After more than three decades in the corporate grind, Mervyn Nel took a leap of faith into the world of storytelling. And now, his characters are doing some leaping of their own. Right onto the pages of his second novel, The Priest and the Gondolier.
While storytelling wasn’t initially his forte, his vivid imagination – fuelled by his travels abroad and deep dives into different cultures – eventually got Mervyn Nel to write his first novel, Theft from Delos.
But this isn’t the first time he put pen to paper. Before becoming a full-time author, he used to write lots of articles for a few mainstream mags, as well as short stories, plays and poems for the education department. Talk about a versatile writer!
“I always had a love for languages and writing from an early age. As a youngster, I also had a broad vocabulary and the ability to express myself in words. And so writing was something I clung to over the years.
“It was only during Covid that I decided to go on early retirement to pursue my passion for writing. And let me tell you, the transition wasn’t easy. It was very daunting at first, as I didn’t know if I would be published or not. Today, I am glad I took that leap of faith because I am living my dream. I already have two novels out, with a third in the pipeline.”
When it comes to his latest novel, let’s just say if you like a good nail-biter, it’ll be right up your alley! The Priest and the Gondolier is a fast-paced mystery thriller that is set in Venice, Italy. Paintings are stolen from museums and art galleries. Chief Superintendent Gina Rossi of the Italian Police, and Harry Wilson, an art expert who does freelance work for Interpol in the United Kingdom, are commissioned to investigate.
“I was lucky to have visited Venice twice. Once in the summer, and once in winter. And it just set the perfect scene for the novel. To see a city and experience a foreign country firsthand is a great advantage when setting the tone for your fictional work.”
These days, Mervyn just loves kicking off his mornings by writing at dawn, soaking in the gentle light of the horizon, with the chirping birds keeping him company. He also spends his time doing book readings at old age homes, promoting his books and giving talks at schools and libraries.
Rooted in his passion for storytelling, Mervyn is involved with the National Libraries of South Africa, giving talks at schools and libraries about the importance of reading from an early age.
This talented wordsmith’s novels are already available in a whopping 85 countries, and he’s got his sights set on adding Greece and Slovenia to the list … simply because those are the places where his first and third novels (which is already in the pipeline) came to life.
It’s safe to say Mervyn’s writing journey has only just begun. As his life motto rings “Don’t put off till tomorrow what can be done today. It is an opportunity lost.”
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Mervyn tells us more about the brand-new chapter in his life.
How do you beat writer’s block?
I go for long walks, visit family and friends or read a good novel.
What inspires you?
Mostly my travels overseas and from interacting with interesting and knowledgeable people.
Early bird or night owl?
Definitely an early bird. I typically start editing from around 4.30am. I begin with editing the previous day’s work for two hours. I then take an hour break for breakfast after which I begin that day’s writing. I write on average six hours a day.
How do you breathe life into your characters?
I develop my characters during the story. I keep them down to earth while making them as memorable as possible. They all have their own quirks and idiosyncrasies. A lot of the characters in my first novel were based on actual fishermen I met and spoke with on the Greek Islands.
Do you see yourself in some of your characters?
Yes, I see myself in the leading characters of my novels. They need to adapt and overcome adversity. They face transition and at times need to make difficult decisions. This is how I felt when I left the corporate world after 30 years to go out on my own.
Advice for a first-time author?
Write every day. Don’t focus too much on grammar, sentence structure and all that. Just put your thoughts on paper. Editing can be done later. You cannot edit something that is not written.
What can readers expect from you next?
My next novel, Postcard from Maribor will be ready for release in the near future.
5 Golden tips for writing.
Any aspiring writer knows the feeling of a blank page glaring back at them. The cursor blinks, waiting for you to write something. But you are frozen. Where do you start? Well, Mervyn suggests the following:
• Write about topics you are knowledgeable about or have a deep understanding of. If you know nothing about science fiction and you attempt to write on this, the readers of that genre will quickly pick up that it is not of the usual high standard.
• Do not be too self-critical. If you are going to continuously self-doubt yourself, you will keep rewriting to make your work sound better and therefore you will never reach the stage where you will submit and ultimately be published.
• Do thorough research. If your novel is set in a real place and at a specific time, research is essential to ensure that your facts are correct.
• The development of your characters is key to your story. The one thing that stays with the reader long after they have read a novel is the characters.
• Have someone edit your work prior to submission. It’s always good to have a second set of eyes and an independent opinion. If you have the available funds, I would strongly advise you to have your work professionally edited prior to submission. This will improve your chances of acceptance.
Compiled by: ALANICKA LOTRIET.
