Lucille Abendanon

I hope you’ve enjoyed disovering the fascinating history behind my novel, The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree.

So, we’ve come to the part where I tell you a bit about myself. I find it much easier to talk about my characters than about myself, but I’ll try my best.

Here are some things about me:

1. I don’t come from one place. I don’t even come from two places. I guess technically, you can say I come from three different places. I was born in the UK (that’s the first place). My dad is Dutch (that’s the second place). And my mum is South African (that’s the third place).

2. I spent most of my childhood in rural Norfolk in the UK. Then, when I was eleven, we immigrated to South Africa where I pretty much stood out like a (very English) sore thumb. But, I got to munch on sugar cane and ride horses on the beach, so it was actually pretty fantastic. Although Christmas in summer was really weird at first.

3. Most days, living between three cultures feels like I come from all of them and none of them all at the same time.

4. I have been very fortunate to live all over the world. From the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, to the wonderful metropolis of Bangkok, Thailand. From the ancient city of Istanbul to the tropical shores of Durban, South Africa. From the canals of The Netherlands to the English countryside.

5. I have three boys. Born in three different countries. They have three nationalities. I’m sensing a pattern here…

6. I was chased by a lion once. On safari in South Africa. True story. If it ever happens to you, the trick is NEVER RUN AWAY. Waving your arms and shouting rude words at it is your only line of defence.
7. The Songbird and the Rambutan Tree is my first novel, and is inspired by my Dutch granny, Oma Emmy. She was a very special lady.