Richard de Nooy’s first novel Six Fang Marks and a Tetanus Shot (Jacana Media, 2007) won the University of Johannesburg Prize for Best First Book. The Dutch edition of his book, Zes beetwonden en een tetanusprik (translated by Fred de Vries), was published by Nijgh & Van Ditmar.
Having grown up in Johannesburg, De Nooy has lived in Amsterdam for more than 20 years. He managed to postpone his writing career by studying Journalism at Rhodes University and Psychology at the University of Amsterdam. He went on to procrastinate as a bouncer, cartoonist, translator, editor and copywriter, but remained a closet novelist throughout. De Nooy is deeply intrigued by the quirks and foibles of humanity, but does not necessarily wish to experience them at close quarters. He is currently working on his second novel, so please leave him alone.
The photo is courtesy of his gentle friend Martin Broekhuis, who had the balls to keep shooting until he smiled.
Here’s an interview with The Big Issue:
