Ros Haden is the content developer and one of the co-founders of the FunDza Literacy Trust. She has a passion for developing young writers and loves the fact that FunDza gives new writers a platform to publish their work on. Ros has had over 14 children’s stories published as well as short stories in the anthologies, Twist and Just Keep Breathing. Her novel, The Tin Church, was published in 2004 and translated into 3 languages. Her second novel, Love Tastes Like Strawberries, was published in May 2014. She has also co-authored a youth novel, Time Twisters, with friend and colleague, Dorothy Dyer, under the pseudonym, Sam Roth. Dorothy and Ros have worked together on Cover2Cover’s popular teen Harmony High Series, of which Ros has written Broken Promises and Sugar Daddy.

“My greatest joy has been working with new writers and seeing them grow into commissioned authors through FunDa’s Developing Young Writers programme. I love being surprised by new writers’ work – their unique voices and fresh perspectives. I love the energy and creativity of working collaboratively on stories to bring something exciting to our FunDza Fanz readers.

My advice to young writers is to persevere. Writing is a journey with ups and downs. When it’s going well there’s nothing quite like it. Feeling stuck is also part of the process. Things are often working themselves out in your head, when you feel you can’t write. Then something unblocks and the words flow again.