Overcoming With God: Noela Nancarrow reviews Veiled at Midnight by Chri...

Overcoming With God: Noela Nancarrow reviews Veiled at Midnight by Chri...:  Veiled at Midnight Veiled at Midnight (Book #3 Twilight of the British Raj) by  Christine Lindsay WhiteFire Publishing (October...

Chasing the Lion

Chasing the Lion by Nancy Kimball
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jonathan Tarquinius will steal your heart from the moment you meet him as a fatherless boy of twelve trying to escape the village bullies, to the sixteen-year-old son of a nobleman sold into slavery by his cruel step-brother, and finally as the brave gladiator destined against all odds to become the champion of Rome.

As you read Jonathan’s story, you’ll share in his resentment and fury toward those who have wronged him, tortured him, used him—from the lust-hungry wife of his master, to his greed-filled owner, and the blood-thirsty crowds that throng the auditorium. You’ll weep for him. You’ll love with him.

But will he ever find his way back to his father and home? To the woman he loves? To freedom?
Amongst the injustice, hatred, envy, and lust, Award-winning author, Nancy Kimball, weaves the beautiful story of redemption. The scarlet thread is intertwined in the narrative and dialogue of Jonathan’s childhood memories; through the love of a young slave girl who fight after fight faithfully tends his injuries and pours salve onto his wounded soul; and in the sacrificial death of a worthy opponent. No greater love has a man than to lay down his life for a friend.

Set in ancient Rome in the era of gladiators and slaves, Chasing the Lion is an epic novel written in beautiful prose. For me, every word has been a sumptuous feast and I’ve not wanted this banquet to end. Well done, Nancy. I’m so proud to call you my friend.


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BACK HOME AND COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

One night, about four weeks ago, I was uploading photos to my Facebook profile of the Re-birth Romania outreach way into the early hours of the morning. Seeing the pictures stirred memories in my mind. Way into the following day I reflected on these thoughts and realised just how much I have to be thankful for.

Just earlier that night, I’d been complaining of how cold our house was because in sunny South Africa we don’t have double-glazing on our windows like they do in Europe. To us it was quite chilly, with the winter temperature dropping to around zero that night. But God reminded me of the families in Dallas, the gypsy community we’d spent the previous week in helping to build houses. He reminded me of the Romanian winters where temperatures drop to negative 25 Celcius. And He reminded me that these gypsies too have single glazing in their homes. And they don’t have electricity to enjoy the comforts of heaters or electric blankets, or hot showers when they get cold. I was humbled, and so and thankful for all that God has provided for my family and I.

My thoughts drifted to the nearly 600 emails – half of them probably junk mail – that I needed to sift though after having been away from work for a month. Once again, God reminded me of the men, women and children in Dallas who have to rummage through hundreds of pieces of garbage every day in heat of over 40 degrees C, or in cold up to negative 25, to find recyclable items so they can make enough to buy food for the day for their families. Again, I was humbled and thankful for my temperature-controlled office, my wonderful boss and colleagues, and a healthy paycheque at the end of every month. And I was thankful for God’s goodness and provision in my life.

 

Let me challenge you, as I was challenged. Do you recognise the blessings of God in your life? Are you truly thankful for them? And are you doing something to make a difference in the lives of those who don’t seem to have much to rejoice about?

Yes, I know there are too many needs in the world for us to meet them all, but we can still make a difference, even if it’s just in one family’s life – we did! So don’t get discouraged by all the needs in the world, rather make of point of being the difference each day.

Re-birth Romania Team: (Back) Samuel,
(Front) Paiivi, Marion, Noel, Tiia, Kyle, Christo, Sara

From South Africa thinking about Romania with love

 

Marion

Lamentations 3v22-23: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

THE DIFFERENCE THREE DAYS CAN MAKE

I cannot believe that it has only been three days since we started working at Dallas, the gypsy village on the outskirts of Cluj-Napoca. So much has happened in this short time.

We started out on Monday morning by demolishing the small two roomed house (or I should actually say shack) of the family that we are building a new home for this week. It was incredibly small – you could almost not stand upright inside.

Soon layers upon layers of walling, flooring, and roofing came down as we slowly took their home apart, taking care to cause minimal damage to what we were demolishing so that certain pieces could be reused by the community, either for building, or firewood, or some other use unknown to us for we could see little other use for the trash we were working with. Pretty much like some people would see these people.

By the time we left on Monday night, the shack was down and a pile of wood rose one and a half metres into the air. But the new house’s foundation pillars and floor were in place, and I was grateful that we had not encountered any of the creatures that live in the walls of these shacks that Bert, the missionary, had warned us about.

The family of the shack we had torn down had stacked all their worldly belongings in a small open piece of ground just opposite from their now non-existent home. They had arranged to stay with a neighbour –father, mother, and three girls. With most homes already packed to capacity, I wasn’t sure where they would sleep, so I was not surprised when we came to work on the house on Tuesday, to find some of the children sleeping on the new house’s floor, not worried that a floor was all their house was comprised of at that moment. Perhaps there was no space at the neighbour’s house, but perhaps the children just couldn’t wait for their new home.

As Tuesday wore on, the father of the house slowly started to get more comfortable joining the volunteer workers in building on his own home. By Wednesday he had become an active part of the project and one could visibly see the pride he felt in their new two roomed home that was being built for his family.

And by day three, we had begun to know who his family were - three beautiful daughters, one in her teens, the other two aged around 6 and 8.

It has been incredible to see the difference just three days can make and I can’t wait for Friday to see them moving into their new home.

Sometimes you look at the situation in Dallas and it is easy to get discouraged and wonder what on earth you are doing there –the task seems so enormous. But it’s like the story of the little girl throwing starfish back into the sea … for a few it makes a difference. And for this one family it will make a world of difference.

Contemplating my purpose here …

Marion

James 1v27: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

ROMANIAN REFLECTIONS

It was a little after 3.30 A.M. Friday morning when we crossed the Hungarian border into Romania. As the bus waited in the dark while the border police came on board to check passports and visas, my mind was swept back in time. Back to an important event that took place nearly a year ago. An event that was catalyst to our being on a bus in the middle of the night surrounded by foreigners in a country so far, far away from home.

With a smile I remembered the amazing miracle of the Re-birth team crossing this same border ­- except by rail - around the 10th or 11th of August 2011; the miracle of the entire team getting into Romania, as three of the five were South Africans without visas to enter this country. But prayer can move mountains … prayer can move God’s people into the places He wants them to be. And it is through five young men kneeling on a Hungarian platform in the middle of the night pleading for God to make a way into Romania that I find myself in this country today.

As I write this blog, it has only been two days since arriving in Romania and we have already met some amazing people – some face to face, others only by name and the kind deeds of hospitality they have offered. This is the Church – God’s people being there for each other, fellowshipping with each other, serving each other. And the Romanian Christians are big on all three. What amazing people!

Firstly there’s the Bocanala family … Aurel and Annica who have opened their home to five of the team, and their lunch and dinner table to my husband, Noel, and I. Their son, Bogdan, whom I hope to have the pleasure of getting to know more, who collected us from the bus station and assisted us without hesitation with the necessary invitation letters and documentation for visa purposes. And finally, their nephew, Liviu, to whom my first words were, “Who are you?” which he found most amusing. It took me a good part of the day to find an accurate answer to that question. And that answer came not only with a name but with a character: poet, songwriter, a man with a great voice and guitar skills, who not only entertained us with his music but has driven the team around and looked after us.

Thank you all for giving of yourselves for this team.

Then there’s the owner of Marty’s restaurant who has freely extended the hospitality of this amazingly relaxing establishment. Thank you – we will return home with fond memories.

The Suciu family … how touched we are by your kindness in offering two strangers the exclusive use of your town home and meals at your Bistro. We look forward to meeting you sometime this week.

You are all truly amazing people with big hearts – may your kindness not go unrewarded. It is our prayer that one day we would be able to reciprocate with South African hospitality.

And lastly, Brother Costello of Prison Fellowship Ministries … thank you for sharing your life with us yesterday afternoon. You kept each one of us spellbound with your testimony, you broke our hearts with your story.

With such a beginning to our Romanian outreach, I look forward to what this week holds in store. I know it won’t always be easy, that a lot of hard work lies ahead, but it will all be worth it in the end. All for your glory, Jesus. All for your glory!

From Romania with love

Marion

2 Corinthians 9v12-13: This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of this service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

One mother, two sons, three months, four weddings

So, allow me to explain how 1 + 1 equals 4. But before I do, here are the planned wedding dates for 2012:

• Saturday, 23^rd June 2012
• Saturday, 7^th July 2012
• Thursday, 9^th August 2012
• Sunday, 12^th August 2012

Ryan and Amy were the first to start with wedding plans when they got engaged on Sunday, September 4th 2011. After much internet research, and visits to a couple of wedding venues, they soon found the place they knew was right for their special day and a date was set … 12th August.

Ryan & Amy

That in turn set the ball rolling for Kyle’s Finnish girlfriend, Tiia, to fly to South Africa for Ryan and Amy’s wedding. With Kyle and Tiia wanting to get married too and their both being in South Africa in August, I suggested the 9th to Kyle as it’s a public holiday. With family needing to travel to Johannesburg for one wedding already, we figured it would be a good idea to do both weddings over that long weekend.

Kyle & Tiia

 

Wedding plans were then set in motion for my youngest son, even though the engagement had not yet happened. Kyle's plans were to get engaged to Tiia when he returned to Finland on Missions sometime this year, but all that changed in the twinkling of an eye on the 18th December 2011.

It didn’t take long for us to realise though that a wedding in Finland would also be necessary for Tiia’s family and friends that could not come to South Africa, and so Tiia set about sourcing a venue. The date they had set for the Finnish wedding was 14th July, but due to the venue being unavailable, the wedding was moved forward by a week … and Kyle did not complain at all. Fortunately I’m not involved in planning that wedding, but I’ll be very involved in arranging for my husband, Noel, and I to travel to Finland to attend.

Well, that explains three of the four weddings, and I’ve run out of sons. In fact, I've run out of children.
 

The fourth wedding belongs to my “adopted” (not literally) Indian daughter, Satja*. I’ll share more of her story another time, but to cut a long story short, Satja has recently adopted me and calls me “Mom.” Although, again, this will not be a wedding that we will be involved in planning, it’s exciting to have Satja bouncing wedding plans off me via BBM. Rikesh* proposed to Satja at midnight on 31st December 2011, so I wonder if their official engagement date is 31st December or 1st January 2012. I will have to ask her on my next BBM. Their wedding, the last to be planned and yet the first to take place, will happen in Durban on 23rd June. So, before Finland, a trip down to KwaZulu Natal.

Now you’ve had a brief introduction to my wonderful sons, Ryan and Kyle and my wedding belles, Amy, Tiia and Satja. I’ll tell more of each of their unique engagements in my future blogs.

* (Names changed to protect their identities as Satja and Rikesh plan to go into Missions in the Muslim world.)

Proverbs 18v22: "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord."

FOUR WEDDINGS ...

I know, I know ... it does sound like the start of a movie title, but believe me, it's true. And at this point in my life, I would love to change that famous title to "Four Weddings and a crazily busy Mother."

Most would agree that it's more than enough for the average parent to cope with one wedding in a lifetime, but four in the space of just seven weeks? - seems quite unbelievable.

This blog is my journey and how I cope with, and hopefully survive, Wedding Fever 2012. It's the stories too, of my wedding Belles (and Beaus).

So come along and join me for what promises to be one crazy year.

And just in case you think my maths doesn't add up, ie. two sons, four weddings, I'll shed more light on that next time.


Reminder to myself: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time ...


Philippians 4 v 12-13: "I have learned the secret of living in every situation ... for I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."

PRESENT TIME

A 2002 article by Carol Landman, states that 600 000 children had been left orphaned by the scourge of HIV/AIDS sweeping through South Africa and that the number of these orphans was expected to increase to two million per year by 2010. In 2007, there were already 1,400,000 aids orphans in South Africa.

Every year, just before Christmas, our church runs a special Shoebox project for the orphans at Mount Carmel Baptist Church in the township of Soshanguve, 45km north of Pretoria. Although I’ve been involved with this project for the past two years, it was only in researching for this blog that I discovered the name Soshanguve stands for the languages spoken at this township – SOtho, SHAngaan, NGUni, VEnda.

Congregants of Waterkloof Baptist Church have been eager to assign their name to a child from a list supplied by Mount Carmel. They then get busy covering a shoebox in bright paper, wrapping the lid separately so that when the box is empty, the child can still use it as a beautiful storage box. The box is then filled with toys, sweets, writing materials, books, clothing, etc. – anything suitable to the age and gender of that child. Benefactors are encouraged to write a short note to the child and slip it inside the box.

As the number of orphans increases each year, so does the ministry. In 2007, around 128 shoeboxes were taken to Mount Carmel and in December 2008, we delivered 165 shoeboxes. Talk about feeling like Santa’s little helpers.

When our church announced in September last year that there were nearly 200 names on the Mount Carmel list, AND that they had decided to do the same project for the children at Mmamethlake township – over 50 boxes there – I groaned. How on earth were we going to reach a goal of 250 shoeboxes? But God was faithful, as were his people, and every single child at Mount Carmel received a shoebox gift on Sunday, 6 December 2009 (even visitors who were not on the list), as did the Mmamethlake children.

There’s an ancient phrase (earliest known record from St. Marher, 1225), predating modern English that reads: "And te tide and te time þat tu iboren were, schal beon iblescet." The modern English version, “The tide abides for, tarrieth for no man, stays no man, tide nor time tarrieth no man," has evolved into the present day version: "The clock is running. Make the most of today. Time waits for no man. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it is called the present."

Emily Dickinson expresses this artfully in her poem "Yesterday is History."

Yesterday is History,

'tis so far away --

yesterday is Poetry,

'tis Philosophy --

Yesterday is Mystery --

Where it is today --

While we shrewdly speculate

Flutter both away

We stand on the threshold of a new year. Today is God’s gift – his shoebox to us, his children.

As a fiction writer, I’ve already seen a Christian Writers’ Conference in Florida, USA during March waiting inside my 2010 shoebox. But I’m hoping the box also contains some time and knowledge. Time to complete the two writers’ courses I’ve purchased, and knowledge from those courses to improve my writing skills. Of course, a start on the road to publication would be a wonderful inclusion too.

As a fiction reader, I’m hoping God’s gift of this new year contains some personal relaxation time so that I can dive into all the unread Ted Dekker books that are patiently waiting on my bookshelf. And it would be really great if there’s a little space left inside my box for the shipment of more Eric Wilson and Brandilyn Collins books to South African shores.

Dear Fiction Writers and Fiction Readers, as you hold God’s shoebox in your hands, secretly lifting the lid to sneak a peek inside, what is it you’re hoping for? What are you trusting it will contain?

Matthew 7 v 11 says: “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

God longs to see our faces light up like little children as we unwrap each perfect gift from above.

ONLY GOD COULD HAVE DONE THAT WITH MY THIN PLACE!

One day my son, Kyle, informed me he was moving to Canada, far from sunny South Africa. As I pondered my eighteen year old’s impulsive dream, I was reminded of the unmentioned Prodigal Son’s mother. Surely she must have cringed at the mistakes her son would make and tried to talk him out of his foolishness, weeping for God to intervene and knock some common sense into her headstrong child? Pretty much like I was.

Kyle’s dream was stripped away two months later when he quit his job at a 3D visualisation company one Thursday morning. He’d had enough of being the whipping boy. I was saddened his boss hadn’t grasped the depths of Kyle’s talent. But God was setting in motion a life changing miracle.

I encouraged Kyle to wash up and rush to Johannesburg with his showreel. A Cape Town production company was recruiting that afternoon. To cut a long story short, whilst impressed with Kyle’s 3D and VFX talents, they realised he’d be wasted in their 2D environment and sent his showreel to the best VFX company in South Africa. Two weeks later, Kyle and I were flying to Cape Town for an interview and flat hunting. A week later he relocated.

Kyle immediately slotted into an awesome church where his spiritual walk was ignited. Four months later he is dating a beautiful Christian girl from a lovely family (an answer to another prayer). And he’s fast proving to his employer that he’s a creative force to be reckoned with.

Only God could have done that!

http://www.blogtourspot.com/2010/02/thin-places-blog-tour/

ALL ROADS MAY LEAD TO ROME, BUT SOUTH AFRICAN BORN AUTHOR, VANESSA DEL FABBRO, FOUND HER WRITING SUCCESS ON "THE ROAD TO HOME"

Vanessa Del Fabbro, a wife, mother of two young daughters and Christy Award finalist and winner, was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Her first piece of fiction was published in a South African newspaper when she was in the first grade. Vanessa has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, with a second major in English literature. She also has a cum laude Honors degree in Communications.

The Del Fabbros spent a year in England before immigrating to the USA at the end of 1995. Vanessa and her husband have lived in Saint Louis, Missouri, Montgomery, Alabama and now reside in Houston, Texas.

Vanessa’s fiction writing started by chance after attending a fiction workshop in England – just for the fun of it. The story was published by a women’s magazine. This inspired her to write her first novel which won the coveted 2006 Christy Award.

In the USA, Vanessa frequented the writing section of bookshops. She spent hours reading how-to articles on the internet.

It took several years before her first manuscript was ready to submit to an editor.

Vanessa loves meeting people from different cultures and trying their food. There are many things - besides her parents and siblings - that she misses about South Africa: the perfect weather, the beautiful spots she used to visit, the easy humor of her fellow countrymen that mixes the local languages with unique flair.

You can find Vanessa online at http://www.vanessadelfabbro.net/



AN INTERVIEW WITH VANESSA DEL FABBRO

Vanessa, if you had to describe yourself in five words, what would they be?
Caring, reliable, creative, serious, private.

From a writer’s viewpoint, what makes South Africa the perfect backdrop for fiction?
To me, South Africa is more than a setting; she is a perfect character. She has a dark history but a bright future. She suffers immense tragedy but finds joy where others would not. Like any good character she is flawed, but we like her and we really want her to succeed.

Did your years as a radio and print journalist play any part in writing your debut novel, THE ROAD TO HOME?When I came to the United States I had never considered writing a novel, but then I realized I had a story to tell about my country of birth and what better way to tell it than through fiction? A background in journalism helps in that economy of words is ingrained in me, which is great for avoiding purple prose, but sometimes that filter has to be lifted to allow the narrative to flow.

How does SANDPIPER DRIFT, sequel to your debut novel differ in terms of tone?My first book, THE ROAD TO HOME, is a drama with heart-wrenching scenes. Monica, one of the two main characters, becomes a victim of the random violent crime that is sadly so common in South Africa. For the sequel I wanted a lighter tone; I wanted to highlight the beauty of the country, of the people. So much of what’s written about Africa is negative, and with SANDPIPER DRIFT, I wanted to portray regular people living lives of quiet dignity, people who, in their own small way, contribute as much to the new South Africa as elected officials.

When you wrote THE ROAD TO HOME, did you have plans to write a series, or was it initially intended to be a stand-alone book?It was intended to be a stand-alone book, but after I’d finished it I found I missed the characters. I wanted to know what sort of life Sipho and Mandla were having with Monica. And so I wrote on.

Tell us a little about how your four book series of South African journalist, Monica Brunetti, evolved.My wonderful editor, Joan Marlow Golan, liked the story enough to want to make it a series, and so I continued writing until Sipho went off to university, which I thought was a good place to bring the series to a close.

With your journalistic background, is there a little of Vanessa Del Fabbro in your protagonist?
We’re both journalists so we’re both curious about the world around us and we both grew up in a segregated country. The opening scene of THE ROAD TO HOME is based on a visit I made to an AIDS orphanage in Soweto while working as a journalist. That was before the South African government started giving antiretroviral drugs to pregnant women, so these children had not only been orphaned, but they were suffering from AIDS themselves. And for me, it was just as Monica says in the book, “I knew the dire projections for the impact it was going to have on the underfunded health system, as well as the entire economy of the country. But I’d never seen the disease up close, seen its too bright eyes, its feverish brow, its thin wrists and overfull diapers.”

Would you like to write more novels set in South Africa? If yes, what topic/s would you like to write about?
I would like to write more novels set in South Africa but I won’t because it’s been a long time since I’ve lived there, and I think quintessentially South African novels are best left to writers living in South Africa.

Are there any other countries you would consider as backdrops for future novels?The United States because that’s where I live now. I’d like to write about the US as seen through the eyes of immigrants, both recent and from way back when.

What are you working on now?A series of children’s books featuring Coco, a pampered dachshund who has adventures in different countries all over the world. I’ve also just finished a play based on The Road to Home and have a book of short stories on the boil.

Vanessa, you like to read stories set in different parts of the world or stories of cultures colliding. What favorite books can you recommend? What is the country or cultural setting of your recommendation/s?
My favorite book is LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez. I am a big fan of melancholy, and Marquez is the king of melancholy. I also really admire writers from India or of Indian descent, such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Arundhati Roy, Kiran Desai. I don’t have a favorite country or cultural setting but when I read I want to be transported to a different place. That can be somewhere I’ve never visited or it can be the city I live in, only seen through the eyes of a newcomer. In SANDPIPER DRIFT, Doreen Olifant, the town librarian, says, “Only an outsider can tell the truth,” and I really believe that with distance, geographical or emotional, one gets a clearer, truer picture of a place.

AIDS is always mentioned in your books. World Aids Day occurred on 1st December and I therefore found it fitting to conduct this interview with you this month. Can you share with us why always the subject of AIDS?
It is impossible to write about South Africa without mentioning the scourge of the country: AIDS. It is an everyday reality in South Africa and not mentioning it would mean not capturing the real South Africa.

There’s a specific non-profit charity in South Africa that you have chosen to support through the sale of your books. Please tell us about this organization.Cotlands is a non-governmental organization that runs AIDS orphanages as well as a pediatric AIDS hospice. Please check out their web site at www.cotlands.org

When you consider God’s call on your life to write, what favorite scripture comes to mind?"If you will extract the precious from the worthless, you will be My spokesman." ~ Jeremiah 15:19.


VANESSA’S BOOKS

THE ROAD TO HOME
South African journalist Monica Brunetti had it all; career, family, marriage-minded boyfriend. When a brutal carjacking lands her in a hospital bed next to gregarious Ella Nkhoma, the two women begin a remarkable friendship that challenges Monica's worldview---and leads her far from her gated white suburbs as unexpected mother to two black sons.

SANDPIPER DRIFT
Journalist Monica Brunetti has fallen in love with the picturesque South African village of Lady Helen. But when the beleaguered residents of her tranquil neighborhood are evicted, Monica packs up her laptop, her adopted sons, and her housekeeper and sets out on the journey of a lifetime! A triumphant story of the power of female friendship.

FAMILY IN FULL
Settling into her role as a new wife and adoptive mother in the picture-perfect seaside village of Lady Helen, South Africa, Monica has the life of her dreams. Then a series of crimes rocks the village, and a young girl's resentment begins to threaten her world. Will the peace she knew ever return?

FLY AWAY HOME
A loving husband, two beautiful adopted sons, an amiable stepdaughter and the possibility of an addition to the family-Monica Brunetti has it all. But suddenly her idyllic life in a picturesque South African village unravels. Her boys respond to the siren call of America, and her husband's daughter may be leaving as well. Change might be easier to bear if only a baby were on the way.
Then Monica's friend Francina, also threatened with an empty nest, sets off on what may be a fool's errand-or her household's salvation. Can Monica, too, find the faith and courage to reunite her family?

COLORING YOUR WORLD FROM THE RAINBOW NAITION

 

How exciting to meet all you wonderful readers from across the globe. I write from, but not necessarily about, the Rainbow Nation, located at the southern part of the African continent. Please indulge me a brief history lesson before I continue with my blog.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu first coined the term Rainbow Nation in 1993 to describe a post-apartheid South Africa. And what an amazing description of the beautiful people of South Africa with their diverse cultures and eleven official languages! No more ebony and ivory – the dividing of Black and White – but a nation filled with hope for a bright future, finally at peace with itself and the world. The rainbow, a symbol of the calm after the storm, epitomizes the past South Africans leave behind and the future we all strive for.

Although I’m English speaking and know only two of our eleven languages, there have been times in my writing when I desperately wished I could pen certain things in Afrikaans, for it is a language rich in unique cultural expressions. Translation unfortunately does these sayings no justice. It is only those who understand the language who can grasp and enjoy the meaning of those tiny quips. But sadly, Afrikaans is a dying language in this new South Africa of ours.

As a South African writer having never set foot on American soil, putting my first novel and sequel (set in the USA) to paper was totally foreign. It has been a fascinating three year journey writing American with a South African brain. I’ve had to think American to write it, taking care in my stories to ensure groceries are placed in the trunk, not the boot; that cars stop at a red traffic light, not a red robot. Let’s not even mention trying to keep local colloquialisms and British spelling out of the writing equation. Thank heavens for word processors that have almost every language option available under my African sun, including American English (which I’ve chosen for this blog).

My current writing project is based in this wonderful land I’ve called home for the past . . . well, let’s just say for quite a number of years. It’s a story that is dear to my heart and close to home. It has been enjoyable to write of familiar things and use local sayings that foreign readers will hopefully manage to find in their dictionaries.

Having lived in Ireland for a number of months, I’d still like to write a novel that takes place in that fascinating country. I’m also toying with a story idea set in India.

Fortunately, writers can visit any country they desire from the comfort of cyberspace, although there is definitely nothing to beat the travel bug – it can bite me any time.

The world is a writer’s oyster, for in the stories we tell, we have the power to choose whether our pot of gold lies somewhere in the emerald fields of Ireland guarded by tiny men wearing green suits and funny hats, or whether it’s to be found at the end of a rainbow nation where the streets are rumored to be paved with gold. After all, writers Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, with the help of Producer Peter Jackson, found theirs right in my backyard in a place called “District 9*.”


*http://www.district9movie.com
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_9

A CASE OF THE BLUES

I have a case of the blues. I’d started out so well with my plans to post a blog once a week, but, like most great ideas and resolutions, this one probably lasted about as long. As I pondered my blues baggage, I was prompted to finish this story that I’d started far too long ago.

The story began as “Last week I went to purchase . . . .”, but realizing six weeks have passed since that beginning, I now rephrase and start again.

Seven weeks ago, I went to purchase a smaller version of the red case I’d recently bought for the Florida Christian Writers Conference. Immediately, I found the perfect match―same shade, same fabric and, quite obviously, the same brand. A miniature clone!

I was so excited, visualizing my laptop as it rested comfortably in its scarlet bed, nestled amongst conference notes, one-sheets and business cards. This was great―my writing tool would now have wheels! Shirl had advised taking this route to avoid carrying oneself to death with a normal laptop bag. I would be able to literally drag my work along.

My excitement quickly vanished, however, when I lifted the elegant tag that hung loosely on its scarlet spine. I knew the price had to be printed somewhere on that branded cardboard label. I gasped―nearly R700―almost the price I’d paid for its bigger sister. I just couldn’t see myself paying that much for so small a piece of luggage.

Disappointed, my thoughts shifted to the small blue carryon that had come free with the airline ticket on my surprise birthday trip to Switzerland some twelve years ago (see my blog GIRL WITH THE RED CASE SHEDDING EXCESS BAGGAGE). I knew I’d have to use this old bag instead. Fortunately, Blue (as I’ll now fondly refer to my new travelling companion) hasn’t travelled much and I’ve looked after her well.

Merely days after this disappointing shopping excursion, I had to suddenly haul little Blue out of her resting place high up in the garage rafters. An hour after bringing Blue back down to earth, I had her dusted off, packed and ready to travel. We were going to Cape Town.

Life has many twists and turns, and when I penned my short story, The Prodigal’s Mother (posted on my website), I had no idea how radically my little prodigal’s life would change. Just a few weeks after his crazy idea to run off to Canada to follow his dreams, here he and I were, flying off to Cape Town at the drop of a hat, for his interview with the top visual effects company in South Africa. And within twenty-four hours, we had booked airline tickets, flown to Cape Town from Johannesburg, viewed some rental properties, and Kyle had had his interview. Another day later, he had landed his new job and I had found him a new home. I hadn’t seen this coming when he’d quit his job a month earlier.

Five days after returning from Cape Town, I had my prodigal packed up and ready to fly the coop. As father and son set off in Kyle’s tiny black and white Ford Ka, laden to the hilt, to take the 1400km journey to Cape Town, I was grateful to be joining them by air the following evening.

Once again it was a whirlwind weekend of packing and unpacking as we settled Kyle into his gorgeous garden flat with the most amazing view of Table Mountain’s eastern side.

I guess by now you’re wondering what all this has to do with attending a writer’s conference and a case of the blues. It’s all about travel and learning from this journey called life.

Firstly, I discovered that Blue would be a great cabin asset for the long haul to America.

Secondly, I realized that Blue didn’t like to be dragged along and that she suffered from speed wobble spells. I now know that if I do decide to cart her off to America, I’ll have to find some way for her to hitch a ride with the sleek red model I’d recently purchased.

But most of all, I learnt to deal with my case of the blues as I opened my hands and allowed my youngest son to spread his wings and fly. We all have dreams that we must follow―an American Writer’s Conference is one of mine.

GIRL WITH THE RED CASE SHEDDING EXCESS BAGGAGE

About twelve years ago, my hubby gave me an incentive to shed some excess kilos. A couple of months passed after his promise of a surprise. After shedding ten plus shed kilos, I was presented with a brand new burgundy suitcase and an airline ticket to Switzerland to visit two friends for three weeks. Noel had spent months secretly planning this huge birthday surprise.

The suitcase was enormous and I determined to fill it. I’ve since learnt to travel far lighter, although it’s taken several trips of carrying myself to death and suffering from excess baggage panic attacks, to learn this lesson.

But alas, time and time again, those lost kilos somehow seem to find their way home and all too often they bring a few additional friends.

As I plan for the Florida Christian Writers Conference in March 2010, I’ve once again embarked on a programme to shed some excess baggage. A monthly one week fast of fruit and vegetables, water and black, sugarless rooibos tea (that’s a famous South African herbal tea) has already started to bear some fruit, if you’ll pardon the pun. Many clothes that not too long ago sat perhaps a little too snugly, once again fit comfortably.

This shedding programme reminded me of my first novel which I completed a few months ago. It took eight months to write―another eight months edit. Like my burgundy suitcase, this first piece of literary work was far too large, and resulted in my packing an additional 50,000 words more than I should have. You see, I’ve subsequently discovered that the ideal length for a novel is between 80,000 to 100,000 words―120,000 tops―and I realised that 168,000 words would just lead to rejection letter after rejection letter. It was a long and hard exercise, but oh so worthwhile. I learnt so much during those months in which my manuscript went on diet.

This reminds me of the saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” (And no, even though I’m from Africa and have a few kilos to shed, I’m thankfully no elephant―just to clarify that point!) So I have to ask, how does an author trim down her work? “One word at a time.”

Before Shirl and I leave for Florida next year, I hope to complete the sequel to my novel. But I’m a little concerned this novel will suffer a fate completely the opposite to its predecessor. Just over half way through writing, with plots and subplots jotted down, I’m praying I won’t run short of words and have to pump up this piece of fiction. I’m quite certain that it’s far easier for an overweight person to lose weight, than it is for an anorexic to gain weight. Hopefully the same is not true to get to the right (or write) literary size.

Only eight months to go, but I’m confident by the time I board the plane, my red suitcase, two manuscripts and I will be just the right size for the US market.

THE GIRL WITH THE RED CASE WONDERS ABOUT WHAT MESSAGE WE WILL LEAVE BEHIND

With all the preparations for 2010, Gauteng roads have become a nightmare. Not only is there construction on the Gautrain rail system wherever you look, but every inch of the highway between Pretoria and Johannesburg is either getting an additional lane, a new off-ramp, or a resurface. Hence, I’ve taken to reading bumper stickers on my tiresome morning commute to work.

Earlier this week I read two stickers (on the same bumper) that disturbed me immensely, viz. “Christianity has pagan DNA,” and “Born again … and again … and again … and again.” I came to the swift conclusion that the joyless man behind the wheel was either one extremely confused Christian, or an embittered human being with a grudge against Christianity. I quickly settled for the latter, for Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith and there is certainly no trace of pagan DNA in the Son of God―only heavenly, godly genetics. The other reason for my conclusion: rebirth is a once in a lifetime happening, not something that occurs multiple times within a Christian’s life.

I couldn’t help noticing, however, that most passing vehicles had no stickers or advertising plastered on their rears. It struck me that the majority of people are like these message-less modes of transport. They traverse through life with no story to tell; nothing to offer those that pass them by. No one will notice their coming or their going. They leave nothing for the world.

I challenge you reader: what message are you leaving behind to those you bump into every day? When people look back as you pass them by, will they somehow have been affected by their interaction with you?

Shirl and I have our own frantic preparations for 2010, with construction happening on novels, devotions, one-sheets, business cards, research, etc. (the non-stop list of preparation work for the Florida Christian Writers Conference goes on).

Stuck in traffic and considering this sticky rear end issue, I pondered about what impressions Shirl and I would leave behind on the American writing community? Once the hype of the conference is over and we’ve returned home to South Africa, will we be remembered as talented writers with a future in the published world? Or will the kindred spirits we meet during that week get to know us as writers who want to glorify God with the talents He’s gifted us with―whether published or unpublished? Hopefully both!

There’s one thing I do know we’ll be known for, however. . . the girls with the red cases.

GIRL WITH THE RED CASE

Several months ago, I set my heart on securing a sponsorship to a Christian Writers Conference in the USA. Certain that God would answer my prayers, imagine my surprise when the email came informing me that I hadn’t been selected.
Although I didn’t allow myself to get discouraged, I promptly put any ideas of attending an American Christian Writers Conference on the backburner.
Twelve weeks later I received an email from the moderator of the online writers group I belong to. Shirl said: “So . . . you still praying about attending a Christian Writers Conference in America? If not, why not?”

Shirl went on to inform me that she’d received an out-of-the-blue offer from a multi-published writer and speaker the previous evening, offering to pay all her travelling and tutorial expenses if she wanted to attend one of two conferences. She told me that prior to this incredible offer she had prayed furiously for a month or two but had actually stopped praying―much like me.

I was so excited for her.

Her email continued: “So get back on your knees girl! I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS ALONE!!!”
Of the two conferences her benefactor offered, the first was way too soon―a mere three weeks away. Her obvious choice therefore was to attend the Florida Christian Writers Conference in March 2010.
Later that evening I shared Shirl’s good fortune with my husband. Without a second thought, Noel responded, “Why don’t you go with her? You can use my bonus.”

Just three months earlier, I had felt my dream of attending a conference slip away, never for a minute thinking that God would provide in a totally different way. And, not only did He provide the funding, but He provided a travel buddy for me―someone I could plan with, share with, and get excited with.
When God closes one door, it truly means that He has something far better in store for us. Had I been successful in my first sponsorship bid, I would have had to do it all alone. Daunting! But God knew that three months later Shirl would be offered a sponsorship. He also knew she’d be praying for someone to go with her.

Not only did He answer my prayers on 16th May this year, He answered more than one of Shirl’s too.

Now we have so much to pray about in preparation for the conference. Together we’re experiencing so many answers to those prayers, but more on that later from the girl with the red case . . .