Benonian publishes book
Benoni has produced another published author, in Natasha Hardy (33), who had her debut novel "Water", published on Friday, last week.
Hardy, a Rynfield resident, wrote her “unintentional novel”, a fantasy fiction, over a three year period, and is now a full-time writer.
Hardy said the book is a big accomplishment for her.
‘‘My friends and family are very excited for me and it’s a surprise to people that I wrote a novel, because I was in the corporate world and because it is my first novel.’’
The mother of two young boys said the process of writing “Water” gave her sanity in the madness of her busy life at the time.
‘‘I found the time because I wanted to, because it was my sanity in the madness that was my crazy, busy life at the time,’’ she said.
‘‘Initially, I just meandered with the story I was writing for myself.
‘‘It was, after all, decadently self-indulgent and purely for my own entertainment.
“Water” is set in Injisuthi, an area in the Drakensberg, and follows the story of Alexa, a 17-year-old girl plagued by nightmares of her step-brother’s death.
Alexa is the warrior destined to save the Oceanid race from the extinction which threatens them, which is brought about by human ignorance of the effects oil and rubbish pollution are having on the Oceanid’s home.
As she fulfils the role of what she thinks is expected of her, she discovers she has more in common with the Oceanids than she does with the humans.
This leaves Alexa with a distressing reality to deal with, because many of the Oceanids want revenge for the damage the humans have caused to their homes and to their families.
Alexa must fight to become the leader she is destined to be, but most of all, she must fight for who she is and who she wants to become.
Hardy is in the process of writing the sequel to “Water”, which she hopes will be released in December, or early next year.
She said she also has a whole lot of other stories in her head that are fighting for first priority.
The novel is available at www.amazon.com
