Finding Penrose Kickstarter Campaign

Penrose passed away one year after receiving his ID document and finding out his age when Miss Ad threw him his "first birthday party." To this day, he is remembered with great love and affection by all of Miss Ad's family, her children, and their children (I'm in amongst this lot, but more about me in a moment). 

When I was twenty and just learning about creative writing, I promised Penrose that I would write his story. Now, finally, forty years later, it is written (Sorry for the delay, Pen! But I hope it was worth the wait!)

It's a story told with deep respect and abiding love for my African 'grandfather', who helped to raise more than 50 children in our extended family.

A man of peace and goodwill, of kindness and generosity, of love and loyalty that went far beyond a sense of duty.  

Now it's time to share Penrose's incredible tale. His quiet courage in overcoming unthinkable hardship can inspire us today. By supporting this project, you'll help bring his real-life story from the shadows into the light. I like to think Penrose is cheering us on from beyond.

A small person. A giant of a man. Penrose Tiki Matsile will never be forgotten.

This story may resonate with you because the inequality of people around the world is still happening today. Long after Penrose's story ends. But his enduring spirit prevails.

I hope you'll join me in honouring his legacy with a story that reminds us, no matter how dark the night, the human spirit can shine bright. 

IMAGE CAPTION: Here are the real people, Penrose and Miss Ad (my grandmother, whom Penrose called Miss Ad).

There was a lot of weaving fiction between the facts to glue together a story of a man that I loved as a grandfatherly figure. My biggest regret is not having the time (in my younger life) to sit down with Penrose to tell the story. There are still a lot of story details that none of my family can recall, which is sad that he's not here to share it.

Some parts of Penrose's life remained unknown since he sadly could not be consulted. But I can just imagine how he's chuckling over the liberties taken to spice up the storyline.

I don’t live my life with regrets, so I'm now using my energy and passion to tell his story. And that of my grandmother - an incredible woman who didn’t know how to fight the system and instead confronted it with love for all humanity. 

I also believe that now is as good a time as any to remind the world that these stories that sneak to the surface are still out there amongst stories of similar situations in today’s world. Will humanity ever learn?!

So while imagined narrative and characters enrich the storytelling, Finding Penrose stays true to the essence of this remarkable man and the formidable Miss Ad. Their perseverance through oppressive conditions and uplifting outlook in the face of adversity are authentic. This story aims to pay respectful homage to their real-life resilience that went beyond any fiction.

Beyond the simple joys of a good story, I hope that "Finding Penrose" will inspire readers to embrace their own resilience and face life's challenges with a renewed sense of courage and determination. I want readers to see a little bit of themselves in the characters' struggles and triumphs, and to feel empowered to overcome their obstacles, no matter how daunting they may seem.

I also hope that the story will encourage readers to look at the world with a little more empathy and understanding. By walking in the shoes of characters from different backgrounds and experiences, I believe we can all develop a greater appreciation for the complexity and diversity of the human experience. And who knows? Maybe "Finding Penrose" will even inspire a few readers to start penning their own stories!

My greatest hope is that "Finding Penrose" will bring a little more light, laughter, and inspiration into the world. If it manages to do that, even for just a handful of readers, I'll consider it a resounding success. And if it happens to become a bestseller and spawn a Hollywood movie, well, that's just the cherry on top! 

I imagine Penrose beaming with quiet appreciation at the chance to uplift others.

Your support helps transform Penrose's story into one of inspiration and hope that resonates across cultures and generations.

By backing this campaign with any rewards down the right-hand side of this page, you become part of sharing an eternal testament to the human capacity for courage. Let's keep Penrose's spirit thriving! Every little bit counts!

My name is Paula Sheridan, though I grew up as Paula Hawkins (not that girl on the train!), and I also write novels under the name of Paula Wynne. There are three Paula's wriggling around inside me!

Why have I waited so long to introduce myself? Quite simply because this story is not about me. It's about Penrose!

I'm a passionate animal advocate and have rescued over 50 cats and 10 dogs since my husband, Ken, and I moved to our Writing Retreat home in Andalusia ten years ago.  If you'd like to get to know me a little more, you can read more about me (and the other Paula's inside me).

It was during my childhood and youth in South Africa that I was blessed to have Penrose Matsile in my life. He was a guiding light - a grandfatherly presence who profoundly shaped me during the country's darkest times.

Storytelling has always been my passion. From an early age, I started sharing stories with my siblings and even ruined our parent's antique coffee table. Find out how we did this!

I've been fortunate to with a career as an award-winning entrepreneur, novelist, screenwriter, and author. A fascination with screenwriting led me to pursue a film director course, further broadening my narrative lens. Beyond any professional success, what truly drives me is creating uplifting narratives that celebrate our shared humanity.

See my fondest memory of Penrose.

Please see the exciting range of thank-you gifts, rewards, and perks on offer for this campaign, either down the right side or click on the 'Rewards' tab at the top of the page to see full details. 

Even if you can't contribute financially, you can still be a hero for Finding Penrose by sharing our campaign on social media using #FindingPenrose. As a special thank you, we'll feature the names of top sharers in our updates!

Thank you for reading the full details of this campaign!