Morningside author publishes first novel

MORNINGSIDE author, artist, and anthropologist, Ashling McCarthy, has released her first book, Down at Jika Jika Tavern. The novel explores the role belief and culture have on rural crime and follows student anthropologist, Nonhle Ngubane, as she attempts to prove her father’s innocence after he is arrested for the highly illegal crime of rhino poaching.

McCarthy began her writing journey in 2011. “I was in the proposal stage of my PhD when I realised that I didn’t want to spend another four years of my life writing academically. I’d had such wonderful life experiences, met many interesting people along the way, and ideas for stories kept coming to mind. I started by writing short stories, quit my PhD, and enrolled in a creative writing course. I must add that this was in 2011, and it took me quite some time to start writing an actual novel,” said McCarthy.

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McCarthy published her first novel, Down at Jika Jika Tavern, in November of 2020. “The book took me eight years from conception to completion. This was largely because I had no idea what I was doing, and I was also running my non-profit and working as a social-development research and writing consultant,” she said.

The anthropologist said that she has learned that writing requires a large degree of flexibility and fluidity. “Sometimes, the story you think you want to tell, is not what you end up telling. I could work on a chapter until I was blue in the face, but it was only when I admitted that perhaps the story wanted to take off in a different direction, did the words flow. Like life, characters and plots are always changing.”

According to McCarthy, Down at Jika Jika Tavern is a Crime and Mystery novel but also falls under General Fiction. She said the book explores the realities of rhino poaching in Zululand, through the eyes of a young anthropologist. “The story creates awareness of social drivers that lead people to engage in illegal activities, such as social inequality, environment and wildlife crime, as well as exploring issues of culture and faith,” said McCarthy.

The 41-year-old spent much of her childhood in Zululand, living and working in rural communities in the area in her 20s and 30s, and drew from personal experiences for her novel.

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“I had so much personal experience to draw from. I also work with children and youth who experience the harsh realities of social inequality through my non-profit, so it is a topic close to my heart. My family was also involved in a game farm in Zululand for many years, where six rhinos were poached. Thanks to my anthropology background, I spent a great deal of time researching rhino poaching, social inequality, faith and culture – from academic journals, newspaper articles and conducting interviews.”

McCarthy’s advice to potential authors is to plot out your book before you begin writing it. She strongly recommends that you establish a skeleton of the book first, chapter by chapter, and then begin writing your novel.

Stand a chance to win a copy of Down at Jika Jika Tavern by clicking on the entry form below:

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Books can be ordered:

– directly from the author

– via email: info@ashlingmccarthy.co.za

– or visit – https://ashlingmccarthy.co.za/product/down-at-jika-jika-tavern/

They are available at the following bookstores: Bargain Books (Musgrave Branch currently has stock), Exclusive Books, Takealot and other independent bookstores.

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