Author
Arini Vlotman is a rising voice in contemporary romance powered by the belief that love stories should make you laugh as hard as they make you swoon. A South African PoC author based in Johannesburg, she brings a proudly local spark to international audiences. Her storytelling is filled with sharp humour, emotional gut‑punches, cinematic scenes and heroines who feel like your best friend. Her novels are known for their sharp banter, heartfelt moments, and relatable characters.
Off the page, Arini is a firm believer in community, a speaker and champion of writers, readers and stories that feel authentic, and humorous. You can find her lip-syncing on social media, waxing lyrical on Substack or posting her fur babies everywhere else. Whether she’s speaking on stage, deep in a drafting spiral, or convincing readers that happily‑ever‑afters are absolutely still in fashion, Arini brings humour, heart, and a distinctly South African pulse to everything she creates.
The Ink & Instinct panel is a fast, funny, deeply relatable dive into the mayhem of being a South African storyteller in a global market. Join Arini Vlotman, international romance author; Neo Sibiya, acclaimed screenwriter; Chené Tuck, storyteller extraordinaire; and Simi Ramdutt, award finalist historical romance author, for a behind the scenes look at what really happens in the pursuit of creativity. From building rich, memorable casts to weaving cultural texture into commercially compelling stories, this panel explores how South African creators bring something fresh, joyful, and wildly imaginative to the page and screen. Whether you’re a reader, a writer, or someone hovering on the edge of becoming one, this is your space. Ask your burning questions, grab some giveaways, brace for a few surprises, and have a whole lot of fun.
