Local teacher publishes first novel

WATERFALL resident, Robin Ellis, recently published his first novel, In the Shadow of the Dragon.

The fictional novel tells the story of how three boys from different social and economic backgrounds become friends on a farm in the Drakensberg. One boy comes from the city, the second boy’s parents own the farm and the third boy’s father works on the farm.

According to Ellis the boys’ friendship develops as they overcome certain obstacles as a group. “Each of the boys play an important role in the story line and they each have an opportunity to be a hero at some point. I did not want to have one hero. There are, however, particularly a lot of humor from the city boy’s experience of life on the farm, and how he has to adapt,” said Ellis.

The humorous novel also tries to teach children that one’s background and other demographics are not important and does not define people.

Ellis, who is also a teacher at Hillcrest Primary School, wrote the book several years ago. “It just sat on the shelf for a couple of years, and then a while back my class asked me to read it to them. They loved it and I decided to get it published,” said Ellis. The enthusiastic teacher was inspired to write his novel during his tour in the Drakensberg. “As a teacher I have always tried to understand children, so I decided to combine the two passions. When you write about something you are passionate about it becomes easy,” said Ellis.

Fans of the local author will soon be able to read Ellis’s new novel, which tells the story of a Jewish boy hiding in the ruins of Germany during World War II.