Spotlight On Writers
Ginny Swart
- Where do you originate from?
Cape Town, South Africa, in the shadow of Table Mountain.
- What do you cherish most about the place you call home?
To be honest, right now, nothing. For the past six months I’ve been living in a one-roomed flat in a retirement block and cherish isn’t the word I’d use. Before, I’d say I cherished my garden and the vegetable patch and the swimming pool into which I dived every morning before breakfast, and the busy life I led. Now I can’t drive, so life is a bit limited, but I still have my computer, so all is not lost!
- What ignites your creativity?
I sit in front of the screen, and an idea just floats into my head. Or sometimes it’s a comment from someone, and I think that would make a good story if…. Or I put in little bits of my family life, like the dog giving Christmas presents, that sort of thing. I don’t work out the ending until I reach the final paragraph. I started writing fiction in 2000 when I was 60 (do the sums!) and have sold 700 stories to women’s magazines all over the world, mostly romances and twists in the tail. When I started, I could sell the same story 6 times to different publications in different countries, UK, USA, Norway, Germany, even Thailand. These days, they all want copyright so they can use it on their own internet sites, so I’m writing more serious stuff now.
- Do you have a favorite word and could you incorporate it into a poetic phrase?
I can’t think of one and poetic phrases aren’t my thing! Although “anyone fancy a bit of chocolate” springs to mind.
- What is your pet peeve?
Littering. Whenever there are a crowd of people, they leave rubbish behind. But I suppose this gives employment to street sweepers so it’s not all bad.
- How would you describe the essence of Ginny Swart?
The essence of me? That’s an odd question. I’ve never thought about that. You’d have to ask my friends and family. Introspection isn’t something I am good at either.
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