GQEBERHA – After more than 20 years in journalism, Kariega-born Eleanor Douglas-Meyers has entered a new chapter in her storytelling career with Confession Collector, her third published book and first solo novel.

The contemporary mystery follows Mira, a woman who finds that strangers often share their deepest secrets with her.

The book was launched on 1 August at Enchanted Alchemy in Gqeberha, marking the start of Women’s Month, with the launch event selling out within four days.

PE Express spoke to Douglas-Meyers about her journey from journalism to fiction, the inspiration behind Mira and why launching the book during Women’s Month was meaningful.

For readers who may not know you, could you tell us a little about yourself?

“I’m Eleanor Douglas-Meyers and I’m a Kariega girl through and through. I still live in Kariega with my husband, Robin, and our son, Aidan. My parents also live right next door, which I absolutely love because we’re a very close family.

“I studied Print and Broadcast Journalism at Nelson Mandela University, back when it was still PE Technikon and UPE.

“I’ve somehow blinked and found myself with more than 20 years in journalism! I’ve worked for The Herald, Weekend Post,Algoa Sun,Careers Magazine and La Femme, before eventually starting 041Online, a digital magazine dedicated to telling the stories of Nelson Mandela Bay.

“I’ve recently started working as a self-publishing consultant. If there’s one thing that’s connected every chapter of my career, it’s storytelling. I’ve always believed everyone has a story worth telling.”

Why was launching Confession Collector during Women’s Month particularly meaningful to you?

“Women’s Month just felt like the right time. I feel like female characters in South African stories, particularly women of colour, are often defined by trauma. Those stories absolutely deserve to exist, but I don’t think they should be the only stories we tell.

“I wanted to write a woman who’s allowed to be curious, funny, intelligent, romantic and just wonderfully human. Someone whose life isn’t defined by what she’s survived. I hope Confession Collector reminds people that women of colour deserve whimsical stories, mysteries and happy moments too.”

Why was it important to portray women of colour as fully human, beyond trauma and how is this reflected in the book?

“I think representation is about more than simply seeing yourself in a book. It’s about seeing yourself in lots of different kinds of stories. I wanted Mira to just … exist. She’s funny, nosy, compassionate, flawed, curious and adventurous. She gets caught up in a mystery because that’s where the story takes her, not because trauma defines who she is.

“Mira is loosely based on one trait that my mom and I share. People tell us everything. Complete strangers somehow end up sharing their life stories with us. One day we joked that someone was eventually going to tell us something they really shouldn’t, and that’s where the idea for Confession Collector was born. The book was originally written for a government-funded writing competition, but the funding was withdrawn and the competition was cancelled.

By then I’d completely fallen in love with Mira and the other characters, so I decided to publish it independently. My years in journalism definitely found their way into the novel. Journalists spend their lives collecting stories and in many ways, so does Mira.

What was the publishing journey for Confession Collector and where can readers find a copy?

“I independently published Confession Collector, which meant I got to wear all the hats — author, editor, project manager and marketer. Even the cover started as a picture of a sunset outside my house. Going through the self-publishing process inspired me to start working as a self-publishing consultant, where I now help aspiring authors bring their own stories into the world. It feels like a lovely full-circle moment because, after spending my career telling other people’s stories, I now get to help others tell theirs too.”

The paperback is available through the Shop section of the 041Online website for R280, including nationwide postage. The eBook is also available worldwide on Amazon Kindle.

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