The guy who created Spud’ on the return of his ‘Frankenstein’ … and a musical – John van der Ruit

BizNews Radio

Spud, one of South Africa’s most beloved characters, is making a return in the fifth book by author John van de Ruit. In Spud: The Reunion, the Crazy Eight return to their school ten years after they left. John told BizNews in an interview that Spud has become his Frankenstein creation. He thought Spud had run its course and would “fizzle out,” but it kept on bubbling. It has been a decade since the last Spud book, and during that time, John had a couple of hairy experiences, including a boat accident on Lake Kariba and getting caught up in a tsunami in Asia. Spud, he says, allows him to create a fictional memoir of his life. Van de Ruit hinted that there could be more books on Spud, the adult, noting that everybody asks him if there will be more movies. He revealed that he is busy writing Spud: The Musical, which will include some of the music featured in the films. The book is available as an e-book overseas, and there is also an audiobook narrated by Joe Vaz for international audiences.