I am super proud of our next author to publish her 3rd novel titled Fat Boy Nevermore. Maretha Marais managed to release her latest titled in between what seemed to be a demanding workload. Writing as a hobby/ passion is not easy! Congratulations to Maretha for her latest book, I cannot wait to share an update on her next book release 😊
Your author name
Marétha Marais
Your book title
Give us the elevator pitch for your book?
The year 2020 is not for sissies and Davey is no sissie. Starting high school or COVID, with his Starship Team he can beat them all.
What would you give as your main reason or goal for writing?
I have stories to tell. I daydream so many stories and sometimes, I put them to paper. That was how Fat Boy was born.
Who was the book written for?
My ideal reader? One that reads everything and loves to explore. But to narrow it down, Fat Boy Nevermore is written for everyone, all of us that has gone through COVID. If you want to put an age on it, from late middle grade to young adult.
How long did it take for you to finish the final draft of your book?
Very long. About two years. I kind of hated writing this story. I always knew from the start that Fat Boy would be a three-book series. The first book was set in 2018, and the 2nd in 2019 and then 2020 rolled around…and it was not a year for sissies. I was so over COVID and all the stories about COVID and here I am writing another one.
What makes this book different from others on the shelf?
What makes Fat Boy Nevermore different is the story’s everydayness. It is a year in the life of thirteen-year-old Davey, his family, and his friends. Part of the story takes place during the COVID period, but it does not define the story. It is still about Davey and his weight issues, making and keeping friends, figuring out who he is and where he fits in and trying to understand his strange perfect Sister Amelia.
What was the hardest part of the writing journey for you?
Making time to write. Sometimes, days go by, and I don’t write. (I hope Mike is not reading this.) I find it stressful and frustrating, especially if a deadline is creeping close.
Your favourite place to write?
In bed. I do my best writing late at night or very early in the morning when I cannot sleep. I have a small corner set up for writing, and when I have time to write, that is my favourite spot. It has a glimpse of the garden and is close to the kitchen. It even gets a bit of sunshine during winter, which is very important to me.
What kept you motivated to write during the times you felt stuck?
Eish, those times that I’ve written myself into a corner or when I need to get from one scene to the next. I struggle through them. Luckily, I can always bounce ideas off my mom and sister to get going again.
Tell us something about yourself that readers would not be able to guess.
My favourite kind of story is fantasy stories with magic and magical beings. A few years ago, I stumbled upon Xianxia and Wuxia, Chinese fantasy genres, while searching for a book in a London Library, and I’m still hooked.
Have you written any other books?
Yes. There are a few in the bottom drawer and two that have been published: Fat Boy No More and Former Fat Boy. Currently writing a young-adult Sci-Fi novel.
Assuming you may not write full-time, what is your day job?
A Bids and Compliance Administrator at a consulting engineering company on the West Rand. It is the Bids part in that job title that consumes all my time.
How should someone get in touch with you?
I do have a Facebook page where you can leave comment, butt be nice. I’m still new to this. If you have lots and lots of patience, you can email . It might take a while, but I’ll respond in between the Bids.
