OVERVIEW

EARLY LIFE & EDUCATION

Candice Rijavec was born on 29 November 1983 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She is of mixed European heritage – Slovenian and Italian, with Irish and Scottish ancestry – and holds South African nationality.

Candice developed an early interest in storytelling, visual art, and creative design. Growing up in Johannesburg, she became involved in both literary and digital media from a young age, showing a strong aptitude for writing, poetry, and visual communication. This early fascination with creativity and media production later shaped her career path.

According to her professional profile, Candice has accumulated more than two decades of experience in media, publishing, website design, and graphic design. Over the years she has become known not only as an author and poet, but also as a publisher, illustrator, and creative entrepreneur, blending literary work with technical expertise in brand and digital development.

While specific details of her formal education are not publicly listed, her early portfolio and professional history reflect multidisciplinary training in design, publishing, and communication. By her early twenties, Candice was already managing design projects and laying the groundwork for what would become Zion Publications International, the creative company she founded in 2003 for clientele around the world.

Candice also has a history in music, having performed in a band during her late teens. She continues to explore turning her poetry into music and recorded sound projects, showcased through her creative music portfolio.

PUBLISHING & CREATIVE WORK

Candice Rijavec is the founder and creative lead of Zion Publications International (also known as Zion International), a South African-based publishing and creative-media company established in August 2003. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has served as CEO since its inception.

Over two decades of operation, the company has provided publishing services to authors in South Africa and internationally, positioning itself as an author-empowerment and creative-development platform.

Candice’s work encompasses print and digital publishing, website and graphic design, author services, e-commerce development, audiobook production, and branding.

Under Zion Publications International, Candice has published her own works and assisted other authors with their books, along with global distribution, design, and brand development. The author-services model enables independent authors to distribute through global platforms.

Her professional profile cites over 20 years in media and design, leading the company from Johannesburg and serving a global client base. Zion Publications International hosts a diverse Bookstore featuring works across faith-based literature, memoirs, motivational titles, self-help, poetry, business strategy, children’s books, personal growth, fictional narratives and more. This range highlights the imprint’s commitment to both creative expression and transformational storytelling.

AUTHORSHIP & MEDIA

Candice has written and published several works across memoir, true-crime, motivational, fictional, inspirational, poetry and interactive genres. Her most widely recognised title is The Best Friend: The Chronicles Of The Krugersdorp Killers (Zion Publications, 2022), a true-crime memoir based on her personal experiences linked to Cecilia Steyn and the Krugersdorp Killers (Electus per Deus) case. The book has been released in print, e-book, and audiobook formats and is accompanied by “The Krugersdorp Killers Podcast” (Apple Podcasts; YouTube).

For more information regarding her Advocacy regarding the Krugersdorp Killers (Electus per Deus) case, please click here.

Her broader catalogue includes:

Ashes Of The Crown
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Ashes Of The Crown

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Leviathan Walks
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Leviathan Walks

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Fragmented Shadows
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Fragmented Shadows

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Candice also created the interactive magazine SWIVEL, which merges literature, design, and multimedia storytelling. The introductory article Defining SWIVEL explains her aim to “change how audiences engage with story, art, and truth in a digital age.”

As an illustrator, her upcoming production The Splendiferous Splog is a colourful children’s book encouraging imagination and emotional awareness.

RECOGNITION & IMPACT

Candice’s career bridges creative arts, digital technology, and public-interest storytelling, establishing her as a multidisciplinary creator. Trained in visual art, web development, and graphic design, she evolved into publishing and authorship, developing projects that merge artistry with message – from true-crime testimony to interactive fiction, children’s illustration, and digital publishing.

Her leadership of Zion Publications International embodies her philosophy of integrating creativity and advocacy into one ecosystem. Collectively, her creative ventures position her as a cultural innovator and survivor-narrative pioneer, using storytelling to explore healing, agency, and faith.