This is due to be published on the 21st December 2012
DRAGON TOWN
The story takes place
in Hopeville, a small sleepy town in the semi desert of the Karoo, South Africa.
Nothing usually
happens there. However, an agreement signed between the Mayor of
Hopeville, elements in the Pretoria government, and an Australian mining company changes
all of that, and fracking begins in the Karoo.
Max Van Rooyen is a 17
year old boy, whose parents died in a car crash when he was nine. He now lives
with his thespian aunt Marge, but was largely brought up by his Grandfather
Sam Van Rooyen, who is also Max’s best friend. Sam is a retired geologist who
has also done extensive research into alternative forms of energy.
Sam owns a “dragon
ball”, a carved ivory ball with an amazing history; this ball is handed down
through generations from grandfather to grandson. It has great powers and manifests the
imagination of it’s owner.
Sam has a lifelong
friend, Supa, a Bushman and former tracker. Supa now works as a janitor in the
Mayor’s office.
PJ is an agent for the
Environmental Investigation Agency – an offshoot of Greenpeace and he is
keeping a close watch on the development of the fracking company, and it’s
activities in the Karoo.
Supa discovers the
controversial fracking agreement in the Mayor’s office and takes it to show his
friend Sam, but is unaware that their discussion is being overheard in the
shadowy corridors of power. Sam mysteriously goes missing. Max, Supa, Bronwyn (a
new Australian friend of Max’s, and a recent arrival in the local school) and PJ join forces as their
journey begins, in their attempt to unravel the mystifying disappearance of
Sam.
This leads them into a
dangerous world of intrigue within the small town, raising questions about the
mine’s security, shadowy figures within the Australian mining company as well
as corruption in favour of interested parties within the Pretoria government. This
is the age-old recipe for money, greed and power.
The story culminates
as Max learns how to use the ball and it’s powers through coaching from his
grandfather, now in the fifth dimension. Max and his team pit themselves
against the hit men of the monstrous corporation resulting in reinforcements
being summoned by Pretoria to counter their attack; three Rooivalk attack helicopters
and a platoon of soldiers descend on Hopeville.
Max’s ultimate
manifestation is a dragon, inspired by the carvings on the ball, and dominant
in the ancestry of Supa’s Bushman origins. The beast is created to help him in
his quest to find his grandfather and set the Karoo back to its former unspoilt
glory.
A tale of greed,
power, dragons, other dimensions and love in a small town in the Karoo.
JP
I will post the link to Amazon and Kindle on this Friday, the 21st December.
