Lowveld locations feature in new novel

Readers from far and wide will get to know iconic Lowveld locations and local hotspots in Tony Park’s new novel, The Prey.

Park’s tenth African novel is set in Barberton, Nelspruit and the Greater Kruger Park and will be launched on Monday, October 21 at 18:00 for 18:30 at Exclusive Books in the Riverside Mall, Nelspruit.

The Prey looks at the problem of illegal gold mining in a fictitious mine in historic Barberton, which is being overrun belowground by criminal miners, also known as  ‘zama zamas’ or ‘chancers’.

Mine manager Cameron McMurtrie is fighting a battle to control the illegal miners with one hand tied behind his back, as his corporate overlords in the mine’s Australian head office are opposed to the use of force to clear out the zama zamas.

Things come to a head when his manager, Kylie Hamilton, comes to South Africa from Australia after one of Cameron’s workers is kidnapped by the illegals.

Park spends half his year in Southern Africa researching his books and the rest in his native country, Australia. “I visited a real gold mine in Barberton and was given a great deal of help from the mine’s manager and staff while researching the book,” Park said. “I’ve been overwhelmed by the friendliness of people in the Lowveld since Nicola and I started spending more time here and everyone I’ve approached for help while researching my books has been very forthcoming.”

The Prey sub-plot is follows a plan to establish an open-cut coalmine on the edge of the greater Kruger Park. “Of course, this is fictitious,” Park eleborates, “but the issue of proposed mines in and around national parks is a reality in other parts of the continent.  The need for mineral resources versus the need to conserve and protect the natural environment is an issue around the world, not just in Africa.”

Lowvelders will feel at home in the novel, with locations like Barberton, Riverside and i’Langa Malls in Nelspruit and the Sabi Sand Game Reserve on the edge of the Kruger National Park.  Even the local media,  Lowvelder, Lowveld Living and Mpower FM are mentioned in the novel.

“I’m very pleased to be launching the book in Nelspruit, as Sheldon and his team at Exclusive Books have been great supporters of my novels since my first, Far Horizon, was released in 2004,” Park said.

 o attend the book launch at Exclusive Books, contact the store manager Sheldon Lehmann on 013-757-0352. VisitPark’s website www.tonypark.net for more information on his books.