Elise Hawthorne
As everyone knows, one’s life can change dramatically in a day, or in a moment. In Maureen Mendelowitz’s case, her dramatic life shift came just over five years ago when her beloved husband Julian became seriously ill, and she found herself living alone for the first time in over fifty years. On that fateful day, a Sunday, Maureen started writing her first novel, she found it therapeutic, it took her mind off her worries, she could escape into her make-believe world.
As a young woman, Maureen completed a Licentiate in Speech and Drama at Trinity College, London; it was an adventure, but she was far from the land of her birth, South Africa. Indeed, South Africa is a recurring theme running through Maureen’s books – her words paint vivid pictures of this fascinating country; it’s as if its spirit has never left her soul, expressing itself via her creativity, her passion, her writing.
Immigrating to Australia with Julian in 1997, Maureen soon began working at JewishCare, nearly twenty years later she is the Bequests and Donation Manager. All the while, she never lost her secret ambition to write fiction, but between family life and work, Maureen felt that she didn’t have the mind space that was necessary to write – until that day five years ago when she knew it was her time to start.
Maureen’s first book The Rock took a year to complete. She found encouragement via the Waverley Writers Group which she attended once a month at Waverly Library – as she recalls, “our group was full of wonderful, talented people, and we were all there to help each other, their support was invaluable to me.”
The Rock, published by award-winning independent publisher Ginninderra Press, is set in South Africa in the early years during the apartheid system, its prejudices and injustices affecting the fabric of society. Against this background is the thwarted love affair of brilliant young doctor Daniel for Maryssa. Their ensuing relationship is one of frustration and insecurity, of passion and pain.
Maureen’s second book Alone Not Lonely followed the success of her first novel. Placed in South Africa once again, it tells of the madam and the maid, their traumas, how they come to understand each other, and their interdependence. The story is raw and cruel, but it is also about heart and, ultimately, about survival. I’ve read Maureen’s first two books; they are real page-turners, I thoroughly enjoyed them.
When asked what motivates her to write, Maureen said, “losing a partner can be a very dark period in one’s life, but it can also be a time to reflect. I truly believe that one is never too old to start writing if that is your passion. There is a story in all of us.”
Maureen’s advice to budding writers is simple, “writing is wonderful therapy, just give it a bash, you’ve got nothing to lose, get a pen and paper, sit down and write, even if it’s only for your grandchildren to read, your thoughts are of tremendous value.”
Maureen’s third novel in five years What Have You Done has recently been released. Maureen explores why some men believe that they can do as they please, believing that they can get away with their misdeeds. This is a story of love, thwarted love, ensuing chaos and destruction.
Maureen’s fourth book Potholes and Paris will be out in August, a remarkable achievement for any writer as it is no easy task to write a book let alone have it snapped up by a publisher – a huge well-done Maureen, you are an inspiration to us all.
To purchase Maureen’s books, visit: www.ginninderrapress.com.au
This article was first published in JewishCare’s Keeping In Touch magazine www.jewishcare.com.au
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