RN Rosemary Saayman, who works in the intensive care unit at Hillcrest Private Hospital, was one of three recipients to be awarded the South African Writers’ poetry trophy 2011. The two other poets were Brett Beiles and Susan Roberts.
Rose follows in the footsteps of an illustrious father and grandfather. Her father, Lt Commander Jack Keir RN DSC, was the first chairman of the South African Writers’ Circle and a former financial editor on the Natal Mercury. Her grandfather was Charles Evenden, founder of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, and author of two books, Old Soldiers Never Die and Like A Little Candle.
Rose started writing in 2004 whilst recovering from surgery. She has written two books, numerous short stories and poetry as yet to be published.
She says, “It is a definite perseverance and passion that spurs one on to eventually achieve that goal of a bestseller.”
The South African Writers’ Circle encourages and assists all writers, new and experienced, and promotes the art of creative writing in general. The SAWC is the only association in South Africa which runs monthly competitions covering the whole spectrum of writing: novels, short stories, articles, poetry, plays, humour, children’s stories and science fiction.
Professional writers judge these competitions and each entrant receives a full critique on work submitted, whether they are prizewinners or not. Copies of the prizewinning entries are published in the monthly newsletter.
For more about the South African Writers’ Circle, click here
Rosemary works at Hillcrest Private Hospital
