Maretha Maartens

Author of about 90 books
Lectured in Didactics and in Philosophy of Education

Maretha was born on 22 June 1945 at Bloemfontein and grew up in Jacobsdal and in Petrusburg. She studied at the University of the Orange Free State and at Stellenbosch University and obtained a diploma in Nursing. She has been married to Hennie Maartens, a minister of the NG Church, for over 30 years, and they served the congregations in Oos-Londen, in Welkom and in Noordhoek, Bloemfontein. Hennie and Maretha also directed evangelical drama for many years. They have two daughters, Danila and Naomi.
Maretha was editor of Finesse, a magazine for Christian women, until 2000. She now works from home as a freelance journalist and editor of Vrouekeur and writes a column for Volksblad.
Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, snorkelling, reading, classical music and, of course, writing

Awards: Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature 1985, 1988 (silver medal), 1990 and 1992 (bronze medal)
Credo Award, Volkskas Prize for Youth Literature, Andrew Murray Award 1989
Inkvoël was choosen for the White Raven Collection and received the Award for children's books of the Catholic Church of Austria
ATKV Prize 1994 for Smaartie is skeel and 2000 (second prize) for Die nagkat

Publications:
Some 90 books, including novels and short stories, children's and youth books and religious books, diaries and plays. Several of them were translated into Dutch, English and German.

Children's books: Ruitevrou Aljander-Aljander, Lux Verbi 1981 My dik boek, Tafelberg 1982 Ons mooiste Kersfees, CUM-boeke 1983 Groot genoeg om te weet, Lux Verbi 1986 Die boemelaars, Tafelberg 1984 Grys kat, grys kat, jy laat vir Anja hoes, Waterkant 1984 'n Pakkie mieliepitte /Sidwell's seeds, Tafelberg 1984 Swart Griet is vas, Tafelberg 1984 Die sakmense, Tafelberg 1985 Die inkvoël, Tafelberg 1987 Goue fluit, my storie is uit, Tafelberg 1988 Is Gideon dan 'n swartskaap?, Daan Retief 1988 Zek en die skoenlappers van die nag, Pro Biblia 1989 Plek van dolfyne, Tafelberg 1990 Smaartie is skeel, HAUM literêr 1993 Religious books: Die Huisdagboek, 1986 Maak my anders, Here, 1992 Om elke dag te cope, 2000

Books for Teens: Gezina en die bruin wind, HAUM 1985 Rowe val af, Tafelberg 1985 Oud genoeg vir nagbriewe, Lux Verbi 1987 Oor die nek van die draak, Tafelberg 1988 Op Filippa se planeet, JP van der Walt 1989 Mooi loop, Meisiekind, Bybelkor 1989 Geagte mej. Snob/ Dear miss Snob, Daan Retief, 1992 Spinnekopsomer, Tafelberg 1992 Young adults: Moedhou, Maria, dis donkermaan, JP van der Walt 1984 'n Pot vol winter, HAUM 1989 In die hemel eet mens mieliepap, Perskor 1991 Keerpunt, CUM 1991 Novel: Jacoba Afrikaner, 2002 Monument, Tafelberg 2013 Hanna, Lux Verbi, 2016 Religious plays: Legio wat so roep Die Kruiskoning (Paasspel) Die Kripkoning (Kersspel) Kom huis toe, Koningskind! Moses