In this interview, I chat with Penny Haw about Follow Me to Africa, how and why she decided to write about Mary Leakey, writing about a real person, drafting a dual timeline story, creating a fictional character to help tell Mary's story, a strong sense of place, and much more.
Penny's recommended reads are:
Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.
Want to know which new titles are publishing in January - May of 2025? Check out our third Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.
Follow Me to Africa can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.
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Author
Penny Haw worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, writing for many leading South African newspapers and magazines before yielding to a lifelong yearning to create fiction. Her stories feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things, including The Invincible Miss Cust, The Woman at the Wheel, and Follow Me To Africa. She is the recipient of the 2024 Philida Literary Award and lives near Cape Town with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.
Karen Naughton
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With Book Club Chat, Heather Caliendo combines her love for reading fiction and experience as a journalist to conduct reviews, author Q&A’s, and book club questions.
Here are some great episodes to start with.
