UMR HURTER relates the inspiring journey of a talented children’s book writer. He reveals her passion for writing, her personal growth as an author, and her unwavering commitment to captivating storytelling and inspiring readers
TO attribute the phrases ‘never say never’ and ‘never too late’ to 55-year-old Kariema Taliep Davids is not only apt but also perfectly sums up her dynamic personality.
Davids has felt the urge to put pen to paper since a very young age, being a member of the Junior Argus Club and the Jellybean Journal.
Her writings were frequently published, and she even tried her hand at drawing to complement her work, with her father playing a significant and defining role in fostering her appreciation for the written word.
While reading bedtime stories to her two sons further nurtured her passion, she had to set it aside for many years as life took its course and raising her family became her top priority. Davids spent many years involved in sales in the clothing and shoe industry, and she even sold crayfish tails at one point, a period in her life she fondly remembers.
However, her watershed moment came when her granddaughter, Haniyah, was born. Haniyah’s presence inspired Davids to finally take her natural writing ability, which had been dormant for so long, to the next level.
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At the age of three, Haniyah’s daily exploration of the world led Davids to notice certain life lessons along the way.
These observations served as inspiration for her to write her first book titled Haniyah and the Pink Rabbit during the Covid pandemic, towards the end of 2020.
Haniyah would carry her pink rabbit with her everywhere, and Davids saw this as the perfect opportunity to revisit her writing talent and create accompanying drawings.
The book’s theme revolves around sharing and caring. Despite the challenges, Davids managed to complete her project by the end of 2020.
She self-published the book and launched it in 2021 at Timbuktu Books. Remarkably, this self-taught author has had no formal training in writing.
However, like all true talent, her ability flows from a place unseen.
The success of her first book made Davids realise that there was a significant gap in the market for this type of literature.
Motivated by this, she decided to write several books featuring Haniyah as the main character, sharing valuable life lessons as Haniyah embarked on various adventures.
Davids began with the sequel titled Haniyah Goes to School, which was published in November 2021.
This book tackled the issue of bullying at school and taught readers how to embrace their imperfections.
However, Davids’s drive was far from exhausted. She felt inspired to write another book in the Haniyah series, titled Haniyah Discovers Diversity, which was published in November 2022.
This book explored our diverse world and emphasised that despite our cultural and religious differences, we are all fundamentally the same.
Remarkably, while working on Haniyah Discovers Diversity, Davids managed to find time to write a romantic novel, targeted at an adult audience.
This novel, titled A Passionate Love, was also published in November 2022. It serves as a guide for married individuals, offering insights on navigating relationship challenges and reigniting the spark in married life.
In the meantime, another grandchild was born, this time a grandson named Muzaffer and Davids felt it was only fair to write and dedicate a book to him as well. Davids promptly did so.
The first book in the series, titled Paw Prints in Muzaffar’s Heart, was published in August 2023.
The theme of this book revolves around a house cat that Muzaffar was deeply attached to but sadly passed away. It explores how to navigate the grieving process, overcome sadness, and cope with the loss of a loved one. Davids has plans to write two more books in the Muzaffar series, as the urge to write is ever-present.
However, for now, she will focus on the marketing and distribution of her existing books, recognising that this is an essential part of any author’s journey.
Davids’s books are priced between R150 and R250 each and are available for sale at pre-primary and primary schools, as well as educares and crèches. For those interested in learning more or purchasing any of the books, they can visit the website www.ktdbooks.co.za Alternatively, the author can be contacted directly at 063 864 1701, and copies can be collected up in Wetton.
