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Born in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg. She attended the University of Pretoria. She immigrated to Canada withe her husband and four children.
She has traveled widely, including Mexico and China. She is active as a teacher, teaching English as a foreign language and mathematics. She loves creative activities, including photography and creative writing.
Radio Solidariteit in South Africa regularly broadcasts her stories.
She says the following about herself: " I live in Canada and write/tell stories: all the time and in-between. It makes little sense to Americans/Canadians that I write in Afrikaans. They want a bestseller on the shelf with my name on it, which means the story should be in English. I stubbornly stick to my ideas, appreciate the confidence in me as storyteller and writer; however, how does one express that reality that English does not sing within my soul. In a barrage, Afrikaans words flow to my computer screen, story after story. Sometimes it tears at me inside and I weep because the ending is so moving: That makes me happy. The words also do not work for the commercial giants. They want to see me wealthy, well-paid for my talents. In fact, I just want to work on the market square: one with benches, grapes, traders, a very old church (with the rich sound of the church bell) and a tree. In the mornings I want to rise, jog down there, go sit cross-legged on the ground and tell a story -- even if the only one listening is the shoeshine man."
Gebore en getoë in Krugersrdorp. Afgestudeer by Tukkies. Getroud, met vier kinder. Die gesin het 11 jaar gelede na Kanada immigreer. Audrey het al heelwat gereis, o.a. Sjina en Meksiko.
Sy sê oor haarself: "Ek woon in Kanada en skryf/vertel stories: heeltyd en tussenin. Dit maak vir geen Kanadees/Amerikaner sin dat ek dit in Afrikaans doen nie. Hulle wil 'n "Bestseller" op die rak sien met my naam op wat beteken die storie sal Engels wees. Ek hou halstarrig verby die idee, waardeer die vertroue in my as storieverteller en skrywer, maar sukkel om te verwoord dat Engels nie in my siel sing nie. Afrikaanse woorde warrel tot op my rekenaar se skerm en word storie na storie. Soms sit ek en ruk soos ek huil omdat my einde so aangrypend mooi is: Dit maak my bly. Die woorde werk ook nie vir die kommersiële reuse nie. Hulle wil my ryk hê, deeglik betaald vir my vele talente. Ek wil eintlik net op 'n markplein werk: een met duiwe, bankies, handelaars, 'n ou-ou kerk (met 'n dong-klok) en 'n boom. Ek wil soggens opstaan, draf tot daar, op die grond gaan sit, my bene vou en 'n storie vertel; al luister net die man wat skoene waks."
Jacques du Plessis -- 24-06-2011 - questions/feedback/comments?