Marcia Ramodike

What does your company do?

Evelyn50 Publishing Company, with our client-focused approach, we are dedicated at meeting our client's needs and ensuring that their books are published to the highest standard. Here are some of the reasons why: - We offer ghost-writing services for clients who do not have the time or skills to write their own book. With experienced ghost-writers on our team, one can be sure that their book will be well-written and engaging. We came up with this concept because a lot of people have beautiful stories, but they don't know how to write them well and some do not have time, so we are here to help people and encourage them that there is no excuse to not write a good book, for us to make literature to be where it is supposed to be we need to tell our stories and not being good at writing should never stop us. - We also provide a range of publishing services, including editing, formatting, cover design, and marketing, to ensure that our clients books become a success. - At Evelyn50, we understand that every author has unique needs and preferences, which is why we offer customizable publishing packages that suits individual requirements. Some of our clients go through a lot in life and has trauma, we offer them counselling, and also mentor them to be good writers, our publishing company is not only about making money, but becoming a family and changing their lives for the better. A lot of people also wish to be on radio and magazines, so we make their dreams come true by proving them with these marketing skills to reach a wider audience. With a team of dedicated professionals, they are committed to providing exceptional customer service and support throughout the entire publishing process.

What is your biggest success?

-My biggest success has been having two best sellers, publishing and working with over 40 books in a period of two years, working with radio stations such as, Thobela Fm, Motsweding, drum magazine, power FM, SA FM and many more. - Being selected to be a literature judge at the South African cultural and creative awards 2024 by Department of Arts and culture. -Winning 100 Young Mail and Guardian Education category 2023 - Being News24 Top 100 young Mandela's of the future 2023 - Being chosen as Sunday world heroic woman 2023 - Being top 100 South African shining star award winner - Being chosen as UN Women top 28 Young entrepreneur of the year 2023.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

- After training of being a publisher who only had R200 in her account and a laptop that was given to her by a friend, I struggled for about a year to find clients due to finances. I was a young and first-time publisher so finding clients and marketing the business so that we start operating was extremely hard, no one believed in me and only after a year did I find a person. - Finding funding, a lot of things and fundings and opportunities do not cater for books and literature and missing out on a lot of opportunities because I have a business that is based on books - Being taken seriously because I am a small, young woman. Usually when I meet with clients or attend events as a young female the respect downgrades. - Starting an office after Covid. - Making our business to grow more than it has been. - Reaching a broader audience and making more money, the book business has not been well established to make more money, sometimes i struggle to make ends meet because we don't have clients and we don't have an income. the books business is not like a spaza shop or music for one to make money its hard, we still have a long way to go in the literature space.