A Cape Flats dad who wrote a book without any previous writing experience is overwhelmed after it went to No.1 seller just a week after its release.
Father of three, Yusuf Daniels, of Kenwyn wrote his first book called Living Coloured, which became an Exclusive Books bestseller.
“I’m an accidental author, I just started writing stories on Facebook in October 2018. Within three weeks I had 10 stories and the public just took to it,” he says.
Yusuf, 43, who grew up in Bridgetown, Athlone and Portlands, started writing his book just two months ago and finished it without the intention of publishing.
“I wrote some stuff about my best times growing up as a coloured on the Cape Flats,” he says.
“I shared it with a friend and she had it published for me without me knowing.”
He says the book went on sale on 1 June and was sold out the same day at Exclusive Books in Cavendish Square.
“The stories told in this book are unique to Cape Town. I talk about everything I experienced growing up in Cape Town and try to cover all the areas of my childhood.”
Author Yusuf Daniels
An excerpt from the book reads: “Welcome to the hood, people. There was no time for fancy shampoo and conditioner... Sunlight soap gets rubbed onto the rough washcloth, and your hair also gets a good scrubbing with the same soap...
“Next step was to towel dry your hair a little; then on goes the swirlkous (not that I needed it). My mother’s old nylon pantyhose now transformed into head gear.
“The upright hairdryer is brought out, and my head gets pushed under it’s dome. There were no hand-held hairdryers back then.
“F*k, it was at least 60 degrees Celsius under that thing, but sit you must. I could hardly breathe as hot air blew down my head and neck. Soon the blisters would start to show on my neck...
“But when I emerged from that dryer and the swirlkous was pulled off my head jarre, I became the original 1970s Justin Bieber.”
Yusuf says his kids read the book and are proud of the achievement.
“I’m proud to be a coloured child on the Cape Flats, it’s a total reflection of me and I want our kids to see that they can be proud of where they come from.”
Yusuf, who has a full-time job at an auction company, adds: “Parents who bought the books show me that their children are reading the book.
“My book is fun and light-hearted, making it relatable for young and old.”
The book retails for R140.