Signed, Hopelessly in Love

I recently read author and fellow blogger Lauri's  newly released book, 'Signed, Hopelessly in Love' and it's my pleasure to write about it here on my blog. This is actually the second stop on her international blog book tour!  *For more blog tour details, see the end of this post.

 

All About Lauri

Lauri Kubuitsile is an award winning, full time writer living in Botswana. Her short stories have been published on four continents and she has 14 published works of fiction, primarily for children.  She’s also written six textbooks, two television series and numerous radio scripts. She has twice won first place in Africa’s prize for children’s writing, The Golden Baobab. Most recently she was shortlisted for The Caine Prize.

Email: lakubuitsile@gmail.com
Blog: http://thoughtsfrombotswana.blogspot.com/

'Signed, Hopelesssly in Love'
In brief, the story, set in Botswana, follows the adventures (and misadventures) of quirky teenager Amo, as she deals with life as an ambitious and lively high school girl, while embarking on an unexpected new journalistic career move  - in the role of Agony Aunt for the popular school paper.

I actually found it to be really different, compared to the more usual type of high school stories that I've read in the past. Having been part of the adventure of raising two teenagers in my own life, I have great affection for teens, and enjoy reading about them. I have also maintained my taste in young adult literature, and this young adult book was a really excellent read!

I devoured it speedily, really enjoying this endearing young lady and her world populated with amusing characters, and sprinkled with snippets of absolutely typical Botswana life!

Q & A Session with Lauri

Afer questioning Lauri on some of the points that interested me about her book, I gained some most interesting 'behind the scenes' insight! Read on...

Q.  For me, the book has a lovely uplifting positive feel to it. I am sure it is old fashioned these days to speak of a 'moral' in stories for youngsters... but is it important to you to send some sort of a worthwhile message to the kids of today?

A. I don’t set out to sell a message, but at the same time I like writing and reading uplifting stories. I remember reading books when I was young and they helped me figure out questions about my own life. I would be very happy if my books help a child do the same.

Q.  One of my favourite adult characters in the book, albeit a minor one, is Beauty. Did you feel inspired by a particular person or teacher? Or, knowing how passionate you are about encouraging youngsters to read, is she perhaps more like your own voice?

A.I was a teacher for many years and my husband is a headmaster, so we are a family that loves teachers. I’ve known many Beautys, both as an adult and as a student.  Teachers who inspire children to be their best.  I really think it is one of the noblest things a person can do, to commit their lives to children in that way.

Q.  I would love to read more about the progress of this lovable heroine one day, as well as to perhaps learn more of her background, or the story of her mother. Are you planning a sequel or a series of Amogelang books?

A.When I finished this book I thought straight away it needed a sequel. But that was more than two years ago now. My husband read the book last weekend and he also thinks it needs a sequel. So …maybe…we’ll see!

Q. I could really relate to the scenes, the sense of humour and the issues raised in the book, particularly from my perspective as a Botswana resident. I did feel though that it could definitely be enjoyed by anybody, anywhere. Are you hoping that the book will be read internationally too?

A.Well the book is published in South Africa by Tafelberg, a South African publisher, so already I think people outside of our borders are reading it. Yes, I would love if people in other countries read it and enjoyed it.  

Q. Where did you get your inspiration for the Amo character?

A. I’m not sure, she really just came to me. When I started writing the book my main inspiration was that I wanted to write a book about a mistake, and how we all think our mistakes are much bigger than they actually are. I also like to write books with “take charge” characters, especially children and women, people who are often made to think they have no power. Amo in her round about way is a girl in control of her own destiny and I like that.

Q. Have you had any interesting experiences with witchcraft, and/or traditional healing during your life in Botswana?

A. I have a friend who is a firm believer in traditional medicine and most of what I’ve seen or experienced has come from her. As I’m writing this I’m suddenly realising that a lot of my books have some aspect of traditional medicine in them. My most recent romance, Mr Not Quite Good Enough has a traditional doctor in it who tells my protagonist’s fortune. My children’s book,  Mmele and the Magic Bones, is about Mmele having to bring his grandfather, who is a traditional doctor, back from the ancestors. And I recently finished another children’s book called Thato Lekoko: Superhero and Thato’s friend is learning how to become a traditional doctor.  So I guess I have more interest in traditional medicine than I thought!

Q.  Can you tell me more about the beautiful poem on page 51?

A. The poem is called “This Morning” from a collection by South African poet Lebo Mashile titled In a Ribbon of Rhythm. I love Lebo’s poetry. I’m not a poet myself but I love reading and listening to good poetry. I heard Lebo perform some of her poetry in Cape Town some years ago and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Bookshopping Links:
It is easy to buy Lauri's book online, and it's a great read for anybody anywhere in the world ... if you already have an interest in Botswana stories, so much the better! Please do follow one of the various links listed below!!

Book Depository:

http://www.bookdepository.com/Signed-Hopelessly-Love-Lauri-Kubuitsile/9780624052883

Amazon.com--(limited availability)

http://www.amazon.com/Signed-Hopelessly-Love-Lauri-Kubuitsile/dp/0624052885

Kalahari.com:

http://www.kalahari.com/books/Signed-hopelessly-in-love/65197/41480273.aspx

Amazon.co.uk:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Signed-Hopelessly-Love-Lauri-Kubuitsile/dp/0624052885 

(claims not released, preorder)

Loot.co.za:

http://www.loot.co.za/product/lauri-kubuitsile-signed-hopelessly-in-love/vdxm-1637-g470?referrer=iosa

Blog Tour Info:
If you'd like to follow "Signed, Hopelessly in Love" on its tour, have a look at the next destinations coming up:

November 2: Myne Whitman Writes (http://www.mynewhitmanwrites.com/)

  

November 16: Straight From Hel (http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com/)

November 23:Monkeys on the Roof: http://monkeysontheroof.blogspot.com/

For the first stop on the trip, last week, check out Selma's post over here.

October 12: Selma in the City (http://selmainthecity.wordpress.com/)

I'll be resuming service with my usual procrastinated border town musings as soon as I can manage it! Sending mid week greetings to all reading this, wherever you may be...
 

Borders/Boundaries/Barricades..and Bits & Pieces of news

Just recently, there has been a spate of petty hostilities, cross-border - which, in our case, involves an imaginary line drawn down the middle of a shared river. Over zealous officials from both countries have started nabbing unsuspecting individuals who may have strayed over the 'line'.  In past years, things were much more relaxed, with an understanding that small reasonable line-crossing areas of the river around our Botswana town, and the opposite Namibian island could be considered almost as no-man's-land, or could be freely enjoyed by vessels of both nations without causing an international incident!


In the direction of travel in this photo, we must now apparently be vigilant, and keep strictly to the right hand Botswana side of the river, for fear of being caught out...

The most dramatic of these incidents was perpetrated further upstream, by the Botswana authorities, and ironically coincided with the official opening and promotion of a cross border Peace Park initiative! This  project covers several countries, for the benefit of wildlife, conservation and the people of our area. They now have a smart office, and a shiny 4x4 vehicle, and appear to be sponsored by or somehow involved with the German government. I don't think this treaty has actually been signed yet, and nor do I know enough about it at this point, but I'm hoping that this peace park idea will bring a turnaround in peaceful neighbourly relations, and also that some lessons have been learned around here by the officials, after the most recent happenings, and the resultant community outcry!

It's a complicated area! Just observe all those yellow lines through the river system, demarcating national borders.

In another development, (unrelated to  the Peace Parks) a  new community conservation area is busy being fenced off along the riverfront. This whole area down to the river used to be totally open and freely available to humans and animals alike... Once again, I don't know enough about the project yet to know what it's actually all about, but in principle, it's good to know that this stunning area is never going to be turned into a luxury lodge or shopping centre..

Here is the new fence in progress. The blue of the river is visible on the other side.

On the other side of this fence is one of our most favourite areas to visit in our boat - it truly is beautiful and utterly  unspoilt... very few other boats ever appear, and floating around here at weekends helps us cope with the weekly stresses! Here you can see the sandbanks tinged with late afternoon/sunset light.

The image of these newly planted fenceposts marching down towards the water saddens my freedom loving soul, but I will just have to trust that this is a good thing for the future...

At least in between all the fences there are always corridors left for the animals and people to reach the river, and there is a compulsory riverfront access on all properties or fenced places along the river but.. slowly, surely, the fencing and the development is growing.  Having said all that, it does not change the fact that Kasane is still a beautiful place to live, and I do realise that development is completely inevitable.

Changing the topic - despite still being in waiting-for-rain mode, it's time for the exciting seasonal changes all around us. Trees are bursting into life with blossoms and leaves. Here you can see our favourite baoabab, newly green, overlooking the floodplain, on the route to work.

Our much loved migratory Paradise Flycatchers arrived dead on time (actually one day early this year), and as usual, I am ridiculously pleased to see our beautiful birds. It always amazes me the way they find our particular garden, every year on the same date!

Warthogs are well into breeding mode, and we have noticed a couple of pregnant females wandering around.  Here are some pictures of warthogs around town, for those who have been complaining of lack of warthog updates! Two of the youngsters outside our office.

Large male "shopping" for food in the supermarket car park.

We have been busy with visitors as usual, and have just had 3 university students - stepson Zac and two of his friends to stay, which has been the greatest of fun, and now my parents are here for a while, too!


Signing off with a golden skyscape captured just before sunset on Sunday. I am resisting the temptation to insert the further progression of this sunset, into pinks and purples, as I feel this blogpost is way too long already!

Tuesday greetings to all reading this... and, I will be back next week, actually, as I have a planned 'blog date' coming up, for once!