Lauren O'Connor-May

Africa Community Media National Production Manager

Watch VideoBook review: Till This Night and Better Once Than Never

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Discover the spicy Shakespearean-inspired romance in Nuhaa Bardien's novels, 'Till This Night' and 'Better Once Than Never,' which blend love, rivalry, and unexpected ...

Watch VideoAuthor invented romance hero while she was sleeping

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lockdown events created a soup in Nuhaa Bardien’s brain which boiled together into a character called Titan while she slept.

Kamini Pather on cooking, culture and her new cookbook

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

MasterChef South Africa winner shares her culinary journey and the inspiration behind All Dhal'd Up.

Book review: All Dhal'd Up

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Discover the delightful world of Kamini Pather's All Dhal'd Up, where simple ingredients meet glamour. This review explores not just the recipes but also invaluable ...

Chasing Chewie: How I lost nerd cred at Comic Con Cape Town

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Join me on my Comic Con Cape Town adventure, where I discovered just how much my nerd cred had slipped while chasing Chewie and navigating a sea of cosplayers.

Book review: Book People

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

In Book People by Paige Nick, laughter meets chaos as two authors navigate the tumultuous world of publishing, social media, and unexpected police inquiries.

Children's book reviews: Ben and the Big Game and Tippie reading series

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

This review explores two South African children's book series: Ben and the Big Game by Zuleika Smit, which teaches young readers about overcoming failure through ...

Divvying up the boasting pie for my new author hat

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

When Lauren O'Connor-May's children's book was published, people expected pride. Instead, she found profound gratitude - to her children who inspired the story, ...

Book review: Khaki Fever

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lindsay Norman's Khaki Fever defies easy genre classification, blending adventure with personal quest elements in a distinctly South African setting.

Book review: 100 Poems to Help You Sleep

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lauren O'Connor-May reviews a soothing collection of lullabies, hymns, and gentle verses in 100 Poems to Help You Sleep, designed to guide you into a peaceful slumber. ...

Review: Onyx Storm

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Onyx Storm is the third book in the Empyrean Series, captivating romantasy fans with its thrilling twists and complex characters.

Children's book reviews: from unicorns to classics

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

From bubblegum-flavoured unicorn tales to beloved classics reimagined, this collection of children's book reviews spans magical adventures, teen diaries, and a fresh ...

Book reviews: The Wild Robot and Uglies FTIs

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Two beloved novels get the Hollywood treatment: Scott Westerfield's dystopian young adult novel Uglies arrives on Netflix, while Peter Brown's heartwarming tale ...

Book review: The First Murder on Mars

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Dive into the gripping dual narratives of The First Murder on Mars, by Sam Wilson, where dystopian realities clash with privileged lives, leading to a shocking revelation. ...

Cape Town author writes gamers romance because she loves love

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Lauren O'Connor-May chats to author Shameez Patel, from Goodwood, who has written her fourth book but first romance - about gaming, Comic-Con, Lord of the Rings, ...

From the mouths of babes

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

From misheard lyrics to philosophical observations, these candid conversations with my seven children offer a heartwarming glimpse into the delightful chaos of large ...

Warning: this column talks poop a lot

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Living Large explores the unspoken, often messy realities of raising a large family in modern times. From bathroom boundaries to unexpected public moments, this ...

Book review: Ellie Pillai is not done yet

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Ellie Pillai is a British, Sri Lankan, Catholic, Tamil teenager who is juggling adolescent anxieties about her ex-boyfriend, possible new crush, the girl that had ...

Writer pens grim tale about life on Mars

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Muizenberg author Sam Wilson tells us about his newest book, The First Murder on Mars

Review: Playing Flirty

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

I got very excited when I saw this book. A brown Capetonian author, writing about a leading, brown romance character. I wondered, are we finally getting a brown ...

Appliances which have surprised me

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Living Large, is a monthly column about the strange (at least from the outside looking in) lifestyle of a modern, large family.

Children’s book reviews for the holidays

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

In this follow-up to Ben Goes to School, Lea, Ben’s little sister, faces similar challenges as her brother did during his first week of school. With the help of ...

Watch VideoHow we deal with FARQs: frequently asked rude questions

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Living Large, is a monthly column about the strange (at least from the outside looking in) lifestyle of a modern, large family.

Q and A with author Serai Dowling

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Muizenberg resident Serai Dowling brings the Western Cape's enchanting tidal pools to life in her new guidebook. From their colonial history to their role in mental ...

Book reviews: anthologies

Lauren O'Connor-May|Published

Two engaging children's books that spark curiosity and wonder: The Amazing Quiz Book offers 750 interactive questions perfect for screen-free entertainment, while ...