Deon Godfrey Meyer is a South African thriller novelist, writing in Afrikaans. His books have been translated into more than 20 languages. He has also written numerous scripts for television and film.
Life and career
Meyer was born on 4 July 1958 in Paarl. He matriculated in 1976 at the Schoonspruit High School in Klerksdorp. He studied at Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education where he studied for a BA with English and History as majors. He later obtained an honours degree at the University of the Free State. He was a long-time resident of historical coastal resort of Melkbosstrand where he wrote most of his novels. In the 1980s he worked as a journalist at Die Volksblad, at the public relations office of the University of the Free State, and began work as advertising copy writer at Sanlam. In 1991 he was appointed manager of Internal Communication and creative director of Sanlam's Publicity department. After leaving Sanlam he started his own business specialising in the creation and management of virtual communities on the internet. He then worked as manager of special projects at BMW motorcycles. He currently writes full-time. His hobbies include touring Southern Africa on a motorcycle
Novels
Deon Meyer's novel-writing career started when the Afrikaans magazine, Huisgenoot, published a short story he had submitted. Since then he has published eleven novels and two collections of short stories. His novels reflect current social issues in South Africa, including that of the apartheid system.. His main characters are flawed but empathetic cops.
Benny Griessel series
Infanta
13 Uur
7 Dae
Kobra
Ikarus
Die vrou in die blou mantel
Prooi
Film rights awarded for novels
Feniks was the first novel for which film rights were awarded. The screenplay, written by South African writer Johann Potgieter, was finalised in 2008 but never made a motion picture. It was adapted again in 2015 by German TV-producer Annette Reeker as Cape Town, an international co-produced TV-series.
In August 2009 the film rights for 13 Uur were awarded to British producers Malcolm Kohll and Robert Fig. Roger Spottiswoode has been appointed to direct the film.
The film rights for Proteus were granted to a South African company.
"Transito" was specially written for television. The novel Orion was dramatised for television.
The 2019 South African TV series Trackers is based on Meyer's 2011 novel of the same name. It will premiere in the US on June 5, 2020.
Awards and nominations
Meyer has been nominated and has won numerous awards.
