Alex van Tonder

Alex van Tonder has worked as a senior creative in advertising for over 12 years, and was an early advocate of the practice of using social media channels as well as bloggers and influencers in campaigns, and creating viral and social content for brands in South Africa. She has created work for clients such as Johnnie Walker, Levi’s, kulula.com, Allan Gray, SABC 1, Microsoft, Virgin Active, Sanlam, Musica, Design Indaba and Woolworths, and has won various awards for her work. She has also written for the Mail & Guardian, and worked as Digital Director of Associated Media South Africa providing strategic direction across the Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, House & Leisure and Good Housekeeping brands. She is most known for her satirical blogs: My Branded Life and Cape Town Girl. In 2011 she was named one of South Africa’s most influential women online by Memeburn, and she has also done her time on advertising and digital awards panels for the Loeries and the Bookmark Awards. In 2013 she won the Woman & Home short story competition with a thriller titled, The Drive. This One Time (2015 Macmillan) is her debut novel.

INFLUENCES:

Pop culture / Digital / The Dark Side / the effects of social media on everyday life / Stephen King / Gillian Flynn / Chuck Palahniuk / Jennifer Egan / Cameron Crowe / Nick Polazzo / brands & the advertising industry / Reality TV / the cult of celebrity / the fashion industry / influencer culture / Black Mirror / Vanilla Sky / The Truman Show / Misery / Her / Frankenstein / Jon Ronson / Westworld / Peter Swanson / Charlie Brooker  

Buy the book: This One Time is available on Amazon and on Loot now