beside johan marais being the founder and sole owner of the fascination books group, he is also the managing director of the company. he specialises in the field of herpetology and is currently completing a master's degree at the university of witwatersrand under professor graham alexander, with whom he collaborated on the book "guide to reptiles of southern africa". prior to this he published "snake versus man" (1994), "conservation and utilization of the nile crocodile" (1991; with professor gerrie smith), "snakes of the world" (1984), "snakes and snakebites" (2001) "what's that snake?", a short identification guide on southern african snakes, as well as "snakes of southern africa" (2004; originally published in 1992, then totally rewritten), a complete guide, which was followed by the aforementioned reptile guide. all these books are published by struik books south africa.