Hidden Valley resident Jeremy Holt has released his debut novel Everything That Stands, a gripping tale that follows fictional twin brothers Baron and Blaise Black and their ultimate story of survival after a plane crash renders them deserted in the African bush.
Set in Rhodesia—now modern-day Zimbabwe—the book is inspired by the real-life, 1978 event that saw Air Rhodesia Flight 825 shot down by a SAM 7 missile, launched by Marxist-Leninist group, the Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA).
Though a story somewhat close to home having been born and raised in Africa in the 1960s and 70s, Mr Holt said the novel’s creation was ‘peculiar.’
“[The story] came about in a peculiar way,” he said.
“There were 50 plus passengers on board, and most of them were killed in the crash. The 18 survivors, they went to find water and seek help but were murdered on the ground by another group of insurgents.
“I’ve taken that historical event and then developed a story of twin brothers who survived that crash and then … go on this journey through the bush … dealing with their own inner demons [while] being pursued by a group of insurgents.
“But it kind of emerged too because my little son wrote a short story [about the plane crash]. He was quite chuffed that he was … in the acknowledgments of the book for being part of the inspiration for it.”
Mr Holt will deliver an author’s talk on November 16 at the Kilmore Library and is already in the midst of the second book, A Thousand Swords, in what is set to become a trilogy titled The Baron Black Trilogy.
“I’ve just finished writing the sequel, a very rough draft, which is probably going to take me until the start of next year to edit … I’m a bit of a perfectionist,” he said.
“I’ve also just received a letter from the University of Divinity saying they’ve accepted me onto the doctorate program … using my [first] book as a reference point for [it], which is very cool, because in some ways, the book is an attempt to … debunk conventional understanding of the concept of the sacred.”
Ten per cent of the proceeds from all book sales will be donated to the John Bradburne Memorial Society to support its work at the Mutemwa Care Centre in Zimbabwe.
The centre currently provides care for 34 patients with a range of conditions, including leprosy, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and various mental and physical disabilities.
Everything That Stands is available for purchase as a paperback and eBook via Amazon, The Kilmore Bookshop, and www.jeremyholt.com.au.
