July 2024: Strange Journeys #verloreinduitsland #DraaieSwaaie&Afdwaalpaaie #thelegendofmamlambo

 July 2024: Strange Journeys

2024 has been a wild ride so far. My mental health has been hanging on by a thread, but I've also been blessed with family and the joy of getting my writing projects out into the world. My short Afrikaans story, 'Verlore in Duitsland' (in the wonderful anthology Draaie, Swaaie en Afdwaalpaaie), and, dearest to my heart, my children's spooky book, The Legend of Mamlambo, are now out and available for everyone to read. That blows my mind.

Life has been its usual topsy-turvy self and I'm going with the flow and trying to find myself. I took Neil Gaiman's advice to make good when life is tough and that good art is in the world now. That brings me great joy.

Please get your hands on copies of the ebook versions of these two books and let me know what you think. Below are some links where you can get copies.

Happy reading!

• https://booklounge.co.za/product/the-legend-of-mamlambo/
• https://www.amazon.de/-/en/Charles-Siboto-ebook/dp/B0D8KW3Q4G
• https://www.readerswarehouse.shop/products/9780637005524
• https://www.wordsworth.co.za/products/the-legend-of-mamlambo-paperback

• https://booklounge.co.za/product/draaie-swaaie-en-afdwaalpaaie/
• https://www.amazon.com/Draaie-swaaie-afdwaalpaaie-reisstories-Afrikaans-ebook/dp/B0D47YB16Z
• https://www.graffitibooks.co.za/en/391636/Boeke/Corlia-FourieAnnelize-van-Rooyen-Draaie-swaaie-en-afdwaalpaaie-reisstories

New Short Story: "Verlore in Duitsland"

🚂🌟 Lost and Found: Navigating Strange Journeys in Germany 🌟🚂

Embark on a journey of resilience, growth and unexpected twists in my short story, "Verlore in Duitsland", included in the anthology about strange journeys, “Draaie, swaaie en afdwaalpaaie” compiled by Corlia Fourie and Annelize van Rooyen. 🇩🇪✨

Join me as I navigate the scenic routes and unforeseen detours of Germany, from the bustling city of Frankfurt to the quaint villages nestled in the countryside. 🌳🏙️

From missed connections to chance encounters, each moment is a lesson learned and a step forward on the path to finding my place in Germany. 🛤️💼

Experience the highs and lows of expat life, from the exhilarating highs of landing a dream job to the humbling lows of being stranded in a foreign city. 🌍🔍

Through it all, discover the resilience of the human spirit and the beauty of embracing life's unexpected adventures. 🌟💪

Join me on this captivating journey through the heart of Germany. 📖✈️

Corlia Fourie and Annelize van Rooyen have compiled entertaining travel stories by 46 writers, including Marita van der Vyver, Kirby van der Merwe, Sophia Kapp, Jacques Pauw, Irma Joubert, Julian Jansen, C. Johan Bakkes, Kerneels Breytenbach, Bettina Wyngaard and Frederik de Jager.

The writers relate unexpected and unusual events that happened during their travels, with funny or bittersweet or happy consequences. But always the experiences are enriching.

🚂🌟 Verlore in Duitsland 🌟🚂

Gaan op 'n reis van veerkragtigheid, groei en onverwagse draaie in my kortverhaal, "Verlore in Duitsland", wat opgeneem is in die bundel oor vreemde reise, "Draaie, swaaie en afdwaalpaaie" saamgestel deur Corlia Fourie en Annelize van Rooyen. 🇩🇪✨

Sluit aan terwyl ek die pragtige roetes en onvoorsiene omweë van Duitsland navigeer, van die bedrywige stad Frankfurt tot die pittoreske dorpe verskuil in die platteland. 🌳🏙️

Van gemiste verbindinge tot toevallige ontmoetings, elke oomblik is 'n les geleer en 'n stap vorentoe op die pad om my plek in Duitsland te vind. 🛤️💼

Ervaar die hoogtepunte en laagtepunte van die lewe van 'n uitgewekene, van die opwindende hoogtes van 'n droombaan tot die nederige laagtes van vasgevang wees in 'n vreemde stad. 🌍🔍

Deur dit alles, ontdek die veerkrag van die menslike gees en die skoonheid van die omarming van die onverwagse avonture van die lewe. 🌟💪

Sluit by my aan op hierdie boeiende reis deur die hart van Duitsland. 📖✈️

In April I dreamt of a spring in my step and stumbled but dreams still May come true

© megerka_megerka / Shutterstock.com

In April I dreamt of a spring in my step and stumbled but dreams still May come true

April waltzed in,

Smelling like flowers

But it turned out to be mainly cold

And filled with showers

I put in the work,

Spring-cleaning myself 

I uncluttered every shelf

But old baggage, it seems,

Is difficult to let go of

There is comfort in pain

And this April, it seems,

A malevolent god in the rain,

Flooding my brain with thoughts insane

I am become a destroyer of my own world

By falling back into my patterns of old

I sense something else, though,

A seed of hope

Carried by the dust of my dreams

As May floats in on a warm breeze,

Dazzling in the sunlight

My New Booking Coming Soon: The Legend of Mamlambo

Reader beware . . . Coming to a bookstore near you in July, being published by Penguin Random House South Africa. Amiah hates moving. What was her mother thinking, moving them away from Cape Town to this strange little town in Joburg South? Meeting Teedo, a strange kid with even stranger conspiracy theories, doesn’t make her feel any better. However, after getting to know him and the rest of the group, she quickly realises there might be some truth to his crazy claims. Something strange really is going on in Spookfontein, as the other kids call the town, and it has something to do with the water tower. Could the legend of Mamlambo, the snake-like water goddess, actually be more than just a story?

Prepare to face the chill of legend in The Legend of Mamlambo! Dive into a world where ancient myths collide with modern-day mysteries in the heart of Johannesburg's south. Join Amiah and her friends on a thrilling adventure brimming with supernatural secrets, heart-pounding chases, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship. Traditional South African folklore weaves its magic on every page, keeping you on the edge of your seat as you uncover the truth behind Mamlambo. Are you brave enough? Hold on tight – the adventure of a lifetime awaits!

Januworry, Februworry, March on, in April I dream of spring

Januworry, Februworry, March on, in April I dream of a spring in my step

“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...And then one fine morning—So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”

I started the year with a heart full of hope,

It too exactly one day for that thing with feathers to fly away

It slipped right through my fingers

I honestly thought I had it, you know

New year, new me

But, no,

New year,

Just me making old mistakes

I couldn’t outrun my demons,

I couldn’t stretch my arms out far enough to touch my dream

There was no fine morning for me

Just dark thoughts of death

And being haunted by debt

It all came crashing down

And I was ready to exit stage left

I managed to hold on, though,

Somehow

Januworry became Februworry

I sought help

I bared my soul and it hurt

I accepted help

I put aside my pride

I Marched on

Started again

Not anew but again,

Picking up pieces of myself,

I'm still puzzling them together

Maybe the winds of winter are dying down

I dream of a spring in my step in April

Dune: Part Two review: expansive, enigmatic and exceptional

My original article here.

22 March 2024

Dune: Part Two has finally arrived, and it exceeds all expectations, delivering a cinematic marvel that stands as a worthy successor to 2021's Dune. Denis Villeneuve's direction brings Frank Herbert's intricate universe to life with breathtaking grandeur and emotional depth.

Source: Supplied.

While Hollywood’s soft leading man, Timothée Chalamet, and Zendaya deliver powerful performances, Javier Bardem's portrayal of the stoic Fremen leader, Stilgar, steals the spotlight. This sequel not only reintroduces beloved characters but also introduces captivating new additions that enrich the tapestry of the narrative.

Expanding upon the epic scale established in its predecessor, Dune: Part Two takes audiences on a mesmerising journey into a world that feels simultaneously familiar and alien. Hans Zimmer's haunting score enhances the immersive experience, while Villeneuve deftly navigates complex themes such as war, power and destiny.

Departing from the source material in some aspects, the film presents a fresh and engaging story that resonates with both newcomers and fans of the original work.

At its core, Dune: Part Two remains a gripping war narrative, delving into the complexities of politics, faith and identity. Paul Atreides' evolution from a sheltered nobleman to a formidable Fremen warrior is at the heart of the story. Zendaya's portrayal of Chani adds depth and urgency to their blossoming romance amidst the unforgiving desert landscape.

The film is as brilliantly cast as the first one, with everyone delivering stellar performances. Returning are the brilliant Rebecca Ferguson in the role of Lady Jessica, Paul’s mother and acolyte of the mystical all-female order, the Bene Gesserit; the beloved House Atreides weapons master Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin); and Baron Harkonnen’s nephew, the cruel Glossu Rabban (Dave Bautista).

Dune: Part Two characters

Stellan Skarsgård plays the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen, and while his portrayal is great, he has limited screentime, with the film devoting more attention to his younger nephew (and heir), Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, played to perfection by Austin Butler. This is, in my opinion, the second-best performance of the film, next to Bardem’s Stilgar.

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen’s character is the perfect foil to Paul Atreides, formidable and infinitely more cruel. Charlotte Rampling returns as Gaius Helen Mohiam, a Bene Gesserit Reverend Mother and the Emperor's Truthsayer.

We finally get to see Shaddam IV, the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe and head of House Corrino, portrayed by Christopher Walken. Other newcomers include Florence Pugh as Princess Irulan Corrino and Léa Seydoux as Lady Margot Fenring, a Bene Gesserit.

The film also delves deeper into the political intrigue surrounding House Atreides and the Imperium, as Princess Irulan Corrino covertly documents the unfolding events in her journal. On Arrakis, tensions rise as Paul, accompanied by Lady Jessica and their Fremen allies, confronts the oppressive Harkonnens while facing scepticism from some within the Fremen ranks, including Stilgar.

Source: Supplied.

As the narrative unfolds, Dune: Part Two builds towards a gripping climax that will determine the fate of Arrakis and its inhabitants. Villeneuve's masterful direction and the stellar performances of the cast propel the story to a breathtaking conclusion, leaving audiences eagerly awaiting the next instalment in this epic saga.

With its stunning visuals, thematic depth, and runtime of two hours and 46 minutes (but feels so much shorter), Dune: Part Two solidifies itself as a modern cinematic masterpiece. As the saga continues to captivate audiences, the allure of the desert planet of Arrakis beckons, promising further adventures in this mesmerising universe.

Failure (Station 16)

 Failure (Station 16)

Yhu, mtshana!

I’ve failed

Like, proper failed, hey

I’m writing this note from the bottom of the rock

Scraping the bottom of the barrel

From Station 16,

A psych ward in the middle of Germany, somewhere,

Nowhere

(Irgendwo, Nirgendwo)

A man screams into the night from Station 15 below

Lower than rock bottom

But he doesn’t know that

(Maybe he does, I can’t say)

When we go on our morning walks in the park below,

Us Station 16 Leute, 

(Station 16 people),

We look up at the Station 14 and Station 15 people,

They’re always screaming something incomprehensible,

The guy next to me always says:

Zum Glück sind wir nicht wie sie

(Luckily, we aren’t like them)

They’re the addicts and the ones who tried to kill themselves

I don’t know,

I mean, I’m no better off than them, really

They failed and I did too

I failed ‘better’ because I risked less

They threw the dice on life and death!

I think we all want to escape,

Stations 14 to 16,

Life is too much with us –

It becomes overbearing

I don’t mean to sound macabre,

But, the Station 14 and Station 15 people,

They tried

I was too scared

Zum Glück,

(Luckily),

As my therapists tell me

I don’t know

Station 14 and Station 15 people strike me as people of action

A quality I admire

But they failed

I failed

Stations 14 to 16,

We all failed

But each morning we Station 16 people look up and say,

Zum Glück sind wir nicht wie sie

I don’t know, hey

We all failed,

To different degrees, sure,

But we’re all here,

At rock bottom