Serendipity – exploring an untouched space
Ever heard of lesbian romance fiction? Well you might be scratching your head or may have some idea.
This genre is not often explored in South African literature, but Rene Nienaber, from Brentwood Park, took the leap of faith and explores this area in her book, Serendipity.
Set in Clarens, in the Free State, the book tackles love, romance, relationships and rebuilding strained bonds.
“The title refers to the act of finding something valuable or delightful when you are not expecting it,” said Nienaber.
“Without giving away too much, events unfold in a certain way for many of the characters and open their lives.”
Nienaber said lesbian romance fiction explores the lives of lesbian women and, for her it’s personal, because she is lesbian.
“This does not mean that my market is exclusively for the lesbian community, it simply means I write what I know; the majority of people who have read it so far are, in fact, heterosexual,” she said.
Serendipity is a story about the unexpected, love, loss and the intricacies of various troubled relationships.
“Bryn Wilson is a local book store owner, Romona is a gifted photographer and Bryn’s adopted sister, who returns to her home town after the death of their father,” said Nienaber.
“Romona takes it upon herself to take care of her ailing mother, Kate, and her safely guarded secrets follow her home.”
The little headway Bryn and Romona have made, working on their strained relationship, is threatened by a cluster of deep secrets which are revealed.
Other important characters are Dr Jillian Matthews, who is a local surgeon and Bryn’s ex-lover.
Dr Matthews is closely involved with Kate’s treatment and remains one of Bryn’s closest friends – with the lines blurring from time to time.
“It’s a lovely, heartfelt story about the dynamics of relationships and forgiveness, set in the artsy little town of Clarens.
Nienaber wants readers of Serendipity to learn that relationships are constantly changing.
“We all have our secrets and our fears and we have strained relationships, whether they are with a family member or a lover,” she explained.
“I think the message is to know that the truth will set you free and allow you to be authentic and truly fulfilled.”
Her advice to aspiring authors is to spend time with characters who want to tell their story.
“Writing becomes effortless when you allow the characters to just talk,” she said.
“I am sometimes surprised by the twists and turns in my stories that sneak upon me as I give the characters free reign.”
Nienaber thinks the South African literature landscape has changed, as people do not read as much as they used to.
“I personally do not go a day without reading; there is Chinese proverb that says: ‘After three days without reading, talk becomes flavourless’,” she said.
Serendipity is available on Kindle and at amazon.com.
