South African Girl, Africa's Youngest Writer

Pretoria, Oct 13 (Prensa Latina) A South African girl, Michelle Nkamankeng, at seven years old, has become Africa's youngest author and has been added to the list of the 10 best young writers in the world, after publishing her book ''Waiting for the Waves''.

Interviewed by local media, she gave quick, communicative answers and confessed that her 'book tries to overcome the fear of something that really happened to me'.

Paul Nkamankeng, her father, recently told reporters that he had no idea that Michelle was writing a book. 'The only thing we noticed, when she was about four or five years, is that she loved to read.'

'When we took her to the beach for the first time she asked me why everyone was looking at the ocean, and then I told her they were waiting for the waves.'

Waiting for the waves is the first of a four part series, explained Paul, who added that he fears the effect fame may have on his daughter's studies or her life as a growing child.

He said that his daughter was dedicated to women's basketball, ballet, gymnastics, swimming and was true music lover. 'We do not want that part of her life to change,' he concluded.