What was your primary inspiration behind writing
"Turnaround"?
It has been years since I have
been involved in the Angolan conflict. Even though I tried to put some of the
events behind me, I struggled with some of the darker chapters and decided I will
write this story, based on true events, in an attempt to find closure.
The scene described in your description paints a vivid
and emotional picture. How did you approach writing such a gripping opening?
I just closed my eyes and
re-lived the event that would haunt me even to this day…
The main theme seems to revolve around the internal
battle between good and evil. How do you personally define this dichotomy?
In certain situations, as in an
armed conflict, it is not always easy to differentiate between good and bad. I
had to create an environment to define the two concepts from my captured perspective
in order to regain the balance needed to make the paradigm shift from evil to
good.
Joe Zeiler and Sam Haines come together to maintain
their faith in life. Can you discuss their dynamic and how it drives the story
forward?
Joe brought a sense of adventure
and he was a bit of an enigma who longed for normality while Sam provided
stability in a world conducive to bring around the repair both sought to
stabilise their lives.
Who is the "man who believed that good can conquer
evil"? Without giving away too much, can you hint at his role and
significance in the story?
If you had no hope at all to
conquer evil, what is the purpose of living in a world wrought with evil? The
person in Turnaround perpetrated acts of violence and witnessed gross
injustices and due to his experiences, he could instill the belief that all is
not lost - that love and trust are what is needed to conquer evil.
The book blurb mentions a force that could drive
someone to commit a heinous act against their loved ones. How did you research
or develop this concept?
You live it - you carry it….
How did you approach writing the emotional and
psychological turmoil experienced by the characters, especially in the face of
such intense challenges?
Every emotion, every fear, every little victory, all the countless little prayers and every setback contributed to describe a roller-coaster ride of emotions in an effort to successfully cope with every intense challenge and situation. I threw everything together and hoped that the emotional and psychological warfare going on in each besieged mind would level out in order to regain sanity.
Were any of the characters or events in the book
inspired by real-life experiences or people you know?
All of it albeit altered
marginally and in some instances drastically to de-rail any likeness to actual
events.
How do you hope readers will feel after finishing
"Turnaround"? What's the key takeaway or message you'd like them to
grasp?
No event in life should rob you
of the opportunity to live a full life.
The narrative seems to balance between despair and
hope. How did you strike this balance in your storytelling?
Despair was a reality brought
around by political manipulation and selfish objectives while hope was
introduced to illustrate that a longing for a better life is indeed obtainable.
The setting plays a crucial role in the story, with the
eerie silence of the bush contrasting with the bursts of automatic gunfire. How
do you visualize this setting, and how does it enhance the story's tone?
The whole story is a story of
contradictions and paradoxes. The lows and highs brought around by the perfect
calm of nature and the heinous acts of people who used nature as their arena to
act out deeds of a violent nature, creates the see-saw effect of what to expect
and what not.
Your book addresses heavy topics such as guilt,
forgiveness, love, and faith. How do you hope these themes resonate with
readers in today's world?
I sometimes regard myself as a
bit of a 'shopping mall psychologist' who observe people from a distance. Over
the years my evaluation altered as people and the times changed. I realise
people are infinitely more complex as life has changed from slow-moving and
controlled to a frantic search for purpose and identity. My sanity was restored
by those traditional feelings which I strongly believe is the answer to most
emotional issues suffered in a world where nothing is 'normal' anymore.
Can you shed some light on the relationship between Joe
and Sam? How do their individual struggles interweave to form the crux of the
story?
Both reached an end that left
them in despair. Both suffered from emotional estrangement that threatened to
destabilise their everyday existence. They both lost their faith in life and
hope was a distant concept neither was willing to explore. Although worlds
apart this likeness was what brought them together in a land where remoteness
was the crux of your everyday living. Their opposite lives intrigued one
another and the challenge of throwing everything into one basket to build a
life together was irresistible.
How did you navigate the process of constructing the
emotional arcs for your characters, ensuring that they remain authentic and
relatable to readers?
I used love as the central theme
and aspired to create an emotional platform where all the internal struggles
can be addressed and doctored to create a workable and plausible solution for
those who experience utmost despair and a longing to be whole again.
Finally, are there any plans for a sequel to
"Turnaround" or any other projects in the pipeline that readers
should look forward to?
The sequel to Turnaround is
halfway completed and will be titled 'Dead End'. I am also working on a true
story which will be titled 'The One To Blame'. Three years ago I started on
research to write a book about the street children of South Africa. If I find
the necessary inspiration for this very emotional work, I hope to complete it
over the next year. Finally my anthology of poems should see the light early
next year….