Born in 1976 in Zimbabwe and raised in South Africa, Norman Mellett grew up in Nelspruit, where he completed his schooling before studying graphic design. His career took him in many directions, yet his passion for creativity remained a constant thread throughout his life.
After relocating to Cape Town in 1995, he worked briefly as a driver before returning to Nelspruit to manage a video store, combining work with his passion for film. He later spent five years as a casino Shift Supervisor but faced limited advancement due to South Africa’s race-based employment laws.
Norman then embarked on a journey of new experiences, spending two years in the UK on a working holiday visa with roles from fruit-packing to retail in Bristol, before returning to settle in Cape Town for its vibrant atmosphere and quality of life.
Over the next few years, he worked across diverse fields, including online gaming, FMCG, and environmental solutions; also earning a TEFL qualification and teaching English as a foreign language. Throughout these years, he quietly nurtured his creative side, writing his debut novel, Ravens Cry, over the course of a decade under the pen name N.M. Timson.
Ravens Cry is a gay vampire fantasy exploring the boundaries between love and damnation. Rich with visceral violence and raw sensuality—not for shock, but to illuminate the fragile balance between good and evil, light and darkness—it is a story of eternal love, sacrifice, and the haunting power of destiny. Its completion marked a deeply personal milestone of perseverance and artistic vision. He is currently working on his second novel.
A lifelong cat lover, Norman has shared his life with Pepper, Coco, and now Zazu. He is an ardent fan of Mariah Carey and Novak Djokovic and enjoys tennis, athletics, and swimming, the latter two he competed in during his school years. His travels have taken him to Dubai, Italy, the United States, Thailand, and Malaysia, often inspired by his sister’s career with Emirates Airlines.
Though openly gay, Norman prefers to define himself not by labels but by his passions, experiences, and creativity. His life reflects resilience, independence, and an unwavering commitment to authenticity, in both his work and his art.
– “Take heed when the ravens cry. Take solace in their quiet.”
