Brettenwood author creates African magic

Brettenwood’s Maureen Campbell has drawn on a lifetime of travels to write a book about home.

That may sound like an oxymoron, but as any good writer knows, it is life experience that clarifies the value of what you have in your own backyard.

A love of the bush inspired the setting for her first book, African Dawn, while a love for seeing the world inspired its lead character, British fashion model Ivy.

African Dawn has been long-gestating for Maureen, who started writing it while living in eShowe with her husband Rob.

They retired to Brettenwood five years ago.

“I had always written poetry, but decided to try my hand at a book once I had the characters in mind. I find that when the characters are right, they lead the story to where it’s meant to go,” she said.

Maureen finished a draft a few years ago, but after running it past friends, decided she needed to flesh it out into a full novel.

The full 328-page manuscript was shopped around to a few print houses before being snapped up by Harvard Ink, who published it in September.