At 79, Frank Finally Publishes the Book He’s Been Dreaming About for Decades

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Self-published at 79, Frank Collier finally shares the story he’s carried for years. A love letter to the Eastern Cape’s history!

Eastern Cape, South Africa (11 August 2025) – For most of his life, Frank Collier has been talking about writing a book. At 79, he’s gone and done it.

Frank’s debut historical novel, The Boys from Umgazana, is set in the Eastern Cape in the 18th century and tells the story of two boys from very different worlds, one: an English castaway, the other the grandson of an Mpondo chief and an Englishwoman, bound together as brothers by fate. Their lives are forever altered by the arrival of a Dutch trader, pulling them into a journey of South Africa’s frontier past.

But this isn’t just a story about the book. It’s a story about keeping a promise to yourself, no matter how long it takes.

Frank still runs his own IT business and has spent decades fighting for the conservation of the Zwartkops River wetlands near his home in Redhouse, Gqeberha. He helped set up the Zwartkops River Conservancy and has been campaigning to turn old salt pans into a protected wetland for local birdlife.

He’s a busy man, but his love of history and storytelling never left him.

So, he made time for it. Every morning, Frank would wake up at 5am and write for two hours before work, often with only his cat, Fudge, for company.

There was research to be done, characters to shape, and then a crash course in self-publishing to navigate.

“In a time when our country seeks stories that unite and heal, I wanted to celebrate the wild beauty, the complicated past, and the indomitable spirit of the Eastern Cape,” says Frank.

One massive labour of love later, and Frank has published his first-ever book.

His daughter, Melissa, couldn’t be prouder.

“When most people his age are putting their feet up, he has made his lifelong dream to become a published author a reality,” she says. “He feels somewhat embarrassed to tell people his age. But I think it is an incredible example of deciding to follow your dream, no matter your age. It’s never too late…”

Frank’s story is inspiring because it proves that it is never too late to chase after a dream. “I’m too old for xyz,” is a stubborn story many of us tell ourselves. At 28. At 50. Approaching 80.

Sometimes, it just takes pushing through those limiting beliefs, early mornings, consistency, and a belief that the story you’ve carried for decades is actually one worth telling, or re-writing.

“This novel is my love letter to our history and our youth; to the places and the people who shape who we become, no matter who we are or where we start,” says Frank.

The Boys from Umgazana is now available on Amazon, Print on Demand and Takealot. You can learn more about Frank and his work at frankcollierauthor.com.