Sally Andrew is the author of the crime-mystery “Tannie Maria” book series. She spoke to Chelsea Burnell about her recipe for writing.
It is 19 March 2022, a few minutes before the book launch of The Milk Tart Murders. South African author, Sally Andrew is backstage in the Balboa Balcony Bar, in Stellenbosch, where she adds the final touches for her Marilyn Monroe look. She swipes the red lipstick across her lips and rubs them together.
“Now I need to practise my singing,” she says, and starts on the song “Some like it hot”.
Sally Andrew’s new book The Milk Tart Murders was launched at Stellenbosch Books earlier this year. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
In the latest instalment of the “Tannie Maria” crime-mystery book series, The Milk Tart Murders, a murder takes place during the showcasing of the 1959 film Some like it hot, which features Marilyn Monroe.
While Andrew was growing up, her father emphasised the importance of entertainment. Andrew therefore made the decision to dress up as Monroe at the book launch to show her appreciation to her dedicated readers.
By being theatrical in front of people, she feels that she is stepping out of her comfort zone and can learn more about herself, Andrew explains.
“To be honest, I don’t really like all the eyes on me. But I am not shy. So I can do it and it’s pushing my boundaries,” she says.
Andrew started writing when she was a child. With a love for books, she would “actively imitate them” in writing her own versions of the stories.
She recalls how she believed in the power of words from a young age. While reading a laughing gas scene in Mary Poppins, she had even tried to inhale the pages so that she too would be “filled with laughter”.
When starting to write a new book, Sally Andrew will firstly go deep into the wilderness to gain inspiration. “It is there that I will write my first summary of a page,” she says. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
From fact to fiction
Before becoming a full-time writer, Andrew was a social and environmental activist. She holds a masters in adult education. She had found that her sense of justice had driven her writing, but it had hindered her desire to write creatively.
“I used to do environmental, educational and political writing. So, I did do a lot of writing, but it was very much for a purpose and a mission and it was not personal,” she says.
It was after becoming ill with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Chronic Fatigue), that she made the transition into writing stories that were more personal to her.
“It was only then that I gave myself permission to do what I really loved,” she says.
Although she has infused environmental, social and political messages into her “Tannie Maria” book series, Andrew has found that her writing now rather moves towards themes of psychology, spiritual and emotional healing and change.
Author Irna van Zyl interviewed Sally Andrew during the launch of The Milk Tart Murders. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
The self-reflective work that she is doing in her own life, parallels with her main character, Tannie Maria, says Andrew. In this way, she finds that she, together with her character, work through emotions she is personally facing. At the same time, it helps her to get to know her character on a deep level.
“Sally knows her characters very well,” says Frieda fe Roux, Andrew’s publicist from Penguin Random House.
The intimate knowledge of the backstories, quirks and motivations of her characters is what enables Andrew to expertly portray them, explained Le Roux.
Finding inspiration in nature
Andrew and her partner, Bowen Boshier, have lived in the Klein Karoo for over 10 years. This is also where she writes.
She has found that her physical environment in the Klein Karoo, and the surrounding nature, has become infused into her writing.
“The birds, plants and the physical scenery – I’ve fallen in love with them. And that’s totally the truth of infusion,” she says.
Andrew compares her planning of books to that of an artist, due to the creativity that goes into the process.
“I have a strong structure, like a scaffolding, and then the way I sculpt and paint on top is very spontaneous and magical in terms of how it happens,” she says.
Sally Andrew reads her favourite excepts from The Milk Tart Murders to the attendees of the book launch. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
Aiming to write 1000 words each day, Andrew finds that when she gets into her writing zone she “can’t stop”.
Although she does have a creative process in her writing, Boshier says that Andrew is “remarkably focused when she is writing”.
“She puts her head down and looks up five hours later,” he says.
While Boshier has read the first and second installments of Sally’s “Tannie Maria” books, he has read them for enjoyment and not from a critical point of view.
“Sally and I affect each other strongly, and I prefer being a caring and practical support, rather than a critic,” he says.
Andrew’s advice for aspiring writers
While writing, it is essential for writers to firstly stick to a specific genre, reckons Andrew.
Only once a writer becomes a bestseller, they do have the freedom to cross over genres in their writing, she says.
She recommends that aspiring full-time writers do courses that will advance their writing abilities. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King is a book that Andrew highly rates as one that will aid people in their writing capabilities.
Recipes for Love and Murder, the first book in the “Tannie Maria” series, was made into a TV series. The series premiered in March 2022 on M-Net, according to Sally Andrew. PHOTO: Chelsea Burnell
For aspiring writers, it is important to always be willing to learn while entering into this new sphere of work, according Andrew.
“Don’t be arrogant. But at the same time, don’t denigrate yourself,” she says.
Andrew advises aspiring writers to keep a day job in the meantime, but stresses the importance of still continuously writing.
A commitment to polishing the work is the key component to becoming a full-time writer, she says.
“Be willing to edit, edit, edit, edit, edit.”