Inspiration Behind the Book

The book was inspired by a boy I taught in my teaching career. He had a very active imagination and could imagine himself in many situations then told them as a story as if real. Then he would ask if he needs to go to confession because he had told a lie. I based Jeremiah on this character.

Historical and Cultural Context

I also know about the problem the priests had in this township, at the time of the apartheid regime in South Africa, where even an innocent gathering of black people caused the police to take action and disperse the crowd.

Personal Passion and Themes

I am passionate about my faith and wanted to put something down about it. In South Africa, people used to go about asking for a Christmas box, so I thought this story not only covers the issues but also shows how difficulties with poverty and lack of communications then could lead up to years of ignorance like Mama Maria only finding out the true facts about her son's family, twelve years after the incident of his death.