Ta-da... drum roll, please

It's the final chapter of Kalahari Passage!

Revising Koba book 2 has been satisfying. It’s not often an author gets to go back and tweak things in a published novel. As the rights to this traditionally-published work have reverted to me, I was able to do just that in preparation for publishing it myself. Here’s how I feel I’ve improved the novel:

What’s better, imo

1. Footnotes. I took the advice of past readers and instead of a glossary at the back, I’ve included definitions of foreign words in footnotes on the relevant pages. I don’t yet know how well that will work when it comes to formatting, but I have a bold and brilliant friend who is willing to give it a go. (Thank you Dianne Hambrook.)

2. I know more about the actual life way of the Ju|’hoan community who inspired the story, having been regularly exposed to it via field trips to the Nyae Nyae Conservancy. And I maintain an ongoing relationship with community members.

3. I know my central characters, Koba and Mannie, so much better than I did when I first found them appearing on my pages again, back in 2010. Their needs and wants are clear to me and the inner workings of their minds, vivid.

4. Finally, I am able to seed plots lines that I now know will be needed for the development of the last part of the trilogy.

I have very much appreciated the readers who have liked or commented on Kalahari Passage chapters along the way. (I see you Su San, all the way in Vietnam! And Ron, in Oz. Bless ya!) Your encouragement plus the interest of members of my new Cornish community, has made it feel like a worthwhile exercise. The latter’s curiosity and goodwill has resulted in me selling some copies of the prequel, Salt & Honey. Best of all, the money raised via newsletter subscription means that food was purchased and delivered to the Village schools and we fed both day pupils and hostel dwellers in one school.

For a few months, anyway. Sadly, there is never enough money for a full term, let alone a whole school year. But I’m doing what I can.

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Don’t hate me for this ending

You may feel frustrated, even hubcap-kicking cross with me when you get to the last few paragraphs of Kalahari Passage. It’s no spoiler to confess there’s a cliff hanger. But… I have written what happens next, promise. I will send paid subscribers the opening chapter of Koba book 3 in another post.

Meanwhile, why not catch up by subscribing to Salt & Honey so you can access the archive and read this story from the beginning?

You can also read or listen to the prequel, Salt & Honey, here.

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Chapter 26, Part 2

Koba makes a plan to save Mannie and his comrades, placing herself in great danger

continued

Ten minutes later, the men were still teasing Mannie as they leaned against the tree, smoking. Moses pulled a carton of native beer from his bundle. They passed it between them. She saw Mannie grimace as he took a swig of the foul brew, but she hoped he’d have more. It would bring on a need to urinate and then he’d separate from the clowns and walk into the bush where she could speak to him.

She squatted down, glad of the rest, but felt agitated. Her breathing was fast, her tappings insistent. The minutes began to feel like hours and her uneasiness grew. This was not the time for squatting in the sand, she decided. Every normally reticent fibre of her being was thrumming, urging her to reach for what the wanted. She stood up and holding her kaross tightly across her chest she burst out of the scrub.