Part-time writer pens her first novel

PART-TIME writer Taryn Leigh has penned her first novel, Perfect Imperfections, which launched in the UK earlier this year, and is currently available worldwide in paperback and Kindle formats.

The book, which was published by Olympia Publishers, follows the story of Sarah Lewis, who desires nothing more than to begin again after a failed marriage and a tragedy so terrifying, it forces her to leave her life in London to stay with her best friend a world apart in South Africa.

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Despite immediate success in her business, she struggles to understand who she really is and where she belongs in the world. So begins a journey of discovery as Sarah re-unites with Katy in the land where she was born, where the air is lavender scented and weekends are spent cycling on the beach. Until the day when she has to return to London to face the ghosts of her past and confront a situation that has grown more complicated in her absence.

Taryn grew up in Durban, first living in Sydenham and then later in Musgrave. She matriculated from Durban Girls’ High School in 2000. She describes herself as an avid bookworm and says she spent her childhood with her nose buried in books.

“In primary school my teacher asked my mom to take me to the library to improve my reading and writing skills. My first experience in a library was at the Sydenham Library where I picked up my first Enid Blyton book. It was there that my love for reading began. I later became a library prefect at Berea Primary, as well as at Durban Girls’ High, and I started trying to write my own books. However I could never get the story going,” she said.

One night in 2013 while Taryn was falling asleep, she says the plot of Perfect Imperfections came to her.

“Initially I only had nine chapters, but as I began to write the characters sort of wrote their own story, 33 chapters later!”

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It took Taryn about a year to complete the novel as she wrote it on and off when she had the chance.

“I would love to have had a strict schedule to write, however I work full time, so I write inbetween work and looking after my family. It was easy to write as I was completely inspired and felt the characters were real to me, so the story just flowed. I also found that previously I used to try to write in the first person, which wasn’t a natural writing style for me. So I have discovered its easier for a story to flow through me if I’m writing in the third person instead,” she said.

Taryn said other than writing, her love for reading and baking are the perfect combination for the most relaxing hobby. She is currently writing her next book and is hoping to complete it soon.

The book is available from Adams Bookstore in Musgrave for R166 and on online stores such as Exclusive Books Online, Takealot.com, Loot.com and Amazon.com  at around R199.