From an early age, Angela Makholwa harboured dreams of becoming a storyteller. Her love for the written word saw her first short story being published at the age of 13 in the popular youth publication; Upbeat Magazine. From that moment, the bug had bitten. Angela went onto graduate as a Journalism major at Rhodes University and practiced as a journalist for several years before starting her own PR and events management company; Britespark Communications in 2002.

Her debut novel, Red Ink is a crime thriller set in Johannesburg which was published to both public and critical acclaim in 2007. This was followed by The 30th Candle, a book that revolves around four university friends who navigate their way to their 30th birthdays with humorous and sometimes unexpected results. The Black Widow Society (2013) follows the cloak and dagger workings of a secret society of middle class women who plot to eliminate their errant husbands through devious and underhanded means, giving fresh meaning to the words “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned”.

Angela’s most recent novel, The Blessed Girl is a satirical novel told from the perspective of a young woman who engages in transactional relationships with married men in order to access the opulent lifestyle she believes she deserves. It was recently longlisted for the UK’s Comedy Women in Print Prize.

Angela has gained critical and popular acclaim for her contribution to African literature and has been nominated for several literary awards. The crime and women’s fiction writer has been invited to speak at a number of local and international literary events and is committed to the advancement of literature on the African continent.  She works with a number of South African writers to encourage the love of reading amongst township and rural youth through various initiatives, including Read SA, a non-profit organisation.