Dr. Madeliene Muller has turned her family tradition of writing books for her kids for their birthdays, into a fun series of fantasy novels for teens everywhere entitled The Abancedi Series.
She is a family physician at the family medicine department at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital in Mdantsane. She is also employed as a lecturer at Walter Sisulu University, teaching students, interns, and registrars.
Muller says her children have inspired several of her books and novellas over the years.
“I started writing it in 2019, and when Coral [Muller’s daughter] turned three I wrote a story for her birthday, illustrated by her granny and my husband. This soon became a yearly tradition and when Coral turned 10 she requested a ‘chapter book’.
“I have always written with my children in mind as my main audience. I love that they love my stories, and seeing Coral bring the characters to life is a special privilege,” said Muller.
As the years have gone by Coral, her eldest daughter, has joined her mother’s literary efforts and now draws the illustrations of the books herself.
The Abancedi Series consists of three books that chronicle the adventures of superhero twins Mila and Bonnie. The books can be read in any order.
Runnin’ On The Flats tells the story of Captain Fazel Gysman, who regularly investigates gang-related crime in the Cape Flats and now he is joined by Mila and Bonnie, two extraordinary teenage girls with some rather spectacular talents.
Seventeen-year-old Dawie Stuurman’s life is on the line and it becomes a race against time to find him before it is too late. Set in Hanover Park on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, this book is the first introduction to Mila and Bonnie.
The second book in the series is Dimbasa Divine’, which tells the story of gifted twelve-year-old Nina, whose favourite horse has taken ill in the midst of the Covid pandemic. Medicines are hard to come by and the head groom, Mr. Sibeko, has been struck down by a mysterious illness. Fortunately, Nina’s best friend, Tess, and her two fifteen-year-old superhero twin sisters, Mila and Bonnie, have come to visit. The story, which is set in Keiskammahoek in the Eastern Cape, follows the children’s journey to solving the mystery and saving Nina’s horse and friend.
The third book in the series is called On The Rocks At Mdumbi and follows Mila and Bonnie on a well-deserved break at Mdumbi, the exotic backpackers’ venue situated on the stunning Wild Coast of SA.
Their hopes of having a relaxing time are crushed when a rogue illegal fishing trawler finds its way into South African fishing waters. The girls are in need of help for this adventure but need to know who to trust.
