Author John van de Ruit says writing the fifth instalment of "Spud" was no easy task — especially when it came to staying true to the voice of the diary-keeping misfit.

"Spud: The Reunion" is one of the standout titles at this year’s Kingsmead Book Fair, and it pulls readers back to the early 2000s — the Mbeki era, and cellphones that only made calls.

But this time, Spud is 28, deep in a “third-life crisis” and dreading his ten-year school reunion.

HOT1027’s Tara Penny caught up with John ahead of the fair…