Wonderful memories give Umhlanga author the zest to write
‘A Bend In The Road’ is about four young girls growing up in the 70s. During an after-school game, the girls play, one of them goes missing. The remaining three girls struggle to come to terms with the disappearance while wrestling with issues of guilt, identity, hypocrisy, and the bitter-sweet nature of first love.
When Veena Pillay grew up in Verulam in the 70s and 80s, like many children in the town, she had a happy and safe childhood.
Having wonderful memories enclosed in a special corner of her heart, she decided to pen a novel entitled: ‘A Bend In The Road’.
Pillay, now residing in Umhlanga, said, “I was very fortunate to have a mother, who was an avid reader so my love for reading developed very early on in my childhood. After school, I attended what was then called the University of Durban- Westville where I studied science. I then obtained an MSc degree and finally a PhD degree in physiology. I married my high school sweetheart and we have two daughters. I lectured for a while and then gave it up to raise my children.”
Pillay said that she always enjoyed hearing stories of the past and making up stories of her own, especially for her children while they were growing up.
“So writing a book seemed natural to me. I have found that it’s human nature to look back at one’s childhood and see a ‘golden time’. At high school reunions, we reminisce about the ‘good old days’, glossing over past cruelty, abuse and hypocrisy. I wanted to write a story which ‘told the truth’ from the perspective of four adolescent girls growing up in a little Indian town in the 70s. I believe this story is unusual as it allows one to see beneath the surface in what appears to be a tranquil, moral, and safe town, perfect for children to grow up in, and to acknowledge some of the ugly truths that are not addressed. At the same time, the story is about the exuberance of childhood and the ability of even the most brutalised to survive and thrive,” added Pillay.
‘A Bend In The Road’ is about four young girls growing up in the 70s. During an after-school game, the girls play, one of them goes missing. The remaining three girls struggle to come to terms with the disappearance while wrestling with issues of guilt, identity, hypocrisy, and the bitter-sweet nature of first love.
This gritty coming-of-age story deals with the dark mystery behind the disappearance and will deeply resonate with many people, especially those who grew up in little South African towns.
“Writing this book has been most rewarding for me. It has made me reconnect with my hometown and reassess some aspects of growing up in a little town. I’m very fortunate to have a supportive family, who are all voracious readers, who were willing to read unedited chapters and give their opinions during the writing of this story,” she said.
Pillay’s first book launch was held in Ballito on May 18 and was very well attended. ‘A Bend In The Road’ is available at Exclusive Books, Bargain Books, Amazon/ Kindle, and on the Krest Publishers website. It has already received some excellent reviews on Goodreads. Pillay has found her calling and is currently busy penning her second book.
