And these are the Days of My Novel...

So I have finally made it to the end of the first draft of my novel.

It is still without a title but at this stage of editing and re-writing, I'm sure that the title is just a thought away. It will come to me!

If I have to look back on the process, it took just a little over five months to compose. Yet reading it now with an editor's eye has brought nothing but amazement at the ability of the human mind to create unique characters and experiences.

The story set in my home-town of Durban, South Africa brings to life characters from the SA Indian community in a modern-day tale of twin sisters and their life-changing experiences at university. It aims to blend the traditional cultural view that is an inherent part of this ethnic group with contemporary goings-on of the current SA climate. I felt the need to tell this story so that others would learn of a group of people that have moved beyond their early status as indentured labourers. This community is as much a part of South African society as any other. That's what gives us our flavouring as a nation. I call it - adding colour to a black and white society.

With this in mind, I am busy adding Indian flavour through the senses to the story. It's an exciting time, yet nerve-wracking as the process draws to a close. The hunt for a suitable publisher is the next phase - one that I am sure will test my confidence levels as an emerging writer.

I couldn't have written this novel without the support of my partner. Of course, he expects the reward to be great in helping me fulfil a life-long dream. And it is! But in the face of a million other non-believers, his support has been the one that I have depended on the most. I guess it goes without saying then that the acknowledgement page of this novel will be in his honour.

Here's the end of one nerve-wracking stage to the beginning of another...