Meet University of Pretoria (UP) alumna Felicia Snyman-du Toit, who recently published her first Afrikaans children’s book series.

Titled Die Ware Avonture van Adelie en Riley: Die Swembadmonster and Die Ware Avonture van Adelie en Riley: Die Amadidas, the books are about a young girl and her dog going on imaginary adventures, until their capers become less imaginary than they think.

It seems a far cry from Snyman-Du Toit’s day job as an attorney. She graduated with an LLB degree (cum laude) in 2011, before going on to work as an academic associate in UP’s Department of Mercantile Law. In 2013, she received a Master of Laws degree (cum laude) in Labour Law and Social Protection.

Her children’s book series was inspired by her daughter and her dog.

“During lockdown, they would spend hours playing together and going on all kinds of imaginary adventures,” Snyman-Du Toit says. “While watching them, the stories started forming in my head and before long, they came to life.”

However, this is not her first publication – in February this year, Penguin Random House published Snyman-Du Toit’s 10^th romance novel, titled Liefde met ’n Uitklophou. She admits that transitioning between writing romance-based novels to children’s books was not as smooth as she thought it would be.

“Novels will remain my primary passion for now,” she says. “Writing children’s books is no easy task. It is important to understand the unique minds of children and never talk down to them. Transitioning from romance books to children’s books required me to adapt my writing style, understand the target audience and develop new storytelling techniques. With research, practice and dedication, I navigated the transition and created engaging and meaningful children’s books.”

Snyman-Du Toit says her love for writing originated during her school years, and grew while studying at UP. However, it was during her time as a candidate attorney that she used her talent and love for writing to deal with her emotions and work-related stress; this grew into stories that could reach other people.

Snyman-Du Toit says her UP qualifications gave her a strong foundation, enabling her to build a good future.

“During my years at UP, I gained in-depth knowledge and develop specialised skills in my chosen field of study,” she says. “This academic foundation equipped me with a solid understanding of theories, concepts and practical applications. My critical thinking and problem-solving skills were emphasised. They enabled me to approach challenges with a thoughtful and analytical mindset.

“Having a degree from UP definitely enhanced my credibility and opened doors to employment opportunities,” she adds. “Graduating from UP is something I am extremely proud of, and it made me a well-rounded individual who is capable of navigating diverse professional environments.”

As an alumna of the institution, Snyman-Du Toit believes that she and fellow alumni have a role to play in the progress and development of their alma mater.

“By providing financial support, mentoring, networking, backing, knowledge-sharing and feedback, alumni can contribute significantly to the institution’s growth, reputation and overall success.”

The books can be purchased at various bookstores such as Exclusive Books, Graffiti Books and Bargain Books, and via the Lapa Uitgewers website.