Title: A Heart
That Breaks the Soil
Author: Monica Lee
Published: September
2013
Word Count: 95,000
Genre: Contemporary
Fiction
Synopsis:
Mandy held on to hope that her husband and her situation
would change as she tried to honour her commitment despite all signs pointing
to this being an unworkable marriage. A
Heart That Breaks the Soil takes you across the vast expanses of Africa and into the insecure realm of the human psyche.
This is the story of how one woman struggled to find her way in the search for that one coveted destination: a happy life. It is Mandy’s story but it will become yours as well as you enter her world of trials and deep sadness, mixed in with humour, friendship and love.
This is the story of how one woman struggled to find her way in the search for that one coveted destination: a happy life. It is Mandy’s story but it will become yours as well as you enter her world of trials and deep sadness, mixed in with humour, friendship and love.
Excerpt:
Mandy could hear Winston in the background saying good- bye
to his relatives. He then turned to Mandy. “Are you coming or would you like to
stay behind?” he asked in a very pleasant voice. The relatives around him burst
into laughter at hearing him joke so lightly. Mandy hastily fell into step and
together they walked back to the car, and she was the only one who knew he
wasn’t joking.
Mandy’s sisters said she looked stunning that afternoon at the registration office. She wore a lilac skirt with a well-fitting silk band, which enhanced her slender waist; the skirt fell elegantly to the floor. A snow-white bodice to accent the lilac skirt showed off her full bust. Her hat was a deeper purple with white and lilac ribbons that gave her an enchanting look.
Driving back in silence after tying the knot was something you don’t see in movies because movies are a fairy tale fantasy; this was real. Mandy could tell by his breathing that he was still very tense. When they got home, he jumped out of the car before it ground to a halt and rushed into the house. Just as he was throw- ing the wedding ring into the kitchen bin, Mandy walked in.
Was that where their symbol of marriage would lie? Looking at the ring lying on top of the rubbish, she reached to pick it up but a second thought overrode her instinct to retrieve it.
Mandy’s sisters said she looked stunning that afternoon at the registration office. She wore a lilac skirt with a well-fitting silk band, which enhanced her slender waist; the skirt fell elegantly to the floor. A snow-white bodice to accent the lilac skirt showed off her full bust. Her hat was a deeper purple with white and lilac ribbons that gave her an enchanting look.
Driving back in silence after tying the knot was something you don’t see in movies because movies are a fairy tale fantasy; this was real. Mandy could tell by his breathing that he was still very tense. When they got home, he jumped out of the car before it ground to a halt and rushed into the house. Just as he was throw- ing the wedding ring into the kitchen bin, Mandy walked in.
Was that where their symbol of marriage would lie? Looking at the ring lying on top of the rubbish, she reached to pick it up but a second thought overrode her instinct to retrieve it.
THE INTERVIEW
How long have you been writing?
I have been writing a journal of my thoughts and ideas for nearly twenty years. The
process of starting to write formally to complete a book began about six years ago.
I have been writing a journal of my thoughts and ideas for nearly twenty years. The
process of starting to write formally to complete a book began about six years ago.
What or who inspires you to write?
I am interested in family relationships. Coming from an African society this is important to
me. I also, during my life, have been exposed to many other cultures and look for
common themes and behaviours. A few years ago I was talking to me father in law about
how I grew up and everything I had experienced. He encouraged me to write a book and
that is why I dedicated my first book to him.
I am interested in family relationships. Coming from an African society this is important to
me. I also, during my life, have been exposed to many other cultures and look for
common themes and behaviours. A few years ago I was talking to me father in law about
how I grew up and everything I had experienced. He encouraged me to write a book and
that is why I dedicated my first book to him.
What genre do you like to read?
Adventure, romance and some new age books.
Adventure, romance and some new age books.
What is your favorite genre to write?
I like to write about what I know about so I have written about African society.
I like to write about what I know about so I have written about African society.
Who is your favorite author and why?
From a literary point of view I would have to say Wilbur Smith as I love a good adventure.
From the point of view of a person it would have to be my husband Matthew John Lee –
He wrote a book ‘The Quick and The Dead’ a few years ago and encouraged me to write.
What do you love about writing and why?
I love putting my ideas down on paper and transforming a blank page into something of
which I can feel proud it
gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Sharing my
inner self is something which I find difficult when meeting people but via the medium of
writing it allows me to do so in a thoughtful way. I love it when I connect with other
people and they tell me how much they enjoyed reading my book.
I love putting my ideas down on paper and transforming a blank page into something of
which I can feel proud it
gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Sharing my
inner self is something which I find difficult when meeting people but via the medium of
writing it allows me to do so in a thoughtful way. I love it when I connect with other
people and they tell me how much they enjoyed reading my book.
What is the book about?
The central theme of the book is a lady called Mandy and her relationship with her
husband. It goes much further than that however and details a variety of scenes from
African life.
The central theme of the book is a lady called Mandy and her relationship with her
husband. It goes much further than that however and details a variety of scenes from
African life.
What or who was the inspiration for the book?
It is easy to see that the book contains a lot of autobiographical information. As
mentioned earlier my father in law encouraged me as did my husband.
Who are the characters in the book?
The main characters are Mandy, an African primary school teacher, and her husband
Winston.
If you could have five authors, alive or dead, who would they be and why?
Charles Dickens, J.K Rowling and Robert Ludlum
About the Author:
The
author was born in Zambia.
She spent years in England
and Sweden
as a young woman. For the last 20 year she has taught in an international
school in Africa. Monica enjoys writing,
cooking and reading. A Heart That Breaks the Soil - is her first contemporary
fiction novel. She now lives and works in Asia
with her husband and children. Monica is now writing her second book.
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