Elaine is still young at heart

Elaine Young of Ferndale proves that you do not have to be young to fulfill your dream of being a best selling author.

Her new book Every Hidden Thing, tells a story of a young man who resorts to murder in order to hide his Nazi past and a victim who is determined to bring him to justice.

Young (69) said travelling to France a few years ago, inspired her to write this particular story. She began writing after her friend encouraged her to do so. “My friends and I had a reading club which became a space to share our love for literature,” said Young.

It was after writing short stories for the reading club that Young got the opportunity to express herself as a writer. “My friends loved reading my work and this made me decide to write a book following all the short stories I had written.” Young’s passion for literature has allowed her to share it with others. “When my children were still in primary school I would work at their school library and help it grow, and motivate pupils to read more books. Prior to that I worked at the very first Exclusive Books which was at the time, only in Hilbrow.”

Although Every Hidden Thing is filled with thriller and suspense, Young said she loves romantic novels and movies. “I think people will enjoy reading the book because it has the best of every style.”

Her friend Mariana Nortje said, “I don’t normally enjoy thrillers but I really liked Every Hidden Thing. It felt very real and not contrived. I enjoyed the book because of the Paris, France setting. There are enough twists and turns to keep one guessing right to the end. I think it would make a really good movie.”

Details: eliane@everyhiddenthing.co.za ; www.elianeyoungbooks.com