- Writer
- Born on 2 January 1970
- in Welkom, South Africa
BreinBliksem - Tafelberg; 2005 (Could be translated as MindWarp
BreinBliksem is a hard-hitting novel that takes the teenage reader on a wild ride as three boys and a girl make their way to a rock music festival. Their weekend is filled with sex, drugs . . . and murder.
And when the party is over, Chris Burns is the one who has to live with it all.
Extract from BreinBliksem - Tafelberg; 2005 (translated from Afrikaans).
“Sit. Wait,” said Sky. His voice calm. Soft. He lifted his head and looked at the stars. As if he could read them. As if what happened tonight, was written in them.
“Fuck, Sky….” I felt paralyzed. My body did not want to go any further. My head going off in a thousand directions. I could not think straight anymore. It was the alcohol and drugs. I sat down next to Sky.
And I wondered: will he go in when Kerbs has finished?
Kerbs appeared from the tent, crouching. My first thought was that he looked like a caveman. Big, hairy, strong. His prey devoured. I still could not see his eyes even though we were outside. They were just two dark shadows in his head. His mouth was slightly open, white teeth flashing. Like an animal.
He did not have a shirt on, only a half-open pair of pants that he had trouble closing.
And then I saw his hands.
The blood covering his fingers.
I did not have to ask. I just knew. Partygirl was dead.
Fanie Viljoen grew up in Welkom. He matriculated in 1987 at the Goudveld High School. Thereafter he did two years compulsory military service. He works as a training consultant at Sanlam by day, and by night he writes stories and paints. Fanie has a BA degree in Psychology and Sociology from Unisa. Fanie’s first short story was published in 1999 in Sarie magazine. After that numerous short stories were published and in 1999 he was one of the finalists in the De Kat/Human & Rousseau short-short story competition. Fanie has also received awards for radio dramas in the Sanlam/RSG radio drama competitions. Die Losprys (The Ransom) was awarded second prize in the beginner’s section of the competition (2000). In 2002 his radio drama Agter geslote deure (Behind Closed Doors) was awarded second prize in the Sanlam/RSG radio drama competition for experienced writers. Fanie has published four books to date. His shocking teen novel BreinBliksem (MindWarp) was first prize winner in the Sanlam/Tafelberg youth literature competition (2005).
As his books are loved by Afrikaans children, teenagers and adults alike, he is eager to expand his audience to include readers of other languages by having his books translated.
Recent Publications
Slym, written & illus. by Fanie, LAPA; 2004
BreinBliksem, Tafelberg; 2005
Spoke en ander gruwelike goed by Fanie, illus. by Jeanine Henning, Human & Rousseau; 2005
Geraamte in die klas by Fanie, illus. by Karl Stephan, Human & Rousseau; 2006
Spoke en ander gruwelike goed - Human & Rousseau; 2005 (Could be translated as “Ghosts and Other Horrible Creatures”).
Spoke en ander gruwelike goed is a collection of 16 short stories about ghosts, werewolves, vampires and zombies. These chilling tales about creatures that dwell in the shadows will make readers aged 12 and younger go cold with fright.
Extract from Spoke en ander gruwelike goed - Tafelberg; 2005 (translated from Afrikaans).
I just knew it was the man who moved into the new house today. The bright rays of moonlight fell on his shoulders. Fear came over me like a dark cloud. I wanted to scream, but it felt as if I didn’t have a voice.
And then something happened that I didn’t expect. The man reached out his hand. I inhaled deeply. His arm became longer and longer. It went right through my window.
I saw his long nails. I slid out of bed to get away. The shadows of his branch-like fingers moved across my pillow. I fell to the floor.
My heart beating wildly. Was he still outside? If his hand was able to enter my room, he probably could as well. I shouldn’t have thought that.
Suddenly there was a movement under my bed.
I realized: now he’s got me!
