About Ivor W. Hartmann

Ivor W. Hartmann was born in the 70's the youngest of three siblings in the Sunshine City of Harare, Zimbabwe. Which of course meant he was a teen in the 80's and did indeed at some point, (during holidays home from the tragedy of boarding school) wear a pastel, sleeve-rolled jacket, when seriously getting down to Duran Duran. But when not being acutely embarrassed or embarrassing, he found some relief in the world of literature and penned his first short story at the age of fourteen.

The story was a rather gruesome, blood soaked tale about werewolves that scared the hell out of his demure English Literature teacher. So much so, that an immediate, rather gruelling, parent conference was called, to discuss the disturbing level of graphic detail. It was at that point he realised he might be on to something with this writing lark.

Four years later upon leaving high school, he was faced with a choice between becoming a fine artist or a writer. Though he showed promise in both fields (as a finalist in some national school competitions), ultimately financial restraints, youthful impetuousness, and the idea that one needed to live life before writing about it led him to fine art.

Fourteen years later, now armed with a broad range of experience stretching from Literature and Fine Art to Permaculture, Organic Farming, Computer Animation, Special Effects and Music Videos. In the dead of one cold winter's night, Ivor was struck by the realisation that it had been a long, long time since he had last written any prose, and surely, those years had been well lived. Well enough to reconsider what had always remained a deep urge just below the surface. Therefore, in that night, he sat down to tap out the dust, shake off the camping gear, and set out once more down the newly written road to the wilds of imagination country.

When he returned three days later he counted himself as wholly addicted to prose again, and all else seemed to pale by comparison into insignificance. With the Muses firmly camped-out and partying in his ear, he returned to writing. Beginning a journey that has led to:

Published Fiction and Non-Fiction works with various magazines such as African Writing, Something Wicked, Future Guide and Farafina, as well as numerous online magazines.

The StoryTime African New Fiction FreEzine which showcases weekly, some of the hottest new African fiction writers.

Behind the glare of print and screen, Ivor always has a novel on the go, and several short stories nosing around the world.

Awards and Nominations:

Earth Rise, a short story, was nominated in March 2009 for The Ursa Major Award.

Mr. Goop, a short story, was awarded The Baobab Prize in March 2009.