A LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS

John Hargreaves

With the Anglo-Boer War as background A Light in the Shadows deals with the conflicting loyalties of a young Boer boy, searching for his place in the world. Growing up on a Free State farm, passionately loving the veldt, Jannie always knew he was different from other boys. His gentle nature also makes him the butt of his brutal elder brother’s viciousness. During a visit to Bloemfontein, he is introduced to the English culture, and experiences an immediate affinity. 

Jannie’s safe world falls apart when the Boer War breaks out and at 17, he joins his father and brother to do their duty to their volk, despite his conflicting feelings. The hardships of commando life and a Ceylon prison camp, push him prematurely into adulthood; he comes to abhor the greedy British armies descending like locusts on his beloved country, leaving devasted earth behind and he questions the existence of a loving God. 

But more darkness looms: his mother and beloved sussie fall victim to the enemy’s cowardly scorched-earth policy; their farm razed to the ground. 

Into this gloom steps Douglas Russell, 2nd lieutenant, British Army; it’s love at first sight for both. But in the face of so much separating them, could their love triumph? 

Jannie is later to remember the age-old adage: the darkest hour is always before dawn.

 KALAHARI GOLD

Richard Pierce 

In southern Africa in the late 1800’s two rival colonial superpowers, Britain and Germany, vied for supremacy.  A covert operation mounted by the German government went terribly wrong, and this resulted in violent deaths in the Kalahari when competing interests clashed.

Over one hundred years later the dreadful secret that had lain buried for decades resurfaced, and once again the Kalahari witnessed a deadly struggle in which there could only be one winner.

Richard Peirce is a prolific author, and award-winning filmmaker, broadcaster, freelance journalist and wildlife campaigner. Richard and his wife ­Jacqui split their time between Africa and Europe, their love of wildlife, adventure and wild places takes them to the bush at every opportunity.

 FATE'S JOURNEY

Khareece Maree

Fate’s Journey

Sink or swim? When twelve-year-old Hilo’s father dies and leaves him to inherit his duties as chief of the Paranite tribe, this is all Hilo can ask himself. All he can do is sink or swim. 

A perilous journey to find his tribe a new home leaves Hilo plagued with self-doubt and insecurities. 

For Hilo, this is no mere journey. It becomes a battle against the elements, dangerous wild creatures, and hostile tribes but more than that, it is a personal journey of growth, of becoming stronger with each challenge and testing the limits of his abilities. It was his chance to make his father proud.

Fate’s Journey is the story of a boy, faced with insurmountable problems, on a journey into manhood.

 THE LÜCKHOFF LEGACY

Janette Engelbrecht

The Lückhoff Legacy is a collection of family trees, memories, biographies and photos condensed into one family book.

Many members of the Lückhoff family were enthralled to hear that there would be a collection for the whole family as far back in generation as time and document would allow, and that their typed, handwritten and at times undecipherable trees would be used and researched for corresponding sources.

During the research original letters dating 1950 and earlier were presented, and the irony of the South African descendants can only be described by the last paragraph of one of the letters, “Had the two brothers not emigrated to South Africa, where would we have been? Two war slaughters had been let loose in Europe … DESTINY!!” The arrival of our ancestors and travels of our forefathers scattered all Lückhoffs throughout South Africa and the world. It is with pride that this book honours them.

 DEWETSBAAI

Willem Malherbe

De Wetsbaai is ’n klein strandjie naby Kleinmond in die Wes-Kaap. In 1925 het vier neefs – twee Albertyn-broers en twee Lückhoff-broers – vier morg grond om die strandjie van John Walsh gekoop. Dit was die begin van ’n familie-vakansieplek wat nou al byna honderd jaar as ’n kleinood bewaar word. Hier­die boek vertel die verhaal van die familie en hoe De Wetsbaai behoue gebly het terwyl Bettysbaai daar rond­om ontwikkel en gegroei het. 

Die boonste foto wys die uitsig oor De Wetsbaai van een van die huise se stoep af met Hawston in die verte. Die rooidisa groei in die klowe van die Kogelberg.

 LEGKAARTE

Werner Klopper

Woordterapie vir verligte dinkers met ’n swaar gemoed. Met elke herlees verander die invalshoek. Dit is asof die sinnne deur ’n prisma skyn en ’n volkleurstorie ontbloot.

DERRICH GARDNER

Radio-omroeper RSG

’n Bundel waarmee algar kan vereenselwig. Waar uiteenlopende verse wat die soet en suur van emosie saamvat, wéér gelees wil word om die fyn oplettendheid van poëtiese kundigheid te absorbeer.

ANLIE JANSE VAN RENSBURG

Redakteur rooi rose

Uit Legkaarte straal ’n teer, digterlike stem wat die liefde, aarde, kosmos en selfs Ingrid Jonker onthou én besing. Dit is ’n bundel met dartelende verse wat sy leser in ’n warm gloed bly koester.

KOBUS BURGER

Senior regisseur RSG Drama

Bestellings:

0714419750

werner@aboutwerner.co.za

 MOOI

Mariana de Bruin

GOD skep skoonheid 

en oorrompel ons daarmee.

Mariana de Bruin is getroud met ’n besigheidsman en hulle is geseën met 4 seuns, 4 besondere skoondogters en 6 uitnemende kleinkinders. Haar 

uitgangspunt in alles wat sy doen, of dit skilder, skryf, lering of aanmoediging gee, is in 2 Kor 4:7: “… En wat besit jy wat jy nie ontvang het nie?”

Sy geniet stap en fietstoere, vriendskappe, honde, nimmereindigende nuanses in die natuur, vernaamlik die see, goeie kos en veral haar kinders en kleinkinders.

Sy skilder onder haar nooiensvan en haar kuns kan gesien word by:

mariana.zwaan.fineartamerica.com

ARTmarianazwaan op Facebook

mzwaan7 op Instagram

Bestellings: Mariana de Bruin

mz324@outlook.com

 A GENERATION APART

Dave Baker

Whereas most people barely bat an eyelid when a middle-aged man becomes romantically involved with a girl more than thirty years his junior, a middle-aged woman who takes on a youth that much younger than her is accused of having a ‘toy boy’.

Wendy Forsyth finds herself in that exact predicament when she finds herself seriously attracted to a neighbour’s son while giving him extra maths lessons. 

The story describes her fears, worries and emotions in detail as she battles with her unusual conundrum.

You’ll likely experience a mixture of reactions as you follow what transpires – at times sympathy with her plight but, at others, criticism of her actions. But, whatever your response, you’ll find it a fascinating read.

Dave Baker has to date published three novels in English – If I Retreat, Shoot Me, The Tame Khaki and The Khaki Boer. The first two have been translated into Afrikaans and can be viewed on his website at www.davebakerbooks.co.za.

 VAN TOEKA TOT NOU

Rita Viljoen

Rita, die oudste van vyf kinders, is op 19 Augustus 1929 by haar oumagrootjie op die plaas, Manana, naby Lichtenburg gebore. Ou­magrootjie was ’n vroedvrou en het self die bevalling waargeneem.

Ná skool gaan studeer sy onderwys aan die destydse Normaal Kollege in Pretoria. Terwyl sy gedurende die Desembervakansie by haar ouers in Nylstroom kuier, ontmoet sy vir Alfonso Viljoen, ’n landmeter wat daar met opmetingswerk besig was. 

Hulle is later getroud en vir die grootste deel van haar volwasse lewe het hulle in Tsumeb, Namibië gewoon, waar hulle vier seuns grootgeword en skoolgegaan het. 

Ná Alfonso se aftrede kom hulle terug na die Republiek en koop ’n huis in Moorreesburg, waar hy ná etlike jare oorlede is. Sy bly ’n hele paar jaar lank alleen in die groot huis daar, tot sy eindelik weer teruggaan na Namibië om by haar jongste seun, Philip, in Swakopmund te gaan woon. 

“Ek het hierdie brokkies uit my lewensreis neergepen ten einde dit aan my kinders, kleinkinders en agterkleinkinders na te laat. Miskien vind hulle dit interessant hoe ons toeka se dae gelewe het, en dalk is daar iets te leer uit my ondervindings,” sê Rita.

 WANNEER TYD VLIEG

Nic Botha

Hierdie boek is tydens die eerste Covid 19-inperking in 2020 geskryf. Die verwerking en redigering daarvan het tot Julie 2021 geduur. 

Ná Nic se afsterwe op 25 April 2021 het die boek dadelik meer betekenis vir my gekry en was ek meer geïnspireerd as ooit om die publikasie daarvan te verwesenlik.

Ek sien Nicci in my geestesoog op sy geliefde stoel in ons sonnige stoepkamer, omring deur al sy skryfbehoef­tes en woordeboeke. Hy het ʼn nuwe doel gehad, en hy was só geïnspireer om alles op skrif te kry.

Ons het met geesdrif saam besluit oor watter stories die boek sou haal.

Nic het dit ongelooflik geniet om sy jonger dae, asook die goeie tye in die Lugmag en Lugdiens te herleef. Hy het soggens vroeg opgestaan en ek kon sien hy kon letterlik nie wag om aan die gang te kom nie. Dit het hom soveel vreugde verskaf om sy lewe soos ʼn rolprent voor hom te sien afspeel en dit op papier vas te lê.

Sy geheue het my verstom, gegewe dat soveel van die gebeure in sy twintiger- en dertigerjare afgespeel het. Hy het almal se name, die plekke en die gebeure tot in die fynste besonderheid onthou asof dit gister gebeur het.

Ek is so trots op hom, dat hy die laaste taak van sy lewe so deeglik en met soveel toewyding voltooi het, net soos alles wat hy aangepak het. Hy het alles met die hand geskryf omdat hy nie meer so lank voor die rekenaar kon sit nie. 

Hierdie boek gaan verseker dat al sy stories behoue bly vir ons kinders en verdere nageslagte, sodat hulle kan onthou hoe passievol en lewenslustig hul voorva­der oor die lewe was.

Nicci, jy sal hiermee vir altyd in ons almal se gedagtes voortlewe. Ons salueer jou, Kaptein … Jy het inderdaad die seile van ons almal se boot gespan.

‒ Tish Botha

Hermanus, Augustus 2021

Selnommer: 0828615427

e-pos: tishbotha@icloud.com

 Lord Jesus, help me to worship You

Joline Neethling

This book is a testimony but at the same time also a teaching about how we can live a life of victory, through praise and worship dances, that brings us into that intimate relationship with the Lord.

Joline (Neethling) Swanepoel has been an educator in and around Stanford for the last 25 years, mainly to share with the children the fact that Jesus is alive.

Email: jolineswanepoel@gmail.com 

Cell: +27-72 117 6427

 IF YOU CAN'T PLAY IT . . .

John Hargreaves

‘I’m the best drummer in the country’ John Hargreaves would jokingly say. Then add, self-deprecatingly, ‘Pretty average in the city, but in the country I’m tops’. This is public persona John, cocky and cheerful. His memoir shows  another more complex, more interesting John, who, although born into the hey day of white privilege, found himself, at fifteen, out of school, homeless and obliged to support himself. Undaunted, optimistic, gay, recklessly promiscuous, doggedly self-sufficient, he drummed his way from job to job, from gig to gig, from lover to lover, from Johannesburg to New York, from pop to classics, from dance band to orchestra. And then from contentment to despair …

 DORINGDRAADSTORIES

François Jordaan

Doringdraadstories vertel van sorgelose plaaskinders wat wild grootgeword het met koel Vaalriviersand tussen die tone, die roep van visarende en familiekuiers om eetkamertafels. 

Die skrywer onthou lekkerkuierstories uit sy jongdae: stories met stertjies, want sonder ʼn tit­seltjie verbuiging is sulke stories soos kos sonder speserye. Dit was tye toe die lewe ongekompliseerd, misdaadvry en min­der gejaagd was; toe daar altyd tyd vir gesels en onverwagte gaste was. 

Geniet sy verhale oor paraffienyskaste, diamantsmokkelary en 1950’s-inryteaters waar Wilde Weste-helde twaalf skote uit six-shooters kon kry, sonder herlaai. Dit was tye toe lekkie pêkets se pienk diakenpille en jêp skrêp-speelgoed ‘n kind se grootste drome bewaarheid het.  

Daar is stories oor swaarkry: van voorgeslagte se geswoeg ná Kitchener se verskroeideaardebeleid; versengende droogtes; uitmergelende vee­voerskuld. 

Doringdraadstories nooi lesers om ‘n paar oomblikke tot rus te kom en ‘n bietjie suiwer nostalgie te geniet.

 DIE EILAND / THE ISLAND

History and Stories / Geskiedenis en Stories

Aan die oewer van die Groot-Brakrivier lê die gelyknamige dorp en Die Eiland knus langs mekaar. Die Eiland huisves ’n gemeenskap met unieke tradiesies wat oor vele geslagte strek.

Halcyon days spent on The Island at Great Brak River are reflected upon in this book of personal reminiscenses of Island residents, past and present.

STORIES WAT EK ONTHOU

Omslagontwerp deur Stella Stofberg

 ʼn Deeglik nagevorste, onderhoudende vertelling van ʼn ryk lewe deur iemand wat in Hermanus gebore en getoë is. Die vertellings, soms komies, soms aandoenlik van die lewe soos dit was, betrek die leser by die mense van vroeër en wanneer dit nog verder in die geskiedenis delf na die herkoms van twee families, verdiep die betrokkenheid en verbreed die perspektief oor ons herkoms. Voeg daarby die plasing van die gebeure teen die agtergrond van wêreldgebeure en die geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika, word dit nog meer relevant en word dit meer as ʼn nostalgiese belewenis van die verlede.

Die verteller het wye draaie deur die land geloop en weer tuisgekom in sy hartland om hier die geskiedenis vir sy onmiddellike familie neer te pen. Dis kosbaar dat hierdie verhaal op so ʼn wyse vir die nageslag bewaar word en die kinders en kleinkinders nie eendag hoef te wonder waar hulle vandaan kom nie. Die spore lê voorwaar diep en wyd.

Elize Gerber

WHO AM I by Peter Plum

Cover design and book layout by Stella Stofberg

The author’s courage, his confidence, and his lively sense of fun are threads that run through this story of one man’s life: importantly his experience of momentous world events and how he survived them. His guts and intelligence – with some help from lady luck – averted almost certain death.

He begins his story with some ancestral history, and then describes his young life in Germany before and during the dramatic 20^th century upheavals of World War II, when he was forced to serve in the Hitler Youth and to join the army. Those experiences gave him a strong aversion to war and violence.

He goes on to relate how he came to South Africa and what it took to succeed as an industrialist in a foreign country where he spoke no English, while pursuing, with great determination, his dream of having a home and family (and a small car).

Peter Plum’s prodigious memory for detail lends authenticity and charm to his descriptions and makes fascinating reading for those interested in recent history as told by a survivor who is now in his nineties, and for anyone wanting an entertaining insight into a long life well lived.

ORDER FROM

Peter Plum

Email: peterplummail@gmail.com

Tel.: 028 314 1404

FOR KEEPS: ARTICLES ON HERMANUS HISTORY – WORTH KEEPING by Robin Lee

Cover design and book layout by Stella Stofberg

For Keeps is the result of a commitment the Hermanus History Society made to ensure that the town’s history ‘comes alive’ for the public. Written between 2013 and 2019 by Dr Robin Lee for local and national media, these 30 articles feature high and low points in Hermanus’s history over a period of 150 years: frequent and destructive fires; the sad story of an under-utilised New Harbour, the rise and fall of the hotel holiday culture and the depletion of Walker Bay’s marine resources.

Meet characters that influenced the development of Hermanus: people like P J Luyt, Meester Paterson, T D Ravenscroft, Sir William Hoy and the Grants. Read about a past era of genteel living, contrasted with the hardships of a waning fish industry; about a South African holiday town during the Second World War and visits by nobles and influential personalities.

Relive the histories of many famous hotels, shopping emporiums, restaurants, cafés and natural attractions. Follow the changes brought about by tourism throughout the twentieth century up until today when Hermanus provides an unforgettable experience for the modern visitor.

Experience the gradual metamorphosis of a nineteenth-century fishing village, Hermanuspietersfontein, into a modern, prosperous town, Hermanus, despite having no specific industry or mineral resources to sustain its growth.

Order from:

Robin Lee

Email: robinlee@hermanus.co.za

Tel: 028 312 4072

A KIND OF COUSIN by Suenel Bruwer Holloway

Cover design and book layout by Stella Stofberg

This very first anthology of short stories by Suenel Bruwer Holloway is a fresh breeze, blowing irreverently through old taboos, sweeping away the cobwebs of political correctness. With tongue-in-cheek humour Suenel captures the spirit of the people of our wonderful, sad and broken country; also the essence of humankind everywhere.

There is the sadness of an old lady in “The Statistic”, who is cunningly stashing away morphine and sleeping tablets for an “assisted departure”, fooling the nursing staff of the retirement centre; there is the infallible logic of a child in the title story, “A Kind of Cousin” and a startling different view of prostitution in “The Healer”.  Enjoy “The Right Therapist” where the author pokes fun at “shrinks” and psychoanalysts.

“Horseflesh” is an ode to the donkey: Old Langoor who should have been called Lionheart, refusing to be broken by abuse and starvation.

Fasten your seatbelt; be ready to be carried away by topics usually swaddled in cotton wool: farm murders, religious obsession, the Afrikaner’s ties to the land, old age and dying.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Suenel Bruwer Holloway lives in the small village, McGregor, near Robertson in the Western Cape. She has published several dramas, poems and individual short stories, and some of her children’s verse have been put to music. Some of her plays have been turned into musicals. She is also involved in the poetry festival which is hosted at McGregor each year.

A Kind of Cousin is her first single author short story anthology.

Anthology of Short Stories

Paperback / / 148mm x 210mm / 194 pages

This book should appeal to:

• Readers that don’t buy into received truth
• Travelers that dip in and out of a book
• Fiction fans with limited time wanting substance
• Wide ranging topics - satirical, sinister and funny

A KIND OF COUSIN by Suenel Bruwer Holloway is available in (or can be ordered at) all major bookstores just quote the title, author and the following ISBN-number:

ISBN: 978-1-928283-36-2

SURVIVING THE FAMILY by Gill Marais

Cover design and book layout by Stella Stofberg

Gill Marais had an idyllic and privileged pre-war childhood in South Africa, land of her Huguenot ancestors, before moving to Europe and living the bohemian art-student dream in London. After a troubled first marriage, with a revived lust for life she returned to Europe and swinging London, married a titled Frenchman and became a diplomat’s wife in Cold War Europe and Washington, USA, at key turning points in the sixties and seventies. After her second divorce she took up photojournalism and the search for spiritual enlightenment in the mountains of Ladakh. Much of this world has now disappeared, literally and figuratively, in the political and social upheavals of the last fifty years.

Surviving the Family combines letters (seldom with politically correct comments) and describes encounters with the rich and famous, from those in the corridors of power, to royalty, the Pope and Dalí. Throughout the book runs the thread of coming to terms with her unusual parental relationships and the acceptance that you cannot force a loving bond.

Memoir / World Affairs / Travel

Paperback: 240mm x 165mm

462 pages, 82 b/w photos

Readers who will find this book fascinating:

• Non-fiction readers who are interested in public figures and Society in the years of Change in America and Europe
• Travel enthusiasts
• History buffs, particularly world events

SURVIVING THE FAMILY by Gill Marais is available in (or can be ordered at) all major bookstores just quote the title, author and the following ISBN-number:

ISBN: 978-1-928283-29-4

AS EK OMDRAAI, SKIET MY

Omslagontwerp en uitleg deur Stella Stofberg

WANNEER LOjALITEIT en liefde BOTS

Suid Afrika – September 1939

VIR DIE ENGELSE VEG? IN DER EWIGHEID NOOIT!

Die verklaring van oorlog teen Nazi-Duitsland deur die Smuts-regering ruk ʼn Afrikanerfamilie uiteen: Die wedywering tussen twee Vrystaatse broers neem dodelike afmetings aan wanneer sjarmante Pierre die romantiese keuse maak en by die lugmag in Noord-Afrika aansluit, en Jan, sy ewe aantreklike jonger broer, die eed van die militante vleuel van die Ossewa-Brandwag aflê: ʼn eed wat net deur die dood verbreek kan word.

Die broers se avonture tydens hierdie konfliktydperk bereik ʼn bloedstollende hoogtepunt wanneer Pierre uit Italië terugkeer en broer teen broer een donker nag op ʼn Pondolandse strand teen mekaar te staan kom.

Hierdie verhaal weerspieël die diepe verdeeldheid wat die Tweede Wêreld­oorlog tussen Suid-Afrikaners veroorsaak het: tussen families, vriende en ken­nisse; en waarvan die impak lewens verander het.

Die storie van die broers se ysingwekkende – en soms romantiese – eskapades beloof om die leser vasgenael te hou.

Ek het dit geniet om weer aan die komplekse aard van oorlog herinner te word – en aan die rampspoedige gevolge wat beperkte toegang tot inligting eens vir die wêreld ingehou het. In ʼn era van twiets en blitsboodskappe is dit moeilik om mens in te dink in ʼn tyd toe mense werklik nie van die waarheid bewus was nie voor dit te laat was. (Wir haben es nicht gewusst.)

Amelia de Vaal, redigeerder en literêre vertaler

BESTEL BY:

Dave Baker

Sel: 083 411 2722

Epos: davebaker@worldonline.co.za