We’re excited to announce that Werner Schmidt has signed with Crystal Cove Press! His YA novel, Chelsea Glitter and The Graveyard on the Hill, will be published in June 2026 — a luminous and heartfelt story — intertwining magical realism, horror, and fantasy — that promises to captivate readers of all ages.
Werner is a South African author, coach and musician, whose journey to fiction was anything but traditional. After a career in accounting and finance, Werner transitioned, since 2009, into leadership coaching, body-centered work, and the creative and performing arts — taught, coached and (tor)mentored by masters.
His literary path has included the writing and production of a children’s play in three languages, a magazine-featured novella, in English and Afrikaans, and two award-nominated volumes of poetry. Chelsea Glitter and The Graveyard on the Hill marks his full-length debut into the world of Young Adult fiction, blending magical realism with emotional depth, in a style uniquely his own.
When Werner isn’t writing, he works with individuals and organizations on leadership, culture, strategy, and impact. He creates and performs music, djembe stories and motivation, and continues to explore the interplay between creativity, resilience, imagination, chores, and the dance of life.
Walking, hiking, trail-running, tennis, soccer, touch rugby, play-boxing, and conversations with family and friends keep him dancing through his days, as does sunrise and barefoot black coffee under a giant stinkwood tree.
He is currently working on a follow-up novel, and is putting finishing touches to his second music album, titled Songs From My Morning Walk.
Stay tuned for more as we prepare to bring Chelsea Glitter and The Graveyard on the Hill to readers in 2026!
Werner website: https://wernerschmidt.co.za/
Werner Social Media co-ordinates, for tagging, when you publish the Werner signing post:
Facebook:
Profile: https://www.facebook.com/WernerSchmidtHappens
Business page: https://www.facebook.com/WernerSchmidtLife/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/wernerhschmidt/
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wernercreates/
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@wernerschmidtlife
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@WernerSchmidtYouTube