Mandy Lebides, founder of Writescapes, is a highly motivated and energetic freelance writer and entrepreneur. She is passionate about writing – her own and others’. Mandy started Writescapes as a support network for writers in Cape Town, South Africa. There she runs regular writing circles and assists people to self-publish and market their work. She was the organiser of the first ever Cape Town Book Fair in October 2004.  She has self-published 2 books, Out of the Red - Business Turnaround in South Africa and The Angola Diary.

In her spare time Mandy swims and enjoys photography.

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Louis Harris has, by his infectious enthusiasm and commitment to the creative development of others, made himself an invaluable member of the Writescapes management team. He lives and works in Germiston, South Africa. His debut novel REVIVAL was published in 2006.  He writes while cooking, eating, sleeping, and driving. He is a wordsmith, designs board games, builds robots, model ships, and has a technical certificate in Horticulture. He's the PRO for Writer’s 2000, a prolific writer’s group in Gauteng.  Visit  to get interactive.

Erna Buber-deVilliers' chief claim to fame is that she taught High School for 30 years and survived. She is currently busily retired, and still in the business of supporting emerging (literary) artists through her contribution to the upkeep of the Writescapes website. She will, one day, write her memoirs, or a novel, or maybe just a letter to the press. More about her on her website