Dear Reader,
I wish I had some major announcement to make but alas, my manuscript seems to be idling indefinitely in the inboxes of literary agents, quite understandably so considering the world-wide shit storm we're in. Wherever you are, dear reader, I do hope you are healthy and safe and that your shitty government hasn't prohibited the purchasing of basic commodities such as alcohol, tobacco and toys for children for no conceivably intelligible reason. Today a friend of mine returned home empty-handed after an exhausting search for a present for his son's upcoming birthday. Some, not all, but some grocery stores nationwide have sealed off shelves containing items not deemed as essential. There are people over here who are literally starving because they're not allowed to work right now. From beauticians to pet groomers to domestic workers, just about every job or business that's not classified as essential, has been affected and here's the cherry: the government of South Africa will only assist BEE compliant businesses. That means if your company is too white, you're on your own. Same story with the food relief schemes in place. Yesterday it was officially announced that it's not allowed for a citizen to feed a hungry person without a permit. You can't make this shit up. Truly, stranger than fiction.
During our extended days of isolation the feeling of being controlled has increased incrementally, and I find myself occupied with research around historical events, about previous outbreaks of plagues and pandemics in particular, and how the ruling authorities of the time responded to these events. I don't believe in much but if there's one thing I'd subscribe to it's that history repeats itself. As for what's happening here right now, no research is needed as we experience segregation based upon the shade of a skin-tone once more. Only this time, we find ourselves paddling backwards because of the gluttony of entitled men and women who came from nothing and now have everything and will continue to exploit the citizens of this country while they play at being kings and queens with impunity. Niks gewoond is an Afrikaans saying which describes the general sentiment of our so-called politicians. Waneer dit pap reen skep jy mos, ne?
I was the first person to jump on the stay-at-home bandwagon but I quickly forgot I live in a country controlled by opportunistic politicians who operate way beyond their expiration date to steal as much as they can from whomever they can for as long as they can. Because that's what communists do. Under level 4 we are allowed to leave our homes to exercise within 5km's from our homes between 6am-9am, yes that's right, all of us at the exact same time together for those 3 hours every morning. One might argue that this decision was brought about by a board of stupids, but I'm inclined to think otherwise. What's happening here is nothing more than bait to spike the infection rate so they can herd everyone back into the level 5 kraal or worse; provoke an already infuriated public to rebel for a police state to come into power. Because that's what this backwards group called the ANC with their decolonising ideologies is all about and Covid-19 proves to be the perfect Trojan horse to get there. But I digress. Politics isn't what my blog's about. To end off the rant I would just like to leave this here: some suspect South Africa had just been sold to China for R500bn.
And just like that Summer is over. I'm one of those people who need daylight to function. My melatonin levels are acutely in sync with sunrise and sunset with uncanny precision. We've been kept away from the outside since the end of November when the South Easter had started its insufferable howl earlier than usual. Pity it didn't have the strength to blow away this highly suspicious virus which induced our national lockdown that commenced on 27 March. We've been trapped on the third floor of a tiny flat with no balcony for just over 5 weeks. They won't allow my kid into shops. There's nowhere to go and the trauma it's induced in my 5 year old, who had to celebrate her 5th birthday in isolation, might be irrevocable. She's so scared she sleeps in our bed now. How does one explain mother nature, diseases, and politics to a toddler?
I'm finding myself in an odd creative place though. I've always been one to peak creatively when I'm in survival mode. When I feel threatened my female angst is heightened and the dormant wild woman within me comes out raging for air. Best time for me to channel these emotions onto the page, always achieving something which can only be described as an creatogasm. I haven't written poetry in ages, years even, but I was overcome by the muse of rhyming words this week. My poetry section is under construction again but I'm excited to share it with you soon. As for my book, which underwent a name change yet again, (anticipated as much since I was never happy with Maps, or Wildilings or Scatterlings), is being sent out as we speak and I'm waiting patiently to find that one single agent amoungst the plethora of literary representatives who will resonate with what I've made. Book's official name is BLOODBIRD, and the title is here to stay unless my future editor has a better suggestion. But I think the title will stick, primarily because of the nipple stand it induces every time I say the word out loud, so I'm pretty convinced this is the one. I have also updated the About Me and Q&A pages, aimed particularly at agents who happen to pop in.
My first baby, SUPERNOVA, has endured many rejections since I started the submission process in October last year. I am considering self-publication for this YA trilogy and will write a post on that soon.
Meanwhile, if you find yourself bored and don't know what to do, give my Bloodbird playlist on Spotify a try - satisfaction guaranteed. Or if you don't have a Spotify account, I'll just leave these here:
Agnes Obel Familiar
Fleurue Hurts Like Hell
Cigarettes After Sex Nothing's Gonna Hurt You Baby
Susie Suh x Robot Koch Here With Me
Missy Higgins Where I Stood
Fever Ray When I Grow Up
The Smashing Pumpkins Ava Adore
Hole Doll Parts
The Cure Friday I'm In Love
Sinead O'Connor Thank You For Hearing Me
Stay safe but cautious. Do not surrender your human right to freedom to a group of people who are experts at buggering over an exceptionally impressionable public.
EL
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