By Katlego Rammusa:
Some people don’t just open doors. They change the direction of your journey.
Long before Prison Love became my first published book, I was simply a woman carrying a painful story. I wanted to tell it, but I didn’t have the courage to write a book. Instead, I started writing a movie script.
I convinced myself it would be easier. A screenplay would allow me to hide behind the dialogue, avoid the details, and keep a safe distance from the pain I wasn’t ready to relive.
Then I reached out to someone I respected. Simon L. Makwela. At the time, Simon was the Head of Post Production at Moja Love. He saw something I couldn’t see. Rather than encouraging me to continue down the path I had chosen, he gently redirected me to the place I was trying so hard to avoid. “Write the book first,” he said.
Those four words changed everything. I listened. I wrote. I published Prison Love. When the book was complete, Simon didn’t stop there. He helped me knock on doors. Today, one of those doors has opened, and something exciting is in the oven. Looking back, I realise that every author needs more than talent. We need people who believe in our stories before the world does.
That is why it is such an honour to welcome Simon L. Makwela as our Keynote Speaker at Authors at the Movies. He joins us not only as a respected leader in South Africa’s film and television industry, but as someone who understands the journey from story to screen—and the importance of helping others find the courage to begin.
If you have ever dreamed of writing a book, turning your story into opportunities, or understanding what comes after publication, this event is for you. Sometimes one conversation can change the direction of your life. Mine certainly did. I came to realise that every great movie begins with a story.
Authors at the Movies Beyond the Book: Turning Your Book into a Business is coming on 8 September 2026, International Literacy Day. – @NewsSA_Online
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