After completing the Write a Children’s Book Course at SA Writers’ College, Cape Town author and illustrator Cayla Lewis has published the book she once needed as a child – a story about belonging, courage and showing up as you are.
When Cayla was just five years old, she was diagnosed with psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that often kept her from the things she longed to do – things other children did without a second thought.
Decades later, that experience would become the foundation for her debut middle-grade novel, The Boy and the Whale Shark, published in 2026 by LAPA, an imprint of Penguin Random House South Africa.
We take a closer look at how she got here.
Creativity has always been part of Cayla’s life.
Long before she knew she wanted to become a published author, Cayla was already telling stories. As a child, she entertained her younger brother with imaginative tales and worlds populated with memorable characters and adventures.
‘I think I was always a writer, even before I knew what to call it,’ she says. ‘From a young age, I was drawn to both writing and art. I was forever coming up with stories and filling sketchbooks.’
Cayla says her mother played an important role in nurturing that creativity: ‘Before I even learned to write, she would transcribe stories for me as I told them to her.’
Although Cayla later studied marketing, her creative passions remained storytelling and illustration. In 2021, she made the conscious decision to pursue those passions more seriously.
Children’s literature had captured her imagination.
‘I think it’s because the best children’s books do something extraordinary,’ she explains. ‘They can make a child feel seen and transport them to a whole new world at the same time.’
Rather than simply reading children’s books for enjoyment, she began analysing them to understand what made them successful.
‘I have a big pile of children’s books on my desk at any given time, and I read them constantly,’ she says. ‘I love studying what makes them work and what makes a child want to turn the page.’
A writing course helped shape her debut children’s novel.
Recognising her need for professional guidance, Cayla enrolled in the Write a Children’s Book Course through SA Writers’ College.
‘I wanted structure and honest feedback on my work,’ she explains. ‘I had ideas and passion, but I knew I needed to develop my craft in a more intentional way. The course pushed me to look at my own work with a far more objective eye.’
The manuscript she developed during that period would eventually become The Boy and the Whale Shark.
The middle-grade novel tells the story of Ben, a young boy who dreams of joining a kayaking club in Simon’s Town. Ben’s psoriasis makes him self-conscious about exposing his skin in the club’s uniform, until an extraordinary encounter with a whale shark in False Bay changes the way he sees himself.
‘It’s a story about belonging, identity and finding the courage to show up as you are,’ says Cayla. ‘It has plenty of ocean adventure too, so it’s also a really fun local story.’
The inspiration behind the novel came from her own childhood.
‘I was diagnosed with chronic psoriasis at the age of five,’ she says. ‘Growing up, my skin held me back from things I longed to do, things other kids did without a second thought.’
The idea for a story began taking shape in 2022.
‘I knew that I had a story in me, and that I wanted to tie in the deeper message from my own life,’ she explains. ‘As I started writing, it became clear that I wanted to create something for every child who wishes they could change something about themselves that they cannot.’
The manuscript took shape over time.
The journey from concept to publication took approximately four years and involved multiple drafts, revisions and plenty of patience.
‘One challenge was the gap between the story I could see in my head and the story I was actually getting onto the page,’ she says. ‘Closing that gap took drafts, feedback and time.’
She remains grateful to her SA Writers’ College mentor, Helen Brain, for guiding her through the rewriting process. ‘Having someone who truly understands the genre looking at my work was invaluable,’ she says.
A particularly memorable moment came when Cayla received the email every aspiring writer hopes for, advising her that her editor wanted to publish her book. The entire experience felt surreal, and her excitement only grew when the publisher invited her to illustrate the book herself.
Cayla hopes other writers will trust their stories.
For aspiring authors, Cayla’s advice is simple: start before you feel ready and never stop learning. Her own journey has been one of perseverance, courage and the belief that her story needed to be told.
‘The story that is closest to your heart is often the one that needs to be out in the world.’ – Cayla Lewis
With The Boy and the Whale Shark now finding readers across South Africa, Cayla is already looking ahead. ‘I have begun working on a new manuscript and a fresh set of illustrations to go alongside it,’ she says.
We can’t wait for her next children’s book to hit the shelves!
Find a copy of The Boy and the Whale Shark at Exclusive Books.
Write the story for children you have floating around in your imagination.
Cayla Lewis isn’t the only success story to come out of our Write a Children’s Book Course. Working under tutor Helen Brain, the award-winning author of over 60 books for children and adults, our students have gone on to publish with major South African imprints, win national book awards and see their stories reach children across the country.
If you have a story, Helen and our team can help you shape it into a manuscript ready for publication.
Learn more about the Write a Children’s Book Course.
