Take a step back in time with new book
Hillcrest resident, John Coombe, recently launched the first book in his duology, Cleon and Lucia.
LOCAL resident and now author, John Coombe, was proud to unveil the first of his two books, Cleon and Lucia, recently.
The 85-year-old said he had been working on the project for nearly 15 years and it began as one story, which he named Miracles in the Morning.
It was only in the last few years that this evolved into a two-part series.
“I hope to finish the second part, Mark and Milcah, during this year. It is well on the way,” he said.
The idea behind the duology stemmed from his fascination of ordinary folk trying to live normal lives in a period when the world was being changed without them knowing about it.
“We now have the BC/AD or BCE/CE divide. What could it have been like for those caught up one way or another in the crucial events of those times?”
“Take the Roman centurion who helped build a Jewish synagogue in Capernaum in Galilee. What was he doing there and what prompted his generosity? Then there was the centurion who crucified Jesus of Nazareth, and cried out that Jesus was innocent. What happened to him for that public debasement of Roman justice? I have tried to imagine their own stories, some of them, and introduced my own characters who interact with them,” said the proud writer.
While he may not be a scholar or historian, John researched and read extensively to learn about life during those times, the dynamics of the political and social setting, and the sort of things that people did.
“My characters cover a range of social standing from Romans, Greeks and Jews to slaves, senators, and King Herod himself, briefly. I have tried to put them in real situations and live their lives through words,” said John.
Do you want to receive news alerts via WhatsApp? Send us a WhatsApp message (not an sms) with your name and surname (ONLY) to 060 532 5409.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Highway Mail WhatsApp number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
