Saturday, January 8, 2011

New Year Resolutions by Margot Justes

With the new year come the resolutions, I've made mine and so far stuck to the no sugar resolve, but let's face it, it's only been a week. So far so good.

One other resolution I've made is to finish a non fiction novel about my stay in South Africa. I started writing it about two years ago, came up with a terrific title, Memories of a Country Long Ago, and somehow I put it aside and got involved in other projects, and this one just slipped away.

I recently came across the measly few pages and decided it is a worthwhile project , and now I have another challenge, describing the stunning country of South Africa, with the gorgeous topography, the red burning sun, the burnished clay under your feet, the animals that roam relatively free in their natural habitats, the vast cultural differences and the curse of apartheid.

There is so much to tell. Below is the beginning of my tale. I haven't really looked at, so not even first edits were done, but I thought I'd share with you the start of an adventure for me, something brand new and yes-terrifying-nonfiction.

"They say that once you've been to Africa, it gets in your blood and stays. I can say with certainty that it does.
I can vouch for the veracity of that statement. I visited South Africa many years ago.

To this day, I still feel the arid, red clay underneath my feet, the dust, the magnificence and incredible natural beauty of the country. It takes possession of your very soul. I cannot speak for the African continent as a whole, only to a small Southernmost tip of it, namely South Africa,

It is indeed with profound angst that I put words on paper. I write romantic mysteries, yet the idea has been floating around in my head, much like dialog and ideas for the fiction stories I write.

This will be a romance, unlike most others, a romance with a country I lived in all too briefly, yet have never forgotten. A country that has touched me, moved me and taught me to appreciate what I have. These are memories that are still with me, never to be forgotten. Like the country itself."

Till next time,
Margot Justes
www.mjustes.com
A Hotel in Paris

6 comments:

Deb Larson said...

How exciting! You have have a unique insight to share with your readers. It's something only you can do! It's a great start ~ keep going. :)
DL Larson

Margot Justes said...

Hi Deb,
Thank you...almost done with my vamp and will start on this project and A Hotel in Venice. Love this creative process.
Margot
www.mjustes.com

Debra St. John said...

Margot,

This is beautiful already. This will be a wonderful read. Do you have photos from when you were there as well?

Good luck with your new project. (Does this mean the vampire one is done?!)

Morgan Mandel said...

All the places you've lived - wow, you've got lots of stories you can tell!

Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

June said...

I think it sounds wonderful! I'm very excited for you...

June

Margot Justes said...

Deb,
I have hundreds of slides that we'll convert. I'm almost done with the first edit, about 8,000 more words-I'll probably finish by 89-90,000 words. I'm very excited.

Morgan,
I love writing about travel, because you have to do it first, and I love to do it.
June,
Thank you.
Margot

www.mjustes.com