novels, has gone back to her one true love - contemporary romance. Shameez joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what inspired this pivot and how much fun she…
24 Mar 1 hr 03 min

S04 E11 John van der Ruit

Spud is back! John van der Ruit is the record-smashing, best-selling author of the SPUD series of books, as well as an actor and playwright. John joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about what it was like finding the voice of an older Spud after all these years…
18 Nov 2024 1 hr 03 min

S04 E10 Gareth Crocker

Gareth Crocker is a well known novelist, film maker, and television creator. His latest book NOW YOU SUFFER is garnering great reviews. Gareth joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he got an international deal for his first novel FINDING JACK, and why major Hollywood stars like…
11 Nov 2024 54 min