Deon Meyer

Deon Godfrey Meyer is a South African thriller novelist, writing primarily in Afrikaans. His works have been translated into 28 languages. He has also written numerous scripts for television and film.

Early life and education Deon Meyer was born in Paarl, South Africa.

He matriculated in 1976 at the Schoonspruit High School in Klerksdorp. He then attended Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education, where he gained a BA with English and History as majors. He later obtained an honours degree at the University of the Free State.

Career In the 1980s he worked as a journalist at Die Volksblad, at the public relations office of the University of the Free State, and began work as advertising copy writer at Sanlam. In 1991 he was appointed manager of Internal Communication and creative director of Sanlam's publicity department.

After leaving Sanlam, he started his own business specialising in the creation and management of virtual communities on the internet. He then worked as manager of special projects at BMW motorcycles.

He currently writes full-time.

Personal life Meyer was a long-time resident of historical coastal resort of Melkbosstrand, where he wrote most of his novels.

His hobbies include touring Southern Africa on a motorcycle.

Novels Deon Meyer's novel-writing career started when the Afrikaans magazine, Huisgenoot, published a short story he had submitted. Since then, he has written fifteen novels and two short story collections. His novels reflect current social issues in South Africa, including that of the apartheid system. His main characters are flawed but empathetic cops.