Zayn Nabbi

Zayn Nabbi journalist, game show contestant, guest television presenter and co-author of Transformation in Rugby…..that’s some major achievements for the young lad from the East Coast of Durban!
 
When we last spoke with Zayn he had completed his B.Tech in Journalism and was writing for the Independent Newspapers in Durban. He has since made waves in South Africa by being a contestant on Survivor South Africa, which also highlighted one of his worst moments of this year, “Definitely eating raw fish!” (FirstStep note: well said mate, we like food but the cooked kind!).

Kirsty Hannaford

First things first, what do you think of the all new FirstStep?
Very nice – looks like you’re moving up in the world :)
 
What new developments have happened since we last spoke? Check below for Kirsty's first interview with us!
Um…. Completed a project I was running on campus. Oh – and bought a house (very scary!!!)

What does your job entail and how did it all come about?  
Some copy-editing, some design, communicating with printers and authors, evaluating unsolicited manuscripts, and lots of research on the Internet.
 
We live in an electronic age, what is it like being surrounded by books all day, when information is only a click away?
Most of my research is done on the Internet and most of my work is done on a computer. There would be no book publishing without these two necessities so, although my office is filled with books, only a few (such as my dictionary) are opened every day.

Jonathan Williams

At the young age of 23 Jonathan hasn’t let the technology age of the world take over his life, he has kept alive a real energy and passion for literature. Growing up in Johannesburg, Williams left to the “big city” to study a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in Cape Town. His three years at UCT led him to major in Politics and Media Writing. His choice to read for Honours in Publishing Studies brought him back to his home city of Gauteng and in 2005 Jonathan entered the gates of Wits University.

What does your job entail and how did it all come about?  
Making sure that all the Imports & Exports via Air & Sea run smoothly - I originally started as a filing clerk for a Publisher distribution company and worked my way into a shipping position. I originally had no idea as to what I wanted to be in my life and I let fate take its course.
 
We live in an electronic age, what is it like being surrounded by books all day, when information is only a click away?
Working in the Logistic’s department you are not actually surrounded by books, but you are surrounded by all the paperwork to maintain, track, and ship all the books into the country.  By the amount of books coming in I would have to say that the smell, and opening the first page of a brand new Patricia Cornwell thriller still seems to appeal to millions of people, rather than clicking to turn the next page !