Although 2011 was layered with personal challenges, it truly was a great year for me. As challenges tend to do, they made me stronger, not just as a writer or teacher, but as a person.

On the writing front it has been my best year yet, publishing twenty five short stories. My personal goal was to get twenty stories published before the end of the year; I’m now on thirty six. And yes, I’m still counting. Counting my blessings, so to say.

I’ve also managed to break into a few ...

Halloween 2011 will most likely go down as my most memorable yet. I’ll tell you exactly why later on.

Halloween in South Africa basically consists of watching scary movies. There are no trick-or-treating (unless a small neighbourhood decided otherwise), creepy pumpkins or any other decorations. A few shops will however try and score some money by selling a few Halloween themed goodies.

So after spending every Halloween watching a blood-smeared bucket load of horror movies, I dec...