{"id":213139,"date":"2019-08-01T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/213139\/books-that-thrill-and-chill\/"},"modified":"2019-08-01T15:31:08","modified_gmt":"2019-08-01T13:31:08","slug":"books-that-thrill-and-chill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2019\/08\/01\/books-that-thrill-and-chill\/","title":{"rendered":"Books that thrill and chill"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cLeave each chapter on a cliffhanger and end with one final big scare.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is how author De Wet Hugo describes his \u2018Grilgrypers\u2019 series, which he has been travelling around the country promoting.<\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>Some of the titles include <em>Die Vloek van Vreesbaai, Web van die Mummie<\/em> and <em>Kamp vir Monsters<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-213142\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/30GCNGENERALREAD_58123-520x390.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/30GCNGENERALREAD_58123-520x390.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/30GCNGENERALREAD_58123-270x203.jpg 270w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/30GCNGENERALREAD_58123-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/30GCNGENERALREAD_58123.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/p><div class=\"stream-item stream-item-in-post stream-item-inline-post aligncenter\"><\/div>\n<p>De Wet\u00a0 recently visited Germiston as part of his tour, where he presented a workshop at School of Achievement.<\/p>\n<p>During the workshop, De Wet\u00a0 shared his writing process with the teachers in the hope that this would help them to encourage and guide their learners to write their own stories.<\/p>\n<p>The GCN sat down with De Wet\u00a0 before the workshop to find out more about the bright-eyed and enthusiastic man behind the horrifying tales.<\/p>\n<h4>ALSO READ:<a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/213352\/preparing-future-engineers-for-the-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u00a0Preparing future engineers for the workplace<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>De Wet\u00a0 grew up on a farm in the Boland, Western Cape, but now calls himself a Kleinmonder, after the small town of Kleinmond, which is close to Hermanus.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been living in Saudi Arabia for the last nine years,\u201d said De Wet.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will be heading back there in August.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut in South Africa, Kleinmond is home after we sold the farm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When asked how his horror story journey began, De Wet, who loved to read Stephen King novels when he was younger, explained, \u201cWell, it is a very popular genre, especially in younger readers from nine to 12 years old.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"De Wet Hugo reads a snippet from one of his Grilgrypers\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/X7GdWuZOwpo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wrote one book and sent it to my publisher, who loved it and got a positive review from an outside reviewer.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never planned to write a series, but after the positive review, I was asked if I could write more books because my publisher thought the stories would work better as a series.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a great opportunity and, let us be honest, who would say no to writing more books?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am incredibly grateful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When asked to describe his books,\u00a0De Wet said with a laugh, \u201cI am trying to say this in the most humble way possible, but they are way better than Goosebumps.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy books are real horror but fun.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe books have short chapters, which are great for children as it keeps them going.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been complimented on the length of the chapters as people say it is so easy to read another and another and another.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>De Wet\u00a0 aims to make the series relatable to both boys and girls and switches the protagonist\u2019s gender in each book.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn one book, I will have a girl, in the next a boy and so on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h4>ALSO READ:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/211684\/building-a-reading-nation\/\" target=\"_blank\">Building a reading nation<\/a><\/h4>\n<p>When asked more about his writing process, De Wet explained that though his books fall within a series, they are all stand-alone stories, but with one thing in common.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEach of my protagonists will have a fear, be it a fear of dogs or reptiles or trees or spiders,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo the first thing I decide on is the villain or fear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI then think of the setting, because the protagonists cannot always just arrive in a new town.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd then the ending, because it has to end with one last big chill.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnce I have all that together, I start plotting the book, seeing it in my mind like a movie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>When looking back, De Wet feels he has always had a knack for writing, receiving compliments and awards growing up, but he wouldn\u2019t say it was a childhood dream to become an author.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"School of Achievement gets a special treat when De Wet Hugo visited\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rQU5luugL_g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think I considered writing as a career, though I have always admired authors,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWriting a book seems like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to a child and even to some grown-ups.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut as I grew older, I realised I was pretty good at writing short things, but a book still seemed like too much.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter completing a writing course, I published some children\u2019s rhymes and short stories and afterwards I pushed myself to write a book.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>De Wet\u00a0hopes to publish at least one book a year until he can\u2019t any more.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI never want to give up writing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>As a primary school teacher, De Wet believes it is vital to get children reading from a young age.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt helps with so many things, from spelling to sentence construction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am so proud that books I have written can be found in libraries in South Africa and that I have contributed something towards the literature of our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-213456 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/we-read-logo-520x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/we-read-logo-520x400.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/we-read-logo-300x231.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Be sure to attend the\u00a0South African Book Fair:<\/p>\n<p>Reading is not a chore but a pleasure and we should remember that this National Book Week, which is from September 2 to 8.<\/p>\n<p>The South African Book Fair (#SABF2019) will be held during this week from September 6 to 8, at the Women\u2019s Jail on Constitution Hill at 11 Kotze Street in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n<p>Follow #CaxtonCares #WeRead #ReadBecause<\/p>\n<div class='tie-fluid-width-video-wrapper tie-ignore-fitvid' style='margin-bottom: 30px;'>\n\t\t\t<iframe style='width: 100%; min-height: 300px; aspect-ratio: 16\/9;' src='https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/x97fh6W_YzM' loading='lazy'><\/iframe>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-213141 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/CaxtonCares_Ribbon_25764-520x390.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"520\" height=\"390\" srcset=\"https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/CaxtonCares_Ribbon_25764-520x390.jpg 520w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/CaxtonCares_Ribbon_25764-270x203.jpg 270w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/CaxtonCares_Ribbon_25764-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/dwu32cgxelq1c.cloudfront.net\/local_newspapers\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/CaxtonCares_Ribbon_25764.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 520px) 100vw, 520px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>Hav<\/strong><strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-admin\/germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za\">germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)<span class=\"apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><strong><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:leighh@caxton.co.za\">leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0<a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"mailto:kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Also follow us on:<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/germistoncitynews\/\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-210323\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Facebook.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"62\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/GCNnews?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-210324\" src=\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2019\/07\/Twitter.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"210\" height=\"62\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"anchor_post\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/germistoncitynews\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-210325\" 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data-query-id='b6419f10c62f84f12450f516ee5468df'><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SA author De Wet Hugo shares his journey through the horror genre.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1848,"featured_media":213140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"hasGravity":false,"cxt_article_byline":"Leigh Hodgson","cxt_disable_google_ads":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[8297,1012,1003,1106,979,969,2730,2362],"class_list":["post-213139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local-news","category-news-headlines","tag-community-2","tag-east-rand","tag-ekurhuleni","tag-gcn","tag-germiston","tag-germiston-city-news","tag-leigh-hodgson","tag-south-africa"],"amp_enabled":true,"category_labels":{"Category":"News","SubCategory":"Local news"},"tag_labels":["community","East Rand","Ekurhuleni","GCN","germiston","germiston city 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