Strandfontein author, Jacqueline Maart, 42, has been nominated for Best Poetry and for Contributing to the Literary Arts for the Cape Flats literary awards.

Strandfontein author has been nominated for Best Poetry and for Contributing to the Literary Arts for the Cape Flats literary awards.

Jacqueline Maart, 42, from Stranfontein started writing Seeking Grace in January 2022 and launched it in January this year.

She was nominated for the Best Poetry award and for contributing to the Literary Arts hosted by Shofar Books and Publication which will be held on Saturday April 6 in Gordons Bay.

This book is about a young girl seeking grace. She meets a guy, they have a baby and get married but she later experiences abuse. The book deals with love, abuse, sadness and happiness.

“It speaks to those who can relate and don’t have a voice,” she said.

Jacqueline Maart with her book Seeking Grace.

“My journey at the time was like a dark cloud. It brought me back to my upbringing where I started to pray again, my faith got stronger and the Lord brought me closer to him and this changed my life,” she said.

After surviving gender-based violence in 2004, she went back to school, to complete her matric. She says, she has always loved school, which is what led her to go back.

She has also always drawn to writing, she says, and this allowed her to use her imagination and go on a journey in her mind “where anything is possible”.

“I would have never imagined being in such a relationship. My faith carried me through the whole ordeal,” she said. “The book has been coming for quite some time. My story inspires me.”

Today she’s an entrepreneur and continues to journey with literature, she said.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I wrote a book, I'm a published author. I can’t explain the feeling. I definitely look forward to the Cape Flats Literary Awards,” she said.

“Poetry speaks to one's soul, emotions, circumstances, your experiences, and expresses situations within your community. It's a platform of healing for those who don't have a voice to speak out. We are a community of love for literature and we get to help others throughout literature too,” she said. “What I see around me, that affects me, becomes part of my story. I write a lot about my community and how it also affects us.”

She is also part of Poets Vannie Kaap, where they share their poetry of all genres. Her latest poem is about to gangsterism, crime and parents losing children.

Her parents Cornelia Arendse, 73, and Lawrence Arendse, 73, her husband, Clinton Maart, 53, her children, siblings, close family and friends all play a big part in her journey as well as her community.

Ms Arendse said: “I'm very proud of Jacky. She is one of my first children to have achieved such an accomplishment. My wish for her is to prosper in life and flourish. Well done, I will always love you.”

Mr Maart said: “I’m extremely proud of my wife's achievement. She has finally accomplished her goal and is still going strong. Our family supports her. God has blessed her and she will receive only greatness going forward. This is her season, the best is yet to come.”

Publisher Haroldene Tshienda met Ms Maart in March 2022 at a book fair where she invited her to their open mic poetry session.

Later they became good friends.

“Jacky won our yearly Women's Day short story competition, held by Shofar books; her book was then published, called Seeking Grace. She is passionate about writing and loves sharing her work with readers and fellow poets. She is a wonderful woman,” she said.

“Never give up if you have a dream of writing. I’ve learned that I never thought I’d be here, as it felt like a far dream. If you have faith then surely it is possible. If you fall, get back up and try again and again. Never give up on your dreams,” Ms Maart said. “Thank you to everyone that has purchased my book and sent me reviews. Thank you for all the support.”

The hard copy is R150 and her ebook is R100 and can be bought on the Shofar Books and Publication website on www.shofarbooks.co.za.