Author: Cynthia Kofsky
Born: 1910
Died: 31.7.2001
Bio: Cynthia Kofsky (nee Ryan) was born in Cradock, South Africa, in 1910. When her mother died Cynthia and her elder brother Willam (Bill) travelled by boat to Kenya in 1919 to join their father and uncle who had settled on a farm, Marula, at Rumuruti. Cynthia and Bill grew up on the farm with Bill running the farm and Cynthia running the household. Neither went back to school. Cynthia married Ba Allen and they had one son, Jesse, who now lives in the United States. She and Ba were divorced and during the second world war she met Nathaniel Kofsky who was in the British Army. They were married, had a daughter Anna, and lived out their lives in Kenya. 
In addition to being a writer (she composed her first novel while walking from Gilgil to Rumuruti with her cat around her neck) Cynthia was an accomplished musician, and composed Kenya's first national song 'Land of the lion' which was played at the 1960 Olympics. It was replaced after Kenya gained independence.
Information from 'Marula - stories of a Kenya family' Mujinga Publications, Atherton, Queensland