Zululand adventure set to thrill
Local author, Ian Tennent proudly launched his first book, Zululand Snow.
A GRIPPING South African story that has been brewing in the mind of local author, Ian Tennent, for the past 30 years was launched to the public last Thursday.
A tale of history and imagination, Zululand Snow follows protagonist Craig on a journey of discovery when he receives an Anglo-Zulu War letter from his grandfather. The letter becomes entwined with a mesmerising story told to him by his history teacher about the lost inKatha, the Soul of the Zulu Nation. The 12-year-old schoolboy then sets off on an adventure to find it.
“It took me a while to pluck up the courage to write the book and certainly wasn’t a story that wrote itself. I had to work at it. I had all of these random scenes in my head and it took me a while to extricate the framework. What I have learnt from the experience of writing this book is that if you try to get it perfect the first time around, you’re dead and burned. You do the draft and then go back and make all of the necessary changes,” said Ian. “For a long time I had wanted to write a South African story that could stand squarely on its own two feet without resting on the pillars of apartheid or racism. This is a tale that thrives purely on the fuel of a good story.”
From working in a local accounting firm to global investment banks to becoming a stay-at-home dad, Ian has relished the journey he has taken when penning his first novel as it is a story that is close to his heart. Having grown up in Zululand, his love for writing stemmed from encouragement from four English teachers during his school years, the book is a portrayal of his hometown.
Ian said the reason behind the title of Zululand Snow was every year before harvesting, the sugarcane was burnt and released a fine black ash that got into everywhere and covered everything, beautiful but messy.
The 284 page book is selling for R100 (plus postage) and is available in soft cover and can be ordered from Ian directly via email at iantennentwriter@gmail.com. It can also be purchased in ebook format from Amazon.
