A PRODUCTIVE LOCKDOWN 2020

Lockdown was a challenge but also a blessing in disguise for some of us. I used the quiet hours at home to attend to all the finishing touches to the book I had worked on for so many years.

The purpose of the book is to help young, or not so young, talented theatre artists to understand the art of marionettes. Much of the information is also applicable to other forms of puppetry. Apart from that the book is simply plenty of fun to read, peppered with bits of my own story and sense of humour.  

Early in my career as a puppeteer I knew that I was going to write a book one day. I started safeguarding all the sketches and designs I had made for my handmade marionettes as well as the notes I had prepared for lectures and classes. 

I could not write much until my children were all grown up and independent, and also until I had gained more experience in the art form. Then one day I sat down and simply started to pour my heart out on paper. Soon I could divide everything into chapters and continue to improve the language. Being fully bilingual I found myself writing in Afrikaans only to discover I unconsciously slipped into writing in English. Then I placed the words in two columns and continued in both languages simultaneously. 

Soon after moving into retirement I started making the appropriate technical sketches and choosing photos for the book. My very professional children became part of my book team. Gerda as editor, Elsje as photographer, Lisa as designer of the layout and Cobus as marketer. During Lockdown 2020 the last push to completion happened over the internet, to have the layout finalized and send it off to the printers. And now I can proudly pass along all my marionette knowledge in both English and Afrikaans! Since the book can be printed on demand it will not go out of print.  
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You can order Marionettes Untangled from the online shop of the printer, Groep7, for the following prices:
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Hardcover in full colour    R675  
Paperback in full colour    R490
Paperback in black/white R250
R80 to R120 will be added for the courier, depending on number of books in the parcel.

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