Pixie Emslie - Author Life

We spoke to the lovely Pixie Emslie about her book and her inspirations. Read on to find out more!

Did you always dream of becoming an author?

I always wanted to write, but am not sure that I dreamed of anything quite as big as becoming an author. I wrote my first ‘book’ at school – a  mystery which I illustrated as well.

What was your first job?

After completing a BA degree at the University of Natal in Durban, majoring in English and Political Science, I got my first job as a newspaper reporter on a Durban newspaper, The Daily News.  I was trained at their Cadet School, then did general reporting before becoming Education Reporter.

From there I went to London, UK where I got a job on women’s magazines at a company called Gresham Publishing. Here I was assistant editor on Beauty Plus and 101 Easy Ways to Slim, working under Arline Usden, who later became editor of The Lady.

I returned to South Africa, to work on the Johannesburg Star newspaper. After that I branched out into corporate communication, working for one of the biggest mining houses – from that I set up my own communication consultancy, which I ran for about 15 years.

How did you come about writing your book? Was that your intention or did you start writing for fun?

I always wanted to write a book and I first tried writing romance, thinking it would be ‘easy’.  How mistaken I was!  In fact I then wrote my book, Cry of the Rocks, based on a platinum mine,  before going back to my earlier attempts at romance.  Only then did I manage it – and His Precious Diamond is the result.

What was your life like before you became an author?

My husband and I decided we would leave our Johannesburg-based business lives and move to the coast – and on a beautiful place on the Garden Route I grew proteas for export. In between learning to be a flower farmer, I tried (and tried) to write, both struggling to produce a book, and trying my hand at short stories.

Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them?

My biggest lesson has been to persevere.  I went on a writing course (yes, as a senior journalist – but I wanted to learn to write in more than a few column-inches!) and one thing stuck in my mind. The trainer used the expression: “Just put it down”.  Write and write and worry about the grammar and editing later, once you have it down.

Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all?

I can’t say my life has changed, though there have been some wonderfully rewarding moments, with recognition and praise coming from unexpected sources. After a write-up in our local papers people have stopped me in the supermarket to comment, and congratulate me.  One can’t help feeling a bit chuffed! 

Can you please describe a typical day in your life now?

I am enormously lucky as we live in a stunningly lovely place, with forest on one side and lakes on the other, with the sea just over the next dune. I have a big garden and I spend my mornings at my laptop, looking out over the garden (hoping for inspiration...)

We entertain quite a lot, and I love cooking, especially when it is for friends.

I am a member of a local writing group, and have been in a book club (The Loose Pages) since its inception about 13 years ago.

With the beach not far away, we go for long walks and when it is warm enough I still simply love swimming in the waves.

What is your most memorable moment of your life as an author?

I think the moment when that book actually arrives, and you open the box of gorgeous, brand-new shiny books – and they have your name on them!  Oh wow.  Nothing can beat that.