John van de Ruit first made a name for himself as one half of the madcap 'Green Mamba' duo. But it was a little book about a little 13-year-old boarder that saw him hit the big time. We speak to the man behind the 'Spud' phenomenon.

Your background is in theatre. Did you ever plan to write a novel?

Certainly not in my early acting days. Back then I was a wild and woolly playwright, trying to break into a tough industry. I was always intrigued by the idea of being an author although I must confess 'Spud' was more of an experiment rather than an intentional swing away from the theatre and into the literary world.

Were you surprised by the success?

The answer is yes and no. I could never have predicted what 'Spud' has achieved although I knew in my heart that I had created something funny and different. I was really hoping to firstly be published and secondly create a small and loyal cult fan base — what happened was incredible. I think a major part of its success is that it spoke the language of the common man and was consistently and overtly funny. It no longer mattered that I was a white South African from Durban — what mattered was the work itself.

Was it difficult writing a book after having written for the stage? Or daunting? Plays seem far more fluid, while once the book's printed, that's that.

I have no doubt that I could never have written 'Spud' without becoming a playwright first. I feel that playwriting is extremely technical — it requires you to write tightly and with various restrictions such as set, cast, drunken actors...

I have found writing novels incredibly freeing and I love the way the limits of your imagination become your only restriction. On the other hand Ben Voss and I performed over 500 performances of 'Black Mamba' and 'Green Mamba' and continually honed and updated our work to the point that it sometimes felt like we were conducting the audience with a magic laughter wand. I felt that the 'Mambas' only really hit their straps after a good year on the road. I wish I had the luxury to tinker with my spuds on a daily basis but then I wouldn’t ever really finish them and my chicks would never leave the nest.

What does your 'Mamba' partner Ben think of the success? And what's the status of your stage career at the moment?

Ben was astonished because I think he thought I was lying about writing a book and thought I was looking at pornography instead. He has been incredibly understanding about my lightning switch from theatre to novels. My decision to stop acting in 'Mamba' came down to time. There was no way that I could do both justice without compromising both. Instead a tremendous actor called James Cunningham has taken over my acting part and the Mamba continues... I remain a partner in Mamba Productions and will continue to stay on the writing team and Ben and I remain great friends.

After the first 'Spud' came out did people you haven’t seen since school come out of the woodwork? And were there people upset to find that they'd been used as inspiration in the book? Your ex-girlfriends for example.

None of the girls who inspired the characters of Spud’s various girlfriends still talk to me. But thanks for bringing it up. As for the thousands of old boys and ex boarders — they have all told me their stories, each one fully expecting it to appear in the next Spud. The fact that people want to tell me their stories means I have struck a chord and that’s why I do what I do.

Did the success of the first book put extra pressure on you to write a sequel? Or had you always intended to write further volumes?

I thought about the idea of a series — but this was more a fantasy rather than a concrete plan. Then the 'Spud' hit the fan and that idle daydream became a reality. Penguin offered me another two book deal and I was off! I know some people associate sequels with “cashing in” or “selling out” but I would rather see 'The Madness Continues…' as the next step on a singular journey. There will be four, at most five, books in the series and then that will be that.

I don’t want to take Spud beyond school and I want to keep the integrity of the story intact. I never entered this career to make money — I’m here to create.

Was it difficult travelling back to the time of being 13/14 and writing from that perspective, without making it sound like a 30-year-old-writing-like-a-13-year-old?

That was always the great danger — but I think my acting helped me out here. When I write Spud I’m in his character. I find my legs bouncing up and down like a nervous schoolboy. I feel younger and the voice in my head is his not mine. But instead of speaking words, I write.

Because I’m writing from what feels like inside Spud’s character the moment a word or line is incongruous it jumps out at me like a bright red beacon. Of course editors also discover occasional 30-year-old drivel but take to them with a sharp pair of scissors.

As Spud grows up have you tried to progress as a writer with 'The Madness Continues...'? Have you tried something new or are you sticking to the formula?

Once I had finished roughly planning 'The Madness Continues…' I sat down and thought about what I was trying to achieve with all this. I realised that so much of Spud’s success came from the fact that it shot out of nowhere. My publishers didn’t even see it coming! It’s about being original, it's about making risky choices and going balls to the wall. I don’t write in formulas, I wouldn’t know how to do that. I write from the guts via the funny bone.

When Ben and I wrote 'Black Mamba' we took a trip to Thailand for two months to brainstorm, we then spent another six months honing the script with Greig Coetzee. We then gave it another overhaul after its initial run at the Grahamstown festival. I’m talking about serious graft for a bunch of joyriding actors!

The point of this waffle is that we knew it would be better than 'Green Mamba' because we were better at writing and acting and had done it before. The ideas were stronger and we were willing to work as hard as we could until we were satisfied with the final product. We didn’t talk about money and fame — all we talked about was doing better and trying to create great work that blows peoples' minds and make them thrash about in their seats with shock and laughter.

My aims for 'The Madness Continues…' were funnier, darker, and sharper. And that’s what I attempted to do for the next year of mine and Spud’s lives. I think this book takes the story to a new level.

But hell, don’t ask me. We’ll see what the old boys have to say about it.

Do you plan to write any non-'Spud' novels at a later date?

Most certainly. I know I have a cracker of a book inside me set in the theatre business. And, boy, have I met a few funny characters…

18 Quick Questions

What's your most well-worn piece of clothing?
Thai fisherman’s pants.

What possession do you rescue first from a fire?
Laptop, always, followed by book collection, followed by the rest of the family.

Who do you most look up to and why?
Bono. Because he‘s Bono.

What book are you reading?
Kerouac’s 'On the Road'. It’s given me the sudden urge to hitchhike to the Kalahari.

Your favourite movie of all time?
Tough! 'Withnail & I'.

What music do you play when you're sad?
U2’s 'Stuck in a Moment'. If I’m suicidal I’ll play REM’s 'Nightswimming' and Radiohead.

What music do you play when you're happy?
Bob Marley, The Police, Jack Johnson

Beer or wine?
It all comes down to the moment, but leave both in the fridge

What do you always order at a restaurant?
Prawn Bisque — it’s worth the food poisoning that follows.

Pet hate?
People who drone on about life in the new SA. Deal with it people!

What do you most love about SA?
Its smell, its beauty, the taste of its water and the way it continually surprises you.

What do you most dislike about SA?
The fact that I know the PG glass man better than I do my neighbour.

Who's your dream date?
She who says: "Enough buggering around, the cricket’s starting… and I don’t want to miss the pitch report."

Who's your worst nightmare date?
Margaret Thatcher

What attribute do you look for in a friend?
A madness in the eyes and a healthy appetite for the absurd.

Where will you be in 20 years time?
Game fishing with Wilbur Smith off Cuba

What's the most embarrassing CD in your collection?
Dido — I still swear I dunno how it got there…