We say in Africa that it takes a village to raise a child – I will add to this and say it takes a community to host a successful event.
I am privileged to lead a team that ministers at a recovery centre once a week, and the person who shared last week entitled their talk: What walls are you building, and who are your allies. My walls have a few gaps, but I have allies, an extraordinary group of people who I do life with who always seem to cover those gaps for me.
As the day of the launch of Sipho’s War approached, the allies gathered, and each played their role to perfection.
Leading the gang are my son, Mark Elderkin, and dear friend, Judy de Villiers, without whom there would never have been a launch. Left to myself, the advent of my book in print form would have a been a whimper. Mark was the first to ask what I was doing about putting my book in the public domain. I hadn’t a clue!
Thankfully our book club was a few days later, and Judy asked the same question, and got the same response. “I’ll organise a launch for you,” she said. “When can you meet?”
And with that the game was on.
Mark declined the role of interviewee offering instead to read excerpts.
“Fine,” I said. Great!
Bob Forrester joined the team, agreeing without hesitation to talk about the significance of ochre. Bob was one of the first people to read the manuscript when it was in draft form. He’s an amazing historian, archivist, archaeologist, and I knew I could depend on him for accurate criticism as well as honest critique.
Judy swung into gear within minutes of our first meeting, sending emails, confirming dates, setting up a meeting with Nicky McArthur, the editor of Muse Magazine, who I am so thrilled to have met. Nicky agreeing to conduct the author interview completed the lineup for the night.
Once most of the basics were in place, I saw another friend, Jo Crawford. Jo for many years was the secretary at our church, and I know her ability to create eye-catching artwork and trust her knowledge of what is needed to get the most out of social media. Within a day or two she had created posters, fliers, digital and print, and in all sizes. She told me which needed to go on which site, and there I was, letting the world know Sipho’s War had arrived!
Dana MacFarlane of The White River Gallery had said when she first heard my book was being published that she wanted to host the launch. Poor Dana, the timing could not have been worse for her, but she stoically found a gap for us, handed over to Casandra Jacobs, the Gallery manager, and the countdown began.
Friends agreed to assist with snacks: Toni Yeowart; Jeanne Boyce; Jean Forder; Les Read; and Judy in amongst all the arranging and set up brought her cheesy biscuits! Citrus agreed to deliver freshly made samosas in the evening so they would be hot and soon the table was groaning.
My handy barmen, Douglas Boyce and Chris Ferreira asked if they should wear penguin suits – I said, “Absolutely not, this is the Lowveld – cool and comfy!”
Erica Ferreira agreed to take care of sales and money, Alec Somers who masterminds my web page, helped with equipment and the technical set up of mics and overheads, and we were set to go.
Casandra, together with the Gallery staff, helped by Judy, sweated away in 35+ degrees, getting the venue set up, with Nokukhanya painting the wall to ensure Bob’s presentation had a clean white space! It all looked wonderful.
It was a humid, muggy lowveld day, storms were forecast and threatened, but they waited well past the hour, so we were packed away before the rain fell, and welcome it was!
My final, but not least, thanks go to the people who attended. I was blown away by the turn out, the compliments and enthusiasm – thank you. And thank you to those who were unable to come and sent apologies – you were missed.
The emotions I have are hard to explain. After years of rejection letters, I now have compliments, people enthusing about the book, and even asking for a sequel! I am coming to terms with being “A Published Author” and after last Friday evening, I think I can get used to this!
Thank you for your belief, your support and your love.
