Cat Hellisen

Cat Hellisen (born 31 May 1977) is the South African author of fantasy novels When the Sea is Rising Red, House of Sand and Secrets, and Beastkeeper.

Cat Hellisen in 2022

Water: New Short Fiction from Africa, the Short Story Day Africa anthology in which 'Worme Bridge' is published

Quotes

Water: New Short Fiction from Africa, Short Story Day Africa (2016)

Water: New Short Fiction from Africa, Short Story Day Africa, 2016, ISBN 978-1-928215-08-0

• Let me tell you for nothing it was a great relief to find all my toes in the right order and with the right amount of skin and bone. You miss them fierce when you don’t have them.

• I had just sat on the edge of the river with my knees right up against my chest and cried because ten is too young to know that sometimes your parents have to do what’s best for you even if it hurts you. Even if it hurts them.

• I breathed in the smoke from my final cigarette. It tasted like acceptance of growing up.

Quotes about Cat Hellisen

• The Worme Bridge’ stood out for us with its brave story and clear, distinctive voice; it’s a wonderfully dark exploration of the water theme. The story works effortlessly to construct an other kind of reality while grounding itself in the real world. The writing is compelling: the reader is drawn into this family and the strangeness that overtakes them. We found this a powerful piece of writing that continues to haunt the reader afterwards.
  • The Worme Bridge, Water: New Short Fiction from Africa, Short Story Day Africa, ISBN 978-1-928215-08-0