Tag: fiction

Roberta Writes – New books: Something Fancy, Cakes for All Occasions available for pre-order and The Last Man available as an ebook

After several months of publishing inactivity this year, I am delighted that the second book in my Something Fancy Celebrating with Confectionary series is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Health issues with both my parents and starting a new job in May this year after a rather miserable ending to the previous job meant that I didn’t have either time or inspiration for writing. I didn’t participate in the anthology opportunities I have in the past. Now that it is spring and my parents health is improved and I am six months into the new job and feeling more settled and confident, I have been able to finish my 2026 publishing projects.

The Last Man now available as an ebook

Picture caption: Cover of The Last Man featuring Robbie Cheadle’s acrylic painting of orange aloes against a blue background. Cover design by Colleen Chesebro

Blurb

A collection of ghost and other dark stories and poems set in South Africa.

What is the curse of the Grande Montanha?
How did it affect sailors navigating the Cape of Storms?

If the walls of the Castle of Good Hope could speak, what stories would they tell?
What happened to the last man at the devastating Battle of Isandlwana?

Clasp the hands of some of South Africa’s most famous ghosts and witness their untimely deaths through this collection of poems, flash fiction, and short stories.

The Last Man, South African History, Legends & Poetry came out in October as a paperback available from TSL Publications here: https://tslbooks.uk/product/the-last-man-robbie-cheadle/

I am pleased to let you know that The Last Man is now available as an ebook from Lulu.com here: https://www.lulu.com/shop/robbie-cheadle/the-last-man/ebook/product-w48md92.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Something Fancy, Cakes for All Occasions, Book Two (Something Fancy Celebrating with Confectionary 2)

Picture caption: Cover of Something Fancy, Cakes for all Occasions, Book Two featuring cakes decorated with owls and roses made from fondant. Cakes created by Robbie Cheadle and cover designed by Colleen Chesebro.

Blurb

Robbie’s cake and fondant creations are extraordinary works of art as is demonstrated by her Lion Scream and Sunflowers Field cakes based on paintings by Edvard Munch and Vincent van Gogh respectively. Other unusual cakes include a life sized guitar cake, a water conservation cake featuring a dripping tap in a desert, and a Covid-19 memory cake featuring the young woman who lived in a shoe and home schooled all her children while doing all the cleaning, cooking, and washing.

This book is intended as a celebration of cake in poetry, art and design, as well as flavour and texture, and includes several of Robbie’s delicious recipes suitable for cake construction as well as unusual cake ideas like a meringue cake with fruit and cream and moist honey cake. There are ideas for cakes using fondant, chocolate, and cream to create the perfect cake for any celebration.

Robbie Cheadle is a poet, writer, and artist. Over the past twenty years, she has created art cakes, gingerbread constructions, and fondant figurines for a variety of purposes including as illustrations for the Sir Chocolate children’s book series she wrote with her son, Michael Cheadle.

Amazon pre-order link: https://www.amazon.com/Something-Fancy-Occasions-Celebrating-Confectionary-ebook/dp/B0HPKL5Z1C/

The paperback and ebook will be available on 23 November 2026.

Roberta Writes – Book Blog Tour: About Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares

Picture caption: Banner for Midnight Madness A Carnival of Nightmares

Today, I am delighted to welcome Kaye Lynne Booth with her latest dark anthology, Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares.

This post highlights contributing authors Joseph Carrabis and C.R. Johansson.

About Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares

Cover for Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares featuring a book on a table, an owl and purple flowers

Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares contains fifteen stories which explore the fears that keep us awake at night. Featuring the winning story in the 2026 WordCrafter Dark Fiction Contest, as well as stories by veteran story tellers, Kaye Lynne Booth, Joseph Carrabis, Chris Barili, Rebecca M. Senese, C.R. Johansson, and more. The darkness in these stories touch on that which we fear most.

From a last big college prank gone awry, to an invisible beast none-the-less deadly, to a potion which makes you move faster than the eye can see, these stories showcase humanity’s deepest, darkest fears, how they shape our behaviors and their consequences they carry.

Everyone fears something. No one is immune. A sphere that drives men insane, apocalyptic zombies filled with sparkling dust, and even what happens when an electric car short circuits in the worst way are what make this story collection one you won’t want to miss.

Purchase Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Midnight-Madness-Carnival-Nightmares-Anthology/dp/B0HLRV4Z4D

Reading by Joseph Carrabis

About Joseph Carrabis

Picture caption: Author photograph of Joseph Carrabis

Joseph Carrabis is a master storyteller with a sharp sense of humor and deep linguistic expertise. Hailing from New Hampshire, USA, his passion for writing began at the age of seven while washing dishes with his older sister, Sandra. With a career deeply embedded in evolving technologies, Joseph served as Chief Research Officer, Chief Neuroscience Officer, and Senior Research Fellow at several institutions and agencies while earning numerous awards for his journalism and trade technical writing.

Guest Post by C.R. Johansson

Carnival.

The mere word brings shivers of horror to some. While I admit modern day carnivals possess an eerie creepiness, I’m drawn to the mysterious aura surrounding 15th and 16th century traveling Romani groups. An enigmatic group of people who never revealed the details about their life. They traveled from town to town, earning a living by singing, performing, selling homemade goods and crafts, and engaging in the practice of soothsaying, exercising, and selling spells and potions intended to curse or heal. Often, they arrived and disappeared quickly hidden beneath the darkness of night.

In my short story “Sphere Of Solss”, a rugged space cowboy’s insatiable curiosity becomes his undoing when he chooses to gaze into the forbidden depths of a gypsy’s Sphere of Solss.

About C.R. Johansson

Picture caption: Author photograph of C.R. Johansson

C.R. Johansson writes gripping thriller, science fiction, fantasy, and even horror stories with a genetic twist. Her characters explore universes where the unknown prevails and the impossible is possible akin to her life with congenital heart disease. She works and plays in the Pacific Northwest with her husband. When not writing, she enjoys listening to the nearby river and communing with nature and the world around her. You can find her on Facebook and GoodReads.

The Giveaway

Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment at each stop you visit, for a chance to win.

Three lucky readers will receive a free digital copy of Midnight Madness: A Carnival of Nightmares, volume 4 in the Midnight Dark Fiction Anthology Series.

Winners are chosen in a random drawing after the tour is over and will be announced in the “WordCrafter News” post on Monday, October 26, here ib “Writing to be Read”.

Tour Schedule

Mon. 10/19 – Writing to be Read – Interview with Mark Milstead & Guest post from Christian De Matteo & promo for “Shadowmancer”

Tues. 10/20 – Poetry by Mich, Hotel by Masticadores, Masticadores Phillipines – guest post from Robb T. White & Reading from Kaye Lynne Booth

Wed. 10/21 – Writing to be Read – Reading from “Headmaster Burns” & guest post from Lindsey Martin-Bowen & Promo for “L’Bonhomme Sept Heures”

Thurs. 10/22 – Roberta Writes – Reading from Joseph Carrabis & guest post from C.R. Johannson

Fri. 10/23 – Writing to be Read – Guest Post by Abe Margel & promo for “The Shape of Denial” & Promo for “Apocalypse Family”

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Guest Writer Spot

Thank you to talented writer, Esther Chilton, for sharing a delightful post about Something Fancy and a wonderful review. Esther has several excellent books, both fiction and non-fiction, which you will find on her site.

Esther is a very generous and supportive blogger and has a Guest Writer Spot on a Friday where she shares stories, poems and promotional articles by various bloggers. In Esther’s words:

“If you’d like to be included in this slot, please get in touch: estherchilton@gmail.com. Poems can be up to 60 lines and prose 2000 words. If you’d like to add a short bio and photo, then great. All I ask is that there’s nothing offensive.”

This week’s guest is familiar to many of you. Robbie Cheadle is a prolific writer and so supportive of other bloggers. Please give her a warm welcome as she shares her new book, which I’ve just read. You’ll find my review below. For now, over to Robbie:

Something Fancy, A Winter Wonderland Celebration book 1

Christmas in South Africa

Christmas in South Africa is a different experience to Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere. It is summer here and the temperatures on Christmas Day are frequently in the mid 30 C’s. Our Christmas menu is designed for hot weather and tends towards salads, cold meats, and light desserts rather than the hot meal enjoyed in colder climates and the heavy puddings. That being said, my family always have a traditional Christmas Cake to enjoy on and after the day. We also usually have either a chocolate house or a gingerbread house on display which goes down well with the children.

On several occasions, I have used a summer fun theme for my Christmas confectionaries. One of my favourite Christmas cakes features Santa on the Beach.

Continue reading here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/12/05/guest-writer-spot-188/

Roberta Writes – Book reviews: Unbury the Dead and A Bold Bargain #fiction #bookreviews #readingcommunity

Unbury the Dead by Laurel Hanlon

Picture caption: Cover for Unbury the Dead by Laurel Hanlon

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Picture caption: Emblem for Rosie’s Book Review Team

I always enjoy a good vampire novel, especially during Halloween month. Unbury the Dead, debut novel by Laurel Hanlon introduces the novel concept of vampire mafia. The main character, Phil, has fallen foul of his mafia boss father-in-law, resulting in his being interned in a concrete crypt beneath the ocean. The novel starts with Phil finally finding some success in wriggling himself free of his watery grave and making an escape. Phil knows he has been interned for a lengthily period but doesn’t know how long.

The great escape kicks off a fast paced and entertaining story about a vampire misplaced in time and astounded by the wonders of the 21st century. Hunting humans is certainly more difficult with modern technology like cameras on streets and in stores, credit cards, and cell phones. Phil must adjust to these enormous changes while on the run from his father-in-law’s mafia henchmen who become aware of his presence in New York due to his publicized indiscretions.

This book introduces fresh and interesting ideas to the well know vampire mythology and sets the characters in an intensely modern 21st century setting. I enjoyed the ‘culture shock’ and acclimatization aspects very much. There is also an intriguing romance thread that allows for the introduction of some of Phil’s backstory and a deep dive into the cause of his incarceration and current problems.

All in, this is an entertaining retelling of the well-known vampire story and worth the time if you enjoy vampire tales and mythology.

Purchase Unbury the Dead by Laurel Hanlon from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Unbury-Dead-Laurel-Hanlon-ebook/dp/B0FH2X39TL

A Bold Bargain by Jan Sikes

Picture caption: book cover of A Bold Bargain featuring an old fashioned motor cycle and a wolf-like dog

This is the third book in the Bargainer Series and my personal favourite. I am really enjoying these uplifting stories filled with kindness. These books restore my faith in the goodness of humanity, and I appreciate that in our current world of endless bad news.

Jack made his entrance in book 2 as the younger brother of the main character, Rose. His strength of character and innate goodness were evident in that book and this one builds on the reader’s previous interactions with this interesting young man. It is not necessary to read the earlier novels to appreciate this book, but it does help with a greater understanding of Jack’s past and the childhood setbacks he has overcome to get where he is at the beginning of this book.

I was delighted to discover Jack working as a substitute conservationist and knocking heads with vicious poachers of wild animals. Jack’s deep love of animals really resonates with me, and I was also thrilled at his adoption of first a young puppy (possibly part wolf), and then other creatures in need. Jack’s willingness to help other in need leads to his meeting and assisting and elderly woman who is slowly going blind and suffering other effects of an illness and also, a young lady who is on her own mission to help her aging grandfather.

These threads of catching poachers, helping Mrs Fletcher, meeting Finley, and developing bonds with various animals, all weave together into a beautiful and uplifting story. This is a wonderful book to read in the lead up to the Christmas season or at any other time when your spirits need lifting.

Purchase A Bold Bargain by Jan Sikes from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Bold-Bargain-Bargainer-Book-ebook/dp/B0FD7VSY68

Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s writing challenge and CFFC #poetry #photography #streetart

Esther’s challenge this week is to write a poem or prose piece using the word kind. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/08/13/writing-prompts-78/

Act of Kindness (shadorma prose)

When I was eight, my sister, Catherine, was four, and Hayley and Laura were fifteen months and six weeks old, respectively, my family moved to a small coastal village called Fish Hoek in the Western Cape. Our cottage was a temporary furnished rental for a period of three months while the partly built house my parents purchased was finished.

Mom was busy all day long with the babies, so Catherine and I walked to the beach on our own. Our route took us through the town and past the local grocery store. Catherine and I had been taught to be kind and helpful to others, especially elderly people. I had also been a Brownie for a few months before my family relocated from Johannesburg. Helping others was an important part of the Brownies Association’s ethos.

During one of our walks through the town, we happened to see an elderly lady struggling to carry heavy shopping bags. In those days the bags were made of brown paper and the bottoms had to be supported or they broke. Naturally, I immediately seized this opportunity to be a good Brownie and rushed over with an offer to carry the old lady’s bags for her. She accepted gratefully, and I carried the two heavy bags to her flat a few streets away. Her apartment block had stairs and no lift, which necessitated my carrying the bags up four long flights of stairs before we finally reached the door to her flat. I remember my arms aching from carrying those bags with the bottom one cradled in both my arms and the second laid on top of it. It was most uncomfortable.

The lady was pleased and invited us in for a cup of tea. This was the beginning of a lovely friendship. Once a week, Cath and I would visit this old lady and have a cup of tea with her. She always provided a delicious spread of homemade biscuits. She loved to crochet and showed me some beautiful pin cushions she’d made. I admired them so much she gifted me one on the day of our last visit before moving to our new home. I kept that pin cushion, bright green with white edging, for years and years.

I have often wondered over the years what happened to her. I hope she was happy and managed to get her groceries home without incident. I have no idea how she would have carried them up the stairs.

impulsive

small act of kindness

brightened life

of widow

living far from family

aging in quiet solitude

CFFC

Dan’s CFFC challenge this week is afternoon. You can join in here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/08/18/time-of-day-evening-cffc/.

All the photographs below were taken in the afternoon. The first three are London scenes from the balcony of our hotel room near Westminster Bridge and the street art consists of photographs of construction walling street art taken in Bruxelles, Belgium. These pictures all relate to one length of construction walling.

Picture caption: You can see The Shard in the background.
Picture caption: Close up of The Shard
Picture caption: I snapped this street art picture on the way to the airport on our last day in Bruxelles

Roberta Writes – Book Review: The Power of Three by Teri Polen #bookreview #readingcommunity

Picture caption: Cover of The Power of Three depicting three young men facing a house with a ghostly female figure rising from the roof with menacing yellow eyes.

What Amazon says

“Polen weaves an imaginative paranormal tale brimming with engaging characters, thrilling action, and well-crafted suspense. Perfect for fans of Supernatural and Grimm, The Power of Three will keep you on the edge of your seat until you turn the final page.” –Jane McGarry, fantasy author

Yesterday, a curse. Today, an inheritance. Tomorrow…may never come.

Beck Teller’s family bounced from one rental to another his entire life. When his father inherits an ancestral home, he and his siblings are thrilled to finally settle down, especially somewhere his family has roots. And those roots run deep—right to the on-site family cemetery where tombstone dates prove too many members met untimely fates.

When Beck and his two brothers begin experiencing inexplicable things, they grasp for practical explanations. Then their little sister gets a warning from beyond the grave, and the time for rationalizing is over. They pledge to protect their family and set out to identify the source of the danger and a means to defeat it.

They never expected to discover their house is haunted by a vengeful spirit who has vowed to destroy every descendant in the Teller line.

Centuries earlier, three Teller brothers battled the evil entity. Since then, her wrath has caused generations of suffering and untimely deaths. Now, three more Teller brothers will stand against this wicked being. But this time, the curse must be broken. If they win the final fight, they’ll banish the malevolent force forever. But if they lose, their family line ends…and they unleash hell on Earth.

My review

I really enjoyed this fast paced and interesting supernatural mystery story by Teri Polen. I have read other books by this author, all of which were terrific reads, but this one really absorbed and enthralled me.

Life has been a financial struggle for the Teller parents who have always rented a house, lived hand-to-mouth, and battled to pay the bills and keep their three sons in school. Their relationship was going through a rocky patch when Harper, a fourth late child, was born. Harper nearly died at birth and the Teller family all drew together to help her fight for survival. She is now the glue that holds the family together and her three older brothers and parents adore her.

The family’s luck appears to have changed when Mr. Teller learns that, as the last surviving Teller, he has inherited the mansion-styled ancestral Teller home. Thrilled, the family move into their new home, spirits and hope high. You never know whether an event is for the good or bad in life though and each of the three brothers quickly starts experiencing strange and unpleasant sensations and noises. After discovering the family graveyard, packed with the remains of Tellers, many of whom died very young and often within quick succession of other immediate family members, and some revealing equipment and books about the family’s history, the three brothers realise there is something very wrong with the house. They are slowly drawn into the drama of the greater Teller family’s past.

The author’s depictions of the three adolescent boys and their relationships with each other and their parents were realistic and enjoyable. The humour in day-to-day interactions, love interests, and the competitiveness between siblings is a great tool to lighten the darkness of the storyline from time to time. The devotion of the three brothers to their younger sister was heartwarming and an enjoyable addition to the book.

The introduction of the various ghosts and the supernatural elements in the novel are well done and quite believable. I had to read carefully to ensure I picked up all the scattered foreshadowing and hints at what was to come. There are a number of threads that all tie together neatly at the end in a satisfying way.

With its modern approach to romantic relationships and life for young people, this book is perfect for a young adult audience and the story is sufficiently complex and compelling to be enjoyed by a more mature and experienced reading audience too.

Purchase The Power of Three from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DCC5S4N6

Find Teri Polen’s other books here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Teri-Polen/author/B01MYOUA6V

Roberta Writes – Book review: Tidalscribe Tales by Janet Gogerty #fiction #shortstories

Hi everyone

I am back from my trip to London and Brussels. It was very busy, and I didn’t do much reading of any kind. I do have lots of pictures to share with you over the next few weeks.

First, my review of Tidalscribe Tales by Janet Gogerty.

Picture caption: cover of Tidalscribe Tales by Janet Gogerty featuring a beach and ocean scene.

What Amazon says

Tales light and dark, bending reality, unexpected endings…
Dip into an ABC of stories including four chapters of flash fiction.

My review

A delightful and unusual collection of short stories. The stories are widely varied in their topics, but each has a common thread of the human experience that is nicely captured by the characters who are well developed, despite the length of the stories.

I enjoyed the Englishness of these stories which is reflected in the reactions and dialogue of the characters. The author has captured the essence of the English very well and it was entertaining and relatable for me.

My three favourite of the stories:

A New Family Member – this is the opening story in the collection and is about a man who wants to get a dog for himself and a family. He has specific requirements as to the size and look of the dog as it will be a bit of an ego extension for him. The moral is that you must be careful what you ask for as you just might get it.

Dream Machine – an intriguing tale about a unsatisfied school teacher who dreams of being a famous writer. He believes he has his best ideas while sleeping but can’t remember the details when he wakes up. If only he could write down his dreams as the sleeps. Nothing in life is ever as you expect it to be as is revealed by this fascinating short story.

Trinity Tree – a story about nature’s revenge on a spoiled and selfish man. I was delighted that nature, for once, got the upper hand in this intriguing short story.

A well writing and highly entertaining collection of short stories that will make you think.

You can purchase Tidalscribe Tales from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Tidalscribe-Tales-Janet-Gogerty-ebook/dp/B0DWV9J83V

and from Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tidalscribe-Tales-Janet-Gogerty-ebook/dp/B0DWV9J83V

Roberta Writes – The Hat: Run with the Roses by C.S. Boyack #fiction #bookreview #readingcommunity

Picture caption: Cover of Run for the Roses featuring an axe, a fluffy hat and a bunch of red roses

What Amazon says

The Headless Horseman has mellowed over the centuries, somewhat. Who knew that he is a horse lover, and needs Lizzie’s help. An unaffiliated witch is torturing race horses in an effort to skew the parimutuel betting odds.

Can Lizzie and the hat find this renegade witch before one of these beautiful animals gets hurt? Can they do it before Detlef, The Horseman, takes things into his own hands and violates the terms of his magical parole.

It seems like everyone is standing in their way this time, including a team of YouTube ghost hunters and members of the coven itself.

Saddle up for this supernatural ride through the world of Lizzie and the hat.

My review

Run for the Roses is another dive into a world of supernatural events directed by mythical creatures who fly just below the perception of humanity. All of humanity, except for Lizzie, the possessor of ‘the Hat’, an unusual and ancient creature who choses to take the form of various hats that can be worn by the current member of the family it has adopted. The Hat has been in Lizzie’s family for decades and came to her following the death of her grandfather. Together, Lizzie and the Hat have been on seven previous adventures where they fight mythical creatures who have chosen to follow a selfish path of personal gain of some sort. Lizzie and the Hat are, in essence, the champions of ‘good’ mythical creatures who want to live in harmony with humanity. The duo, together with helpers and friends, prevent discord and disruption in the human world that could have negative implications for everyone.

This story steps up the role of the ‘Headless Horseman’. Detlef made an appearance in an earlier book and it was very enjoyable to see him making a greater appearance in this book. Detlef is a champion of horses and is angered by the actions of witches who have summoned a ‘maar’ to terrify and torture horses for the purpose of changing the outcome of horse races. Detlef needs Lizzie and the Hat to help him destroy the maar and end the reign of terror.

As always, this short and fast story is packed with dark humour, fascinating mythical creatures, and an exciting story line. This book introduces the Gravedigger who I really enjoyed. Lizzie’s interactions with her band and their various gigs create a fun and relatable background setting for the adventures.

If you are looking to escape the anxieties of life through some well written and highly entertaining escapism, you will love this book.

Purchase Run for the Roses from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Roses-Hat-Book-8-ebook/dp/B0F7PKPRVF

Roberta Writes – Book review: A Life in Frames by Leonora Ross #bookreview #bookcommunity

Picture caption: Book cover of A Life in Frames featuring a few small trees in the desert

What Amazon says

A photojournalist consumed by his passion for telling stories through his camera lens, a father and son at a war of wills, and lovers struggling to find a way to each other.

A Life in Frames follows the life of Namibian photojournalist Lejf Busher as he navigates through childhood and manhood in this coming-of-age literary saga. Two women are central to Lejf’s existence: his mother and the woman he loves. Destined for success and international acclaim, he discovers the complex reality of a career that separates him from his relationships. His mother is a beacon of strength, but he feels unsupported by his father. Lejf wants that acceptance. He also longs to succeed romantically with his great love, but her own search for independence and escape from a conservative upbringing widens the distance between them. Lejf’s expectations of a world and people he cannot change force him to confront his fears and choices when he can no longer run from them.

A Life in Frames is about the push and pull between the ties that bind us and the desires that motivate us. It is also about coming to grips with the consequences of unspoken and misinterpreted words.

My review

Picture caption: Badge for Rosie’s Book Review Team

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

I was attracted to this book for two reasons: It is set in Namibia and it focuses on photography. As a South African with a passion for wildlife photography I knew I would enjoy reading a story set in our neighbouring country of Namibia and I also knew there must be a focus on wildlife photography. I was correct on both counts and I loved the beautiful descriptions of the main character’s, Lejf Busher, home in a small town in Namibia and his trips into the bush to discover amazing photographic opportunities. I related completely to Lejf’s love for his country and its wildlife and people. The author described the small town attitudes of the people who surround Lejf as a child, including his father, with a sharp pen, and I enjoyed the disruptions to their thinking caused by Lejf’s mother, a Swede with an open-minded European mindset. The scenes about a book about sex, written by Lejf’s mother to teach her five sons about women, and its making the rounds of the town’s people made me laugh. It would be like that here in conservative South African towns too.

Lejf’s father’s lack of support of his son’s choice of career also rang true for me, having experienced this attitude of creative careers being unreliable as pay cheque jobs in my own family. The clashes between Lejf and his father over many things were well portrayed and realistic. A conservative farmer from a small Namibian town would react to a dramatic and creative personality like Lejf’s with concern and a lack of understanding. The author has a very initiate understanding of small town people in southern Africa.

This is a coming of age story and follows Lejf’s life from a boy of ten into later adulthood. It beautifully depicts a man driven by deep empathy for the first nation people of this planet who have been displaced and their way of life decimated by interlopers. There is a great tragedy and sadness in the scenes of Lejf’s visits to these people and places. The author must have first hand experience of such peoples and places and has done a lot of research.

In summary, this is a beautifully written book filled with thought provoking and interesting scenes and well worth reading. It is literary fiction and the pace is slow and considered so it is aimed at a certain readership.

A Life in Frames is available from Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1069082805

And through Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Frames-Leonora-Ross-ebook/dp/B0DW2Q8WNY