Meet S. M. de Frey
Writer of stories rooted in history, nature, and community.
'A writer's hands are the magical bridge that lets jumbled dreams cross into life.'
Simoné M. de Frey is a South African author drawn to the quiet power of forgotten places, ancient stories, and the steady grace of wild landscapes. Her writing weaves together myth, history, and faith, kindling light in overlooked corners of the world.
Writing has been a passion from early on. During Simoné’s high school years, creative writing essay exams were always her favourite. Although she gritted her teeth against frustrating limits, the opportunity to let her creativity flow inspired her. So, she turned to the freedom of writing for herself and experimented with novel ideas. This enabled her to graduate from high school with excitement at what the future in writing could hold.
She majored in English and Spanish at the University of Pretoria and finished her Honours degree in English in 2023. Motivated by her love of writing and languages, she completed a course at SA Writers College to become an editor—a career that allows her to stay connected with and improve her writing.
Mountains of Inspiration
Mountains are wonderful places to find inspiration. Countless secrets lay hidden within their crevices and contours, endless stories waiting to be told. As an author, Simoné loves nothing more than writing with tall peaks on the horizon, reaching out and touching the clouds and stars.
The value of these majestic landscapes runs deeper than just the breathtaking views for Simoné. Mountains represent many of her other interests as well. History, mystery, elegance, danger, beauty, scars, life, and death are all woven into the valleys and plateaus beneath bright, blue skies or shrouded in thick, icy mist. Anything can happen in the mountains, just like anything can happen in life and fiction.
More Than Just a Job
Passionate about writing, fascinated by history, inspired by people.
S. M. de Frey is an author who loves languages and sharing her stories worldwide.
Writing isn’t just a way to make money and keep busy—it’s a way of life. Having an active mind has always allowed Simoné to lose herself in daydreams and plans. While overthinking can easily become overwhelming, honing her thoughts to support her stories and business has proven very helpful on many occasions.
Now, her future is built on words and dreams.
Simoné’s love of writing and attention to detail encouraged her to start a company focused on various English services. Ranging from editing to content creation to translation, Inksight Studio aspires to refine written content and help authors find their voices. It has undoubtedly helped Simoné find hers, challenging her to consider new perspectives and strengthen her skills.
Broadening Horizons
From the Ashes
Simoné completed the first draft of her debut novel in 2022 while studying. Inspired by the idea of family heirlooms, the plot soon expanded into an extensive novel with mystery and history intertwining. Now, she's in the exciting process of self-publishing her work, hoping to make it easily accessible to readers across the globe.
Frost to the Flames
Reading Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet was an incredible experience—Shakespeare was undoubtedly a master with words. But Simoné couldn't help feeling Shakespeare wasn't fully capturing romantic tragedy. She decided to challenge the master by writing a new romantic tragedy against the backdrop of a war-riddled Norway at the end of the Viking era.
Short Story Selection
While novels are Simoné's favourite writing medium, sometimes the inspiration strikes for something short and powerful. Her short stories range across different genres, making them perfect for a wide audience to enjoy. She hopes to someday compile them into the perfect book to read by the campfire...
A Love for the Creative
Beyond writing, S. M. de Frey enjoys various pastimes. Some of her favourite hobbies include:
- Dancing: Losing herself in the rhythm while the lyrics speak when she can’t fully capture the emotion is one of Simoné’s favourite feelings.
- Painting: Expressing through words has a lot of potential, but Simoné also loves expressing with colours and brushstrokes.
- Photography: Capturing special moments and focusing on the beauty in her surroundings holds a special place in this author’s heart.
- Travel: Finding inspiration in new places and different cultures is extremely special to Simoné, who’s particularly fascinated by ancient cultures.
- Exploration: Discovering new knowledge and broadening her mind is particularly satisfying to an active mind and a lover of writing.
Reach Out and Join the Journey
Feel free to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or queries; Simoné is excited to hear from you!