Discover Brooklyn author Nuhaa Bardien at the Cape Flats Book Festival

Make a date with Brooklyn romcom author Nuhaa Bardien, this weekend at the Cape Flats Book Festival.

Authors, poets, moderators, and performers are set to take part in the fifth annual book festival, which will be held from Saturday, January 31 to Sunday, February 1 at West End Primary School in Lentegeur, Mitchell’s Plain.The free festival, hosted by literacy non-profit Read to Rise, is open to the public and aims to celebrate reading, writing, and storytelling across generations. 

Ms Bardien will be stepping into the spotlight, attending her first Cape Flats Book Festival to discuss "Betrothal and Betrayal", on Sunday, February 1, from 10am until 10.40am, 

She will be a participant in this adult panel discussion moderated by Beryl Eichenberger, a former public relations agency owner, passionate about literature, the arts, and volunteering. Sumi Singh, author of Fighting for Fame and Sydney's Boxer, will also be part of the  panel discussion

"I am really excited and honoured to have been asked to be on this panel," she said.

Ms Bardien said the festival was "such an underrated event" that did not get the coverage it deserved. She is also excited to meet some of her favourite authors, her book fans, and share her love for reading, writing, and romance. 

Last year, she self-published a Christmas novella, titled One Turned True.

In 2024 she wrote adaptations to two Shakespearean plays, Better Once Than Never - explaining that it is a combination of Taming of the Shrew and Stupid, Crazy, Love - a romcom movie; and Till This Night - Romeo and Juliet. 

Ms Bardien works as an office manager by day, is a mother to a seven-year-old boy, and pursues her writing dreams during the early hours of the morning.

"I write when everyone is still asleep, so I can be at peace, and the house isn’t noisy," she said. Sometimes, she will also try to fit in writing at night, although she admits to often feeling tired.

Ms Bardien said she enjoyed the benefit of self-publishing because of its flexibility - to publish whenever she chooses. Writing is currently her "second job," but she harbours the dream of eventually writing full-time.

She notes the financial challenges facing many South African authors, and for now, her capital is primarily invested in her illustrator and book orders, relying on pre-orders to avoid upfront printing costs.

Her books have been "received quite well," leading her to meet many readers and fellow authors. 

"People love the stories that I have written and the characters that I’ve created. I feel like I have a little fan club," she said.

Ms Bardien’s novels are contemporary romance rom-coms, often taking inspiration from unexpected places.

She describes her style as having the energy and feeling of a "2000 romcom movie," drawing inspiration from the "classics" of the genre.

She is looking forward to talking about books and the "fun things that make the books that we love."

• When you attend three sessions during the non-profit literacy organisation, Read Rise's book festival,  and have an attendance card clipped, you may collect a goodie bag, including a book, from their table.  

For more information on the book festival, visit Cape Flats Book Festival 2026. 

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