Header Promotion
"The Monica Brunetti Series" consists of four books, all set in my home country, South Africa. In the first book of the series, THE ROAD TO HOME, I draw heavily on my experiences as a journalist in South Africa, but I am happy to say that it is not autobiographical.
THE ROAD TO HOME takes place four years after the first democratic elections in South Africa. The euphoria has passed and South Africans are trying hard to build a fair and equitable country. Monica Brunetti, a young, white journalist with an Afrikaans mother and an Italian father, believes she has a good life. But then disaster strikes. After visiting an AIDS orphanage in Soweto, she is carjacked, shot and left on the side of the road to die. When she awakes, she is in a hospital where she is the only white patient. In the bed next to hers is Ella Nkhoma, a vivacious ex-African National Congress activist, who takes Monica under her wing. Ella wants Monica to believe that she is in hospital because of a bad bout of bronchitis, but she is actually suffering from a far more deadly disease: AIDS. Ella brings cheer to the crowded hospital ward with her larger-than-life personality, but in private she is agonizing over what will happen to her two young sons when she dies. The remarkable friendship between Ella and Monica allows both women to find what they are looking for; both find their own unique road home.
The main theme of THE ROAD TO HOME is the search for purpose in life. One of the other patients in the ward, an old woman named Mrs. Dube, who has spent most of her life as a domestic servant, tells Monica that the Lord saved her life for a purpose. Monica does not know what that purpose is, but as Ella draws closer to death, Monica begins to understand. What Monica realizes is that the road to a life of purpose is not the easy one; the road worth taking is often the most difficult.
SANDPIPER DRIFT, the second book in the series, continues the story of Monica and Ella's two sons, Sipho and Mandla, whom Monica has adopted. The new family moves to Lady Helen, a small town on the west coast of South Africa, where Monica becomes editor of the local newspaper. As with THE ROAD TO HOME, I tell this story from two points of view, Monica’s and, this time, Francina’s, the Brunetti family’s housekeeper of many years. After the drama and heart-wrenching scenes of THE ROAD TO HOME, I decided that I wanted a lighter tone. So much of what is written about South Africa concentrates on the negatives; I wanted to highlight the beauty of the country and of the people. With Sandpiper Drift I wanted to portray regular people living lives of quiet dignity, people who, in their own small way, contribute as much to the new South Africa as elected officials.
The third book of the series, A FAMILY IN FULL, is THE romance installment of the series! Monica falls in love with Zak, the town doctor, and their future happiness seems assured until Zak's daughter tries to put an end to their relationship. Francina is again the other main character. I really like Francina; she’s feisty, she speaks her mind and she has firm ideas—sometimes too firm—and she is very loving despite her tragic history. In A FAMILY IN FULL, Francina's greatest wish is realized, but I'm not going to reveal what that is or I’ll spoil the story for new readers. Let me tell you this, though, keep a tissue handy!
In the fourth and final book in the series, FLY AWAY HOME, (to be released on October 1) Monica finds her idyllic life in Lady Helen unraveling as Sipho leaves South Africa for the United States and his younger brother clamors to do the same. This might be easier for Monica to bear if a baby were on the way, but it seems that this is one desire of hers that will remain unfulfilled. Francina's happiness, too, is threatened—by the ties of blood, and she sets off on a journey that may be a waste of time, or the saving of her family.
With the series now complete, I find that I miss Monica, Francina, Sipho, Mandla and all the other characters that I grew to love over the years. I miss the daily goings-on in the little town of Lady Helen. My hope is that readers will feel the same attachment to the people and places in the Monica Brunetti series.
It is impossible to write about Africa without mentioning the scourge of the continent: AIDS. If the plight of AIDS orphans in Africa touches your heart, there are many non-profit groups that would be grateful for any help you might be able to offer. Many have web sites that publicize their wish lists. I will be donating part of my royalties to Cotlands, a South African non-governmental organization that runs AIDS orphanages as well as a pediatric AIDS hospice. Please check out their web site at www.cotlands.org.
Save the Date! You won't want to miss our annual open house event on December 11th!
