Meet Francois Keyser, Author of The Junglies Book Series
Francois Keyser (1970- ) was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa in 1980.
He started his corporate career in South Africa before relocating to the Middle East and subsequently South East Asia.
Francois left the corporate world in 2010 and, aside from a brief return to the corporate sector in 2013 has focused on furthering his career as an author, life coach and entrepreneur.
Francois has authored "The Junglies" series of children's books which comprise of 11 titles. More books in the series will be added soon.
BBB: What inspired you to become an author?
FK: From the time that I could first read I loved to lose myself in the world’s created by authors in their books. Since I can remember, I wanted to write my own books and create stories that would inspire others and help them set their imagination free.
He started his corporate career in South Africa before relocating to the Middle East and subsequently South East Asia.
Francois left the corporate world in 2010 and, aside from a brief return to the corporate sector in 2013 has focused on furthering his career as an author, life coach and entrepreneur.
Francois has authored "The Junglies" series of children's books which comprise of 11 titles. More books in the series will be added soon.
BBB: What inspired you to become an author?
FK: From the time that I could first read I loved to lose myself in the world’s created by authors in their books. Since I can remember, I wanted to write my own books and create stories that would inspire others and help them set their imagination free.
BBB: Tell us about your children's book series, “The Junglies”?
FK: I never thought that I would write children’s book but when I finally took the step to start writing, that is where I started. “The Junglies” were inspired by my eldest daughter, Keona and her soft toys and the names she gave them. “Elle” the elephant was her very first soft toy which was a gift to her from a friend shortly after she was born. We lost “Elle” in a taxi in Dubai and that is when “Elle” was replaced with a “Nici” brand tiger soft toy named “Aga”.
“Aga” is still alive and a picture of Aga can be seen to the left and on my website for “The Junglies” books ( http://www.thejunglies.com).
First and foremost, I wrote “The Junglies” for young children to enjoy. “The Junglies” are about five jungle animals namely a tiger, an elephant, a giraffe, a rabbit and a monkey. They have a human friend who is a game warden simply known as “Jungle Man”.
Aside from the primary goal of writing stories for young children to enjoy, “The Junglies” books were all written with a lesson in mind for young readers to take to heart. The lessons include gratitude, honesty and teamwork.
The theme of “Unity in Diversity” is evident in all the books with the characters in the books all being represented by different animals who are friends and work together to overcome challenges and have fun. I believe that it is important for young readers to learn about cultural diversity from as early an age as possible considering how culturally diverse our world has become.
“Jungle Man” represents mankind’s ideal relationship with nature in that he is “The Junglies” friend and offers help and guidance when needed.
When I wrote “The Junglies” series I was well aware that tigers, elephants and giraffes were endangered species. I did further research on endangered species after I completed the fifth book in the series and discovered that there are also subspecies of monkeys and even rabbits which are endangered. I do believe that the books are a good platform to introduce the topic of endangered species to young readers too.
FK: I never thought that I would write children’s book but when I finally took the step to start writing, that is where I started. “The Junglies” were inspired by my eldest daughter, Keona and her soft toys and the names she gave them. “Elle” the elephant was her very first soft toy which was a gift to her from a friend shortly after she was born. We lost “Elle” in a taxi in Dubai and that is when “Elle” was replaced with a “Nici” brand tiger soft toy named “Aga”.
“Aga” is still alive and a picture of Aga can be seen to the left and on my website for “The Junglies” books ( http://www.thejunglies.com).
First and foremost, I wrote “The Junglies” for young children to enjoy. “The Junglies” are about five jungle animals namely a tiger, an elephant, a giraffe, a rabbit and a monkey. They have a human friend who is a game warden simply known as “Jungle Man”.
Aside from the primary goal of writing stories for young children to enjoy, “The Junglies” books were all written with a lesson in mind for young readers to take to heart. The lessons include gratitude, honesty and teamwork.
The theme of “Unity in Diversity” is evident in all the books with the characters in the books all being represented by different animals who are friends and work together to overcome challenges and have fun. I believe that it is important for young readers to learn about cultural diversity from as early an age as possible considering how culturally diverse our world has become.
“Jungle Man” represents mankind’s ideal relationship with nature in that he is “The Junglies” friend and offers help and guidance when needed.
When I wrote “The Junglies” series I was well aware that tigers, elephants and giraffes were endangered species. I did further research on endangered species after I completed the fifth book in the series and discovered that there are also subspecies of monkeys and even rabbits which are endangered. I do believe that the books are a good platform to introduce the topic of endangered species to young readers too.
BBB: What do you think children will enjoy most about your book series?
FK: I think children will enjoy the illustrations with the stories. There is not too much text so the books make for easy reading. The illustrations are colorful, cute and large and if the stories are read to young children by parents who put creativity into the reading, I believe children will truly enjoy the books and stories.
FK: I think children will enjoy the illustrations with the stories. There is not too much text so the books make for easy reading. The illustrations are colorful, cute and large and if the stories are read to young children by parents who put creativity into the reading, I believe children will truly enjoy the books and stories.
BBB: What are you currently working on?
FK: I am currently writing a fantasy novel which is the genre I have always wanted to write. Progress is a bit slow though as I am working to find and fund an illustrator for the next six books of “The Junglies” series as well as another children’s book I have written called “The Tickle Tree”. I am also currently having “The Junglies” series translated into German, Spanish, French, Italian and Indonesian.
BBB: How can readers discover more about you and your books?
FK: I have a website for “The Junglies” books which can be viewed at:
http://www.thejunglies.com.
I also have a FaceBook page for “The Junglies” which can be found at:
www.facebook.com/tigerloseshisstripes.
I also have author pages on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. Readers are welcome to send me a message via FaceBook or my website and I will reply to them.
FK: I have a website for “The Junglies” books which can be viewed at:
http://www.thejunglies.com.
I also have a FaceBook page for “The Junglies” which can be found at:
www.facebook.com/tigerloseshisstripes.
I also have author pages on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com. Readers are welcome to send me a message via FaceBook or my website and I will reply to them.
