Rachel Zadok
Encyclopedia
Rachel Zadok is a writer
and a Whitbread First Novel Award nominee (2005)
. She is a graduate of the Certificate in Novel Writing course, run by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning at City University, London
. Zadok was born in South Africa
in 1972 to a South African mother and an Israeli father and grew up in Kensington a white middle-class suburb of Johannesburg
. She later studied Fine Art
and worked as a freelance graphic designer. She moved with her doctor husband to London
, England in 2001 where she waitressed for a while and then worked for an orphans’ charity. It was in London that Zadok began writing Gem Squash Tokoloshe, a first novel set in her native South Africa. "The book is really about belief and the influence society has on children," she said in a November 2005 BBC
interview.
In 2004, Zadok entered the ‘How to Get Published’ competition on Channel 4’s Richard & Judy
Show, reaching the final five of 46,000 entrants. While she didn’t win, Pan Macmillan subsequently offered her a publishing contract. She has been nominated for the Whitbread First Novel Award 2005. The Whitbread Judges have announced that : “Gem Squash Tokoloshe impressed us with its powerful evocation of a child's-eye view of rural South Africa. Rachel Zadok sets the private drama of a collapsing household against the backdrop of a changing nation and creates a tangible atmosphere of menace.” The Whitbread Book Awards, which began in 1971, seek to encourage, promote and celebrate the best contemporary British writing.
Rachel Zadok has indicated that she intends to return to South Africa at some point in the future. In The Guardian
of 18 November 2005 Zadok commented that she'd like to be back in Johannesburg next year if possible: "...I really feel I need to go back and make a difference. I suppose in apartheid, being white, I got the benefit of an education - a warped education, mind you. I feel like I can't run away from it and live somewhere else. I've got to pay my dues, give back to the country that gave me so much..."
Zadok has spoken of her wish to set up a project for HIV/AIDS orphans in her native South Africa. She is currently working on her second novel.
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and a Whitbread First Novel Award nominee (2005)
2005 Whitbread Awards
-Children's Book:Winner:*Kate Thompson, The New PolicemanShortlist:*Frank Cottrell Boyce, Framed*Geraldine McCaughrean, The White Darkness*Hilary McKay, Permanent Rose-First Novel:Winner:*Tash Aw, The Harmony Silk FactoryShortlist:...
. She is a graduate of the Certificate in Novel Writing course, run by the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning at City University, London
City University, London
City University London , is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute and became a university in 1966, when it adopted its present name....
. Zadok was born in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in 1972 to a South African mother and an Israeli father and grew up in Kensington a white middle-class suburb of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. She later studied Fine Art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
and worked as a freelance graphic designer. She moved with her doctor husband to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England in 2001 where she waitressed for a while and then worked for an orphans’ charity. It was in London that Zadok began writing Gem Squash Tokoloshe, a first novel set in her native South Africa. "The book is really about belief and the influence society has on children," she said in a November 2005 BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
interview.
In 2004, Zadok entered the ‘How to Get Published’ competition on Channel 4’s Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
Show, reaching the final five of 46,000 entrants. While she didn’t win, Pan Macmillan subsequently offered her a publishing contract. She has been nominated for the Whitbread First Novel Award 2005. The Whitbread Judges have announced that : “Gem Squash Tokoloshe impressed us with its powerful evocation of a child's-eye view of rural South Africa. Rachel Zadok sets the private drama of a collapsing household against the backdrop of a changing nation and creates a tangible atmosphere of menace.” The Whitbread Book Awards, which began in 1971, seek to encourage, promote and celebrate the best contemporary British writing.
Rachel Zadok has indicated that she intends to return to South Africa at some point in the future. In The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
of 18 November 2005 Zadok commented that she'd like to be back in Johannesburg next year if possible: "...I really feel I need to go back and make a difference. I suppose in apartheid, being white, I got the benefit of an education - a warped education, mind you. I feel like I can't run away from it and live somewhere else. I've got to pay my dues, give back to the country that gave me so much..."
Zadok has spoken of her wish to set up a project for HIV/AIDS orphans in her native South Africa. She is currently working on her second novel.
External links
- From Waitress to the Whitbread
- Whitbread Book Awards
- "A Better Connection", Guardian UnlimitedGuardian Unlimitedguardian.co.uk, formerly known as Guardian Unlimited, is a British website owned by the Guardian Media Group. Georgina Henry is the editor...
, 29 October 2005 - "I didn't know who Mandela was", Guardian, 18 November 2005
- "From risotto to riches for Richard & Judy author", The ScotsmanThe ScotsmanThe Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
, 18 November 2005 - "Interview: Jasper Gerard meets Rachel Zadok", The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times (UK)The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
, 20 November 2005