I am a firm believer that stories that I nee to write would find their way to me. Each and every book I have ghost-written has provided me with invaluable life lessons.
The story of a children’s hospital was a book that found its way to me. I had ghost-written about seven books when I was approached by the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust to help them write a story about the hospital.
How did they find me?
As a ghost-writer, the books I have written do not always have my name on the cover. That is the privilege that belongs to the author paying me to write. Pat van der Merwe, Trust manager for the Nelson Mandela’s Hospital and Fund, found me via my LinkedIn profile. My profile highlights my corporate experience as well as some of the books I had written. She phoned me and asked if I was prepared to write a fund-raising proposal. Little did I realise what the future had in store for me.
The minute I walked into the hospital I felt that I had entered a magical place. The energy that exists in the hospital is one that must be experienced. Perhaps it is because, as the founding members of the hospital believe, Madiba’s spirit lives within the corridors and in the wards, ensuring that Africa’s children receive the best medical care possible. His love for children continues to live on beyond his death.
I met with Pat in one of the family lounges. When she asked if I would consider writing the story, I did not hesitate, despite worrying that writing about a hospital may be one of my biggest challenges in my career. And I was not wrong.
The brief was simple: write a story and upskill young South Africans during the process.
I was in a fortunate position because I was doing joint honours in Media Studies and English at Wits university at the time. I had access to young talent.
My team of ten students eventually dwindled down to a core of five people once the book was published two years later. My co-author, Zanele Chakela, was in my Creative Writing class (one of my modules for honours) so I had first-hand experience of her writing talents.
Although not part of the original brief, I felt that– as a Westernised white female– I would not do justice to a story that was about unity and combining talents to achieve a business goal. African languages have a rhythm and I wanted to capture that nuance. Zanele subsequently provided many interesting layers to the story and provided the ethnic voice required to showcase our local brand.
Writing the book provided me with a learning curve and many challenges.
Bringing a book to live took five project phases:
- getting data for stories,
- putting these into storylines that met with the Trust’s approval,
- writing the book (about 15 drafts later),
- designing the book and
- providing a reader-friendly format with colour and visual storytelling, printing and then marketing. I discovered that my years in corporate as well as my current academic studies proved that you are never too old to learn and that all past experiences should not be taken for granted.
When I handed the book over to the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, Sibongile Mkhabela, in an internal launch at the hospital in February 2020, it felt that I was saying goodbye to a family. Luckily, the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust and the Fund believe that once you work with the team you are always family.
The story about a hospital that started as an idea and grew into a world-class institution is one that is inspirational. It definitely rates as one of my favourite writing projects. It is a story that I hope will continue to inspire and to provide many important lessons to a country that has stumbled from one economic and political crisis to the next.
We have potential. We have talent. We have possibilities. Don’t believe me? Buy the book and judge for yourself.
Buy the book
All proceeds from the sale of A Dream Realised go to Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital Trust.
Order online from NMCH website or e-book at Amazon.
We can support you
Writing a book is rather like having a baby. It is not easy and you will face self-doubt and feel a sense of isolation. Writer’s Support will help you from idea to the bookshelf.
Contact us: writer@ulrikehill.co.za or sam@thewordcompany.co.za.
