Vera Castleman is the latest author to be featured on our site. She is in the process of releasing her novel, Darkest Before Dawn. According to Castleman, it is about a young, innocent woman who comes from a sheltered family in a tiny sea side town on the south coast of KZN. She is a refined girl who has studied art. She gets a job as an illustrator in a Johannesburg company and meets up with a charming “lout”. Darkest Before Dawn is due to be released in late August on Amazon with a possible release on Smashworks. Here is an extract from the novel:
The evening at the art show had been very interesting. When they arrived at “The Bovine’s Nook” she was startled to see the huge cow’s head framing the doorway. It was eerie to enter through the cow’s gaping mouth which led into a dimly lit entrance hall and reception desk. The girl taking the entrance fee sat behind the desk. She wore a headdress in the shape of a cow’s head. Her clothes were white with huge speckles of black. After paying their entrance they were steered towards the entrance hall.
As Sharon’s eyes skimmed across the dimly lit room she saw several large statues of cows seated upright around the black walls of the entrance hall. There were glitter balls on the ceiling casting speckles of light around the room. Sharon blinked and focused on the nearest statue. It had huge red lips forming the silliest smile on its face. Its front legs were wrapped around its enormous, shocking pink flattened udder – cloven hooves peeping out from under the udder provided foot rests. The udder formed a table for glasses of champagne. A dairy maid in a sexy little skirt and apron and silly hat stood next to each cow handing drinks to people as they passed. Sharon and Julia could barely suppress their giggles. They walked as quickly as they could towards another cows head framing a doorway and passed through the mouth into the first of a labyrinth of partitions. Subtle lighting focused on the art pieces. There were two or three sculptures in each room as well a display of paintings on the wall. Several of the paintings already sported a sold sticker.
Sharon found herself enjoying the surreal experience and found quite a few pieces that she wouldn’t mind owning.
More by chance than by good management they found themselves at the bar in the middle of the maze. The plush seats were upholstered in mock speckled cow hide. The padding around the bar was in matching fabric.
“Euw!” exclaimed Sharon crinkling her nose.
“What’s wrong?” asked Julia.
“Look at that monstrous bull’s head above the bar. I was just imagining what damage those massive horns could do. Also those eyes! They are spooky. I can’t stand the thought of that magnificent beast being killed and mounted on a wall.”
“Oh, A sensitive soul I see,” Paul’s voice echoed behind them. “Don’t worry darling – it’s not real.”
“It looks real,” said Sharon.
“Papier Mâché my dear, I assure you,” He bent over to brush his lips on Sharon’s hand.
“Hello Paul” said Julia.
“Aah, The delightful Julia,” He bent to kiss her hand as well.
“Well girls. We are over there,” said Paul indicating with the drink in his hand as he ushered them over.
“The SPCA would be up in arms if it was real,” responded Simon’s voice. “Sharon, I have been keeping this seat warm for you.” He stood up and extended his hand towards Sharon.
Sharon was aware of hooded glances from the twins Kayli and Donna as she took Simon’s hand and allowed him to lead her to the seat that he had indicated. She also caught Debbie looking her up and down as a condescending near sneer drifted quickly across her lips – quickly but slow enough so that Sharon could receive the full brunt of it.
“So girls – which paintings are you buying?” asked Paul.
Julia imitated his bored drawl, “Oh I haven’t found anything to fit in with my new colour scheme yet.”
“Julia, you are such a peasant when the finer things in life are at stake.” Paul pulled his handkerchief out of his top pocket and waved it around as if to clear the air of the ‘low class’ influence.
“Oh Paul,” laughed Julia. “You are such a snob! Come on Sharon, let’s continue with our tour.”
Simon held out his hand to help Sharon out of the chair and gave a small bow as the girls left.
When they were out of earshot Sharon said, “Simon seems to be such a gentleman.”
“Watch it with that one,” said Julia. “First impressions can be deceiving.”
