{"id":227174,"date":"2026-02-11T13:37:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:37:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/?p=227174"},"modified":"2026-02-19T07:58:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T05:58:41","slug":"a-young-author-with-a-big-imagination-matthew-essers-literary-journey-from-scotland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/en\/a-young-author-with-a-big-imagination-matthew-essers-literary-journey-from-scotland\/","title":{"rendered":"A young author with a big imagination: Matthew Esser\u2019s literary journey from Scotland"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>By Sue-Ann de Wet<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is quite exceptional to publish a book when you\u2019re 13 years old. To come up with a second book two years later \u2013 this time a complete novel \u2013 is testimony to extraordinary talent, perseverance and a deep love of stories. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is exactly what <strong>Matthew Esser<\/strong>, a South African boy who currently lives in Scotland, has successfully done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, when Matthew was only 13 years old, he published his <strong>first English book on Amazon<\/strong>. This book is not a traditional story, but an impressive informative book about the completely fictional land that he created himself. What makes it remarkable, is the detail and structure with which he built this world: its own flag, anthem, language, measuring system, religion and extensive maps of the different regions. By cleverly using real world concepts, Matthew takes the reader on a voyage of discovery through a new, imaginary society \u2013 one that was thoroughly and reliably conceptualised.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"235\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-227169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture2.jpg 235w, https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture2-196x300.jpg 196w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 235px) 100vw, 235px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Two years later, Matthew s took his writing skills to the next level with the publication of his <strong>second English book<\/strong>; this time a <strong>novel<\/strong>. The story focuses on the life and complex journey of the main character <strong>Myfrang<\/strong> and is set in the same world that he had created so thoroughly in his first book. Where the first book created the building blocks of the world, the novel gives life to this world through character, conflict and emotion.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"233\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-227171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture3.jpg 233w, https:\/\/wereldwyd.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Picture3-194x300.jpg 194w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 233px) 100vw, 233px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>It is remarkable \u2013 and inspiring \u2013 that a young author is able to create such a complex storyline and world. Matthew\u2019s achievement shows what is possible when young people are encouraged to give life to their creativity, especially in diaspora communities in which language, identity and imagination often take on new forms. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matthew\u2019s books are available on Amazon, including a Kindle edition, and not only offers entertainment, but also a look at the power of a young imagination across country borders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-theme-palette-1-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-ccb8146a8f52840471d3c7da5d7bf6bd\"><strong>Links to the books:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Book 1 (<em>ALIFYAH: The nation of Yerelah<\/em>): <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/08eDPQp\">https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/08eDPQp<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book 2 (<em>The tale of Myfrang<\/em>): <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/7BDz0KM\">https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/7BDz0KM<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kindle edition: <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/9PHbRqc\">https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/9PHbRqc<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a story that reminds us: talent does not know age or borders \u2013 sometimes big dreams start with only a boy, an idea and his pen.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-column.kb-section-dir-horizontal > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kt-info-box227174_e9c781-51 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{max-width:unset;}.kt-info-box227174_e9c781-51 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-top-left-radius:20px;border-top-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-right-radius:20px;border-bottom-left-radius:20px;background:#ffffff;padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 1rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-xs, 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0.2);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-info-box227174_e9c781-51 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover{box-shadow:0px 0px 14px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kt-info-box227174_e9c781-51 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap{border-top:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-right:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-bottom:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);border-left:5px solid var(--global-palette7, #eeeeee);box-shadow:0px 0px 8px 0px rgba(55, 60, 66, 0.2);}.kt-info-box227174_e9c781-51 .kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap:hover{box-shadow:0px 0px 14px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-infobox kt-info-box227174_e9c781-51\"><span class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-link-wrap info-box-link kt-blocks-info-box-media-align-left kt-info-halign-left\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media-container\"><div class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-media kt-info-media-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-container kt-info-icon-animate-none\"><div class=\"kadence-info-box-icon-inner-container\"><span class=\"kb-svg-icon-wrap kb-svg-icon-fe_send kt-info-svg-icon\"><svg viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"  fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"  aria-hidden=\"true\"><line x1=\"22\" y1=\"2\" x2=\"11\" y2=\"13\"\/><polygon points=\"22 2 15 22 11 13 2 9 22 2\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"kt-infobox-textcontent\"><h2 class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-title\">Share your story with us<\/h2><p class=\"kt-blocks-info-box-text\">Every experience is unique \u2013 whether it is about your work, adjustment, culture, family or just your everyday life.<br>AfriForum Worldwide offers a space where your perspective makes sense to others who may be walking similar paths.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Sue-Ann de Wet It is quite exceptional to publish a book when you\u2019re 13 years old. To come up&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":214,"featured_media":227181,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"A young author with a big imagination: Matthew Esser\u2019s literary journey from Scotland","_seopress_titles_desc":"It is quite exceptional to publish a book when you\u2019re 13 years old. To come up with a second book two years later \u2013 this time a complete novel \u2013 is testimony to extraordinary talent, perseverance and a deep love of stories. \u00a0\r\n\r\nThis is exactly what Matthew Esser, a South African boy who currently lives in Scotland, has successfully done.\r\n\r\nIn 2024, when Matthew was only 13 years old, he published his first English book on Amazon. This book is not a traditional story, but an impressive informative book about the completely fictional land that he created himself. What makes it remarkable, is the detail and structure with which he built this world: its own flag, anthem, language, measuring system, religion and extensive maps of the different regions. 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