The Van Heerdens moved back to South Africa in February 2003 and since then Marjorie has illustrated many children’s trade books, some written by herself, and a number of educational works (see attached bibliographies). She also wrote and illustrated a volume of collected children’s stories, published in both English and Afrikaans.
In 2005 one of her earlier picture books, Monde’s Present (first published in 1997) was translated and published in ten of
South Africa’s eleven official languages.
Back in South Africa she once again became very active in the local organisations
for children’s literature, and also established a South African chapter of the
international SCBWI, like she did in Greece.
Marjorie is an M-Net/Via Afrika Literary Award Winner. In
June 2008 the M.E.R Prize for best
illustrated children’s book of the year 2007 was awarded to Marjorie van
Heerden (illustrator) and Wendy Hartmann (author) for Nina and Little Duck, published by Human & Rousseau (SA). It is also available in
Afrikaans as Nina en Eendjie.
Since 2003 the Van Heerdens live in the picturesque coastal village of Gordon’s Bay
near Cape Town. Marjorie has set up her artist’s studio in the loft of their
home near the beach and from her work station she looks out west over False
Bay. In the evening she can see the sun set behind Table Mountain across the
bay. She has come full circle back to her beloved Cape of Good Hope, loves
living so near the Cape of Storms and, while writing and illustrating one
children’s book after another, she keeps wondering what is waiting over the
next horizon…
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| Marjorie's studio in Gordon's Bay, near Cape Town. |
