Jill Wallace was born and bred in South Africa, and lived the second half of her life in America. She feels like the African baobab with roots that look like branches. Like the confused “Upside Down Tree” she no longer knows where the South African ends and the American begins. She hopes it affords her some degree of complexity. A girl can always hope :o)

In South Africa, Jill was a contemporary dancer and a PRO for a hotel and a shopping center conglomerate. She flew as an “international air hostess” for South African Airways, enjoyed 6 continents and hundreds of adventures. She married her dream man, Athol, a rugby player who makes her laugh. They moved to America with the promise of a career that never happened, and Jill inherited her 2 heart-children full time in a strange, new country where together they found compromise, laughter and love.

In the U.S. Jill’s been a bad waitress and an excellent (but inconspicuous) movie extra for “Pretty Woman” director Garry Marshall, and a Realtor for 28 years. As a screenplay, "War Serenade" (which was inspired by a true story) was twice optioned for a movie. As her first novel, “War Serenade” garnered multiple literary awards and a Rone and Readers Choice for the audio book version.

Her second novel "Zebra" is inspired by Athol's life. It’s a searing, soaring, heart-breaking, heart-warming coming-of-age story about an unusual friendship between a Zulu and a white boy in South Africa during apartheid. It's intended to be enjoyed by anyone who ever had a true friend or wished they did.

As immigrants they’ve been humbled by poverty and blessed by kindness. Proud to be an American, her heart is strongly African and her books will always reflect Jill’s plight as a baobab tree.

Learn more about the author and her books at http://www.jillwallace.com and join Jill's Club Untamed for titillating nuggets and giveaways.

"War Serenade" Accolades to date include: Winner - On-Line-Book Club - Book of the Year 2019 - Historical Fiction.

Winner - Golden Quill 2019.

Winner - Rone Awards for "War Serenade" audible 2020 narrated by Peter Noble.

Finalist - Maggie Awards 2020; Silver Falchion Awards 2019;

Book of the Year 2018 IAN Awards.

"Zebra" Finalist - The Killer Nashville Claymore Award Finalist 2021 (First draft submitted)

"Zebra" Finalist - The Killer Nashville Falchion Award Finalist 2022 - Historical Fiction.

"Zebra" Audio ***** - Readers Favorite - On-Line-Book Club 2022

The Untamed, Unexpected, Unforgettable Fun Book: South Africanisms from Jill Wallace

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