Stripped Bare: An Interview with Justine Engelbrecht — WRITER PROFILE
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As part of the MockingOwl Roost’s efforts to showcase creatives from around the world, we are honored to be spotlighting writer, editor, and entrepreneur, Justine Engelbrecht.
Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, Engelbrecht boasts an incredible career spanning the print and digital spaces. Whether it’s penning poetry, crafting short stories, or pouring her heart and soul into solo and collaborative business endeavors, it’s clear that her storytelling and entrepreneurial spirit know no bounds.
I recently spoke with Engelbrecht to talk about her journey as a multi-hypenate creative:
Uncovering a Lifelong Passion
Born in the United Kingdom, Engelbrecht and her family moved to Cape Town, South Africa, when she was three years old. Growing up in the Cape, she discovered the first of her many passions: poetry.
“As a teenager, I wrote poetry to express my feelings, igniting a lifelong passion,” she says.
From this point onwards, Engelbrecht’s literary path was set in stone. She pursued an Honors degree in the Theory of Literature, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, from the University of South Africa.
Drawing on a deep well of creativity, she has written for a wide variety of genres. Short stories, flash fiction, children’s fiction, and non-fiction are among her favorite written formats. Her titles include The Adventures of Nala, Today is Tuesday, and Studying Made Fun, with each showcasing her versatility and her ability to connect with different audiences.
They also speak of the endless inspiration that allows Engelbrecht’s vision to become realized on paper: “Everything inspires me to write, as not writing is not an option. If I look at my work, I have not stuck to one theme but tried to communicate different messages to readers; there are many more ideas and messages to share.”
However, it is poetry, her first love, that still holds a special place in her heart.
Raw and Honest: The Poetry of Justine Engelbrecht
When it comes to poetry, Engelbrecht’s works lay bare the personal experiences, observations, and moments from her childhood and all that has come after.
From evoking warm memories of Christmas Eve suppers in “Mum’s Christmas Pudding” to weaving threads of wonder and romance in “I Want to Travel the World With You”, her works highlight how these everyday happenings — seemingly temporary and thus taken for granted — can stay with us for a lifetime and hold value where we least expect it.
This is especially evident in her 2024 anthology of poetry, “Two Willows”, which she dubs as her “tribute to those I have lost and to my family”, and is one borne out of “necessary healing”: Her younger sister, Penny, was born with a heart defect. Penny was hospitalized in 2017; although she was able to receive a heart transplant, she passed away two years later.
It is from this period of grief that Engelbrecht penned her truth, bringing forth raw honesty that creates a bridge leading to acceptance, healing, and hope. She displays vulnerability and resilience in equal measure, simultaneously guiding readers on how to appreciate the moments we as humans take for granted.
And if being this raw and insightful can provide comfort or act as a motivator to those who are reading her words, then Engelbrecht is more than happy to be of service.
“If we are vulnerable,” she explains, “and, in the process, someone else receives a sense of healing or permission to grieve or celebrate, or they find clarity, then it’s worth it.”
Beyond the Page
In addition to her literary career, Engelbrecht took on senior editing roles in the local print space before establishing her entrepreneurial ventures in Johannesburg.
“I was the managing editor for The Knysna Review and co-managing editor for The Plett Review for a year. When we moved to Johannesburg, I decided to start my own digital publishing business. During those years, my focus was on the magazines and their success.”
Engelbrecht founded Brides Essence Magazine and TravelMagSA, both popular and familiar titles among South African fashionistas and travel enthusiasts, respectively. However, she went on to sell the former and shelve the latter in 2017, following her sister’s illness.
Now, Engelbrecht has resurrected TravelMagSA as a Facebook page. Here, she explores and writes about “fabulous destinations, venues, and experiences in South Africa and surrounding countries” — guaranteed to ignite the wanderlust of travellers in Mzansi and beyond.
What’s more, as an “entrepreneur at heart”, Engelbrecht is the founder of Tweak Fashion, an East Rand-based non-profit organization. By empowering women from underserved communities, Tweak Fashion allows these ladies to earn an income by utilizing their sewing skills to create clothing, bags, accessories, and children’s toys.
Justine Engelbrecht’s Extraordinary Life
When she’s not at her keyboard or overseeing her business projects, Engelbrecht unwinds by spending time with her family and friends, watching movies at The Bioscope, exploring — and reviewing — eateries in Johannesburg, and swimming. She also has a love for theater, and is a regular patron at Pieter Toerien’s Theater & Studio at Montecasino.
Of course, Engelbrecht is a bookworm of note, too, with a deep admiration for many authors. Her 2026 picks — which include Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty, Summer in the City by Alex Aster, and Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens — show her taste for easy-reading works that emphasize engagement, exploration, and enjoyment.
As for what the rest of the year holds? Englebrecht is currently working on The Heart’s Last Gift, a memoir-inspired creative narrative: Set primarily in Cape Town, it follows two sisters navigating a prolonged illness, medical isolation, and a heart transplant.
“It is an emotional journey between myself and my sister, a story about hope and loss,” she says. “It is not a clinical memoir but rather a piece of reflective non-fiction that incorporates literary fiction.
“It does not depart from grief or the emotional truth but rather allows the reader to embark on a journey with us.”
A profound journey, if I may add — and one of many that Engelbrecht has embarked on and is planning to share with her readers. And as her collective journeys show, opportunities are like roads: When explored in their entirety, they can lead to something extraordinary.
If you would like to connect with Justine Engelbrecht and learn more about her works, you can reach out to her on Instagram @strippingyourselfbarepoetry and on Facebook.
If you’d like to read more profiles and articles on writing, be sure to check out:
- Paper Chain of Accomplishments — Ideas to help writers move forward amidst the daily grind.
- Plays and Poems, Part 1, Part 2 — An interview with poet Troy Cady.
- Worldbuilding: An Introduction — Ever wondered how fiction writers make their worlds? Here’s one way to go about it.
- Homeschooling in Paradise — An interview with writer Lakeisha Ethans
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Nereesha Patel
Bitten by the book bug at a young age, Nereesha has loved reading her entire life. From children’s books and young adult fare to comics and cartoon strips like Archie, Madam & Eve, and Garfield, reading also gave her a strong passion for writing. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Rhodes University in 2017, Nereesha has written for publications including 2Oceansvibe Media, The Southern Cross, and Women’s Health South Africa. In this dog-lover’s spare time, she loves to cozy down with some tea and peanut butter toast, experiment with different recipes (to varying results!), and indulge in fanfiction.
You may follow her on Facebook.