Maria was born and raised in Nairobi,
Kenya. After graduating from Dr. Ribeiro Goan School and with secretarial
skills and her experience as a School Secretary she arrived in London, England
in 1967 in the midst of “hippie world.” She studied at Pitman’s College for a
Commercial Teacher’s Diploma which she successfully achieved in 1969. Due to
the tenuous political situation in Kenya she had to find a new home. In the
autumn of 1970 she emigrated to Canada in search of a home to put down her new
roots. This she did with her husband, Tim who immigrated to Canada from South
Wales, UK.
To Maria and Tim, Canada became a land of
opportunity and new beginnings. In pursuit of these opportunities, they lived
in Hamilton, Montreal, and Toronto. Tim pursued post graduate studies at the
University of Toronto while Maria achieved a B.A. in Economics from York
University followed by a B.Ed. from the University of Toronto. During this
time, she and Tim nurtured their two sons. When they reached school age, Maria
taught Business Studies’ courses at high
schools in the City of Toronto for fourteen years. In 1999 she achieved an M.A.
(Leadership and Training) from Royal Roads University, British Columbia.
Maria is an avid reader of fiction and
non-fiction books. The latter enables her to delve into her favorite topics of
social justice issues, community development and philosophy. In 2009 she began
blogging, visit www.dovemuse.ca. This
deepened her interest in writing novels and is author of Beneath the African
Sun; for details visit www.authormarialynch.com.
She also enjoys nature trail walking and traveling.
For
More Information
- Visit Maria Lynch’s website.
- Connect with Maria on Facebook and Twitter.
- Find out more about Maria at Goodreads.
About the Book:
When Sabby Mendes leaves Portuguese Goa
aboard the dhow Monsoon Wind bound for British East Africa in 1916, he has one
dream—to find work as a tailor in the relatively new capital of Nairobi. Sabby
is a young man, still a teenager, but he is determined to build a life for
himself, and he knows that the opportunities in the British Protectorate are
better than those facing him at home.
A bright, affable young man with a genuine
passion and talent for tailoring, he is not prepared for what he is about to
find beyond the Arabian Sea. The Protectorate, which will become British Colony
Beneath the African Sun offers, through the
eyes of its protagonist, a street-level view of the changing social and
political climate of Kenya between 1916 and 1970, including the ‘Mau Mau’
Uprising of the native Kikuyu, the eventual independence of Kenya in 1963, and
the political fallout that followed.
More than a history, it is a story about
family, home, social justice, and what it means to truly belong somewhere.
For More Information
- Beneath the African Sun is available at Amazon.
- Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
- Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
Thanks for this interview, Maria. Can we begin by having you tell us about
yourself from a writer’s standpoint?
In the past I wrote reports, minutes of
meetings, academic papers and a post graduate thesis. In 2009 I created a blog,
www.dovemuse.ca
that I use as a personal repository of my writings. I post my personal reviews
of fiction and non-fiction that I read. This kind of writing shifted my focus
to creative writing. Apart from personal book reviews, I write about our travel
adventures and other topics of interest. From blogging I took the leap to writing
my first novel, Beneath the African Sun. The more I read the more I discover different
writing styles. It helps me create my own style of writing to a form that is
unique to my way of telling a story.
When not writing, what do you like to do
for relaxation and/or fun?
I like walking in the parks, nature trails
and on sandy beaches. I love theatre plays, orchestral music concerts,
participating in book club meetings and attending lectures on current trends in
politics, social justice issues and philosophy.
Do you have a day job? Or a night one?
Neither. I spend my time reading and
writing.
Would you say it’s been a rocky road for
you in regards to getting your book written and published or pretty much smooth
sailing? Can you tell us about your journey?
It was mostly
smooth sailing to write Beneath the African Sun as I drew on personal
experiences, childhood stories and recollections from family members and
friends. The one challenge was to sort out the different stories and choose the
ones that would suit the characters I created in the novel and yet maintain
authenticity.
I used a self-publishing company,
FriesenPress to produce my book. I chose a package that closely resembled a
traditional publisher. I was assigned a team led by an account manager who
coordinated all the activities of the team; editor, book designer, book
promoter and book distributor. I worked very closely with each member of the
team during the whole process of the production of my novel.
What is it about the historical fiction
genre that appeals more than any other genre you would choose to write?
Historical fiction puts historical facts
and events in a story format. As a writer I can use the backdrop of history to
create a street-level view of the historical impact on an ordinary person’s
life that would include suspense, love, tragedy, conflict and possible
political mayhem that could surface in the story.
If you had to summarize your book in one
sentence, what would that be?
More than a history, it is a story about
family, home, social justice, and what it means to truly belong somewhere.
What makes your book stand out from the
rest?
Beneath the African Sun offers, through the eyes of its
protagonist, a street-level view of the changing social and political climate of
Kenya between 1916 and 1970, including the Mau Mau Uprising of the native
Kikuyu, the eventual independence of Kenya in 1963, and the political fallout
that followed.
If your book was put in the holiday
section of the store, what holiday would that be and why?
Summer. It is a tale about a migrant who
leaves his home village in Portuguese India for a new life in British Colonial
Kenya set in the early 20th century. It is easy to read and can be
read by the lake while vacationing in a summer cottage. The story
takes place in Kenya, a country where the sun shines all year round.
Would you consider turning your book into
a series or has that already been done?
Not a series but I am working on a sequel
to Beneath the African Sun.
Where do you get your information or ideas
for your books?
My ideas come from reading fiction and
non-fiction, personal experiences, witnessing experiences of others, listening
to personal stories and formal lectures on social justice issues, philosophy,
and impact of community on individuals.
During these settings I become curious and
want to know more and reflect on how I could turn what I hear and read into a
story that would portray the issues from a street- level viewpoint. Further
research and interviews would add context and content to the story.
What’s next for you?
I am presently mapping out an outline for
a sequel to Beneath the African Sun.
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