Beasts Of Prey by Rob Marsh
Contributing editor Keith Raffel recently interviewed South African thriller author Rob Marsh about his new book, Beasts of Prey.
Rob, would you give us a sneak preview of Beasts of Prey?
January 1988. A body is discovered in the Kruger National Park, and Russell Kemp, disgraced Special Branch operative now relegated to the Criminal Investigation Department at Phalaborwa police station, is dispatched to the crime scene. What at first appears to be a simple case of suicide evolves into something more sinister. Before long, the trail leads Kemp to crime and corruption at the highest levels of the South African Defence Force. A terrible secret of the apartheid government is about to be revealed - and there are those within the military who will stop at nothing to prevent him from completing his investigation. Beasts of Prey is based upon a true story.
How did you do your research on the South African CID and Special Branch?
I've been writing about crime in South Africa for over 20 years. I've written two books on SA crime and I've written and presented a 13-part radio series on crime for SAfm, the South African Broadcasting Corporation's English language radio station. It was more difficult to research the role the South African Defence Force (SADF). However, the story on which the book is based was the subject of an official Commission of Enquiry which published an official report.
When readers have finished Beasts of Prey, what do you want them to take away from the book?
The aims of Beasts of Prey are twofold. First and foremost it's intended to be a 'good' read, a page-turner if you like, but it's also a reminder of the evil that men do, that government organizations - such as the SADF - that are supposed to protect us can sometimes be the worst culprits.
Rob, would you give us a sneak preview of Beasts of Prey?January 1988. A body is discovered in the Kruger National Park, and Russell Kemp, disgraced Special Branch operative now relegated to the Criminal Investigation Department at Phalaborwa police station, is dispatched to the crime scene. What at first appears to be a simple case of suicide evolves into something more sinister. Before long, the trail leads Kemp to crime and corruption at the highest levels of the South African Defence Force. A terrible secret of the apartheid government is about to be revealed - and there are those within the military who will stop at nothing to prevent him from completing his investigation. Beasts of Prey is based upon a true story.
How did you do your research on the South African CID and Special Branch?
I've been writing about crime in South Africa for over 20 years. I've written two books on SA crime and I've written and presented a 13-part radio series on crime for SAfm, the South African Broadcasting Corporation's English language radio station. It was more difficult to research the role the South African Defence Force (SADF). However, the story on which the book is based was the subject of an official Commission of Enquiry which published an official report.
When readers have finished Beasts of Prey, what do you want them to take away from the book?
The aims of Beasts of Prey are twofold. First and foremost it's intended to be a 'good' read, a page-turner if you like, but it's also a reminder of the evil that men do, that government organizations - such as the SADF - that are supposed to protect us can sometimes be the worst culprits.
Long after we've forgotten the actual stories in some of our favorite crime fiction, we remember the settings. What's special about setting Beasts of Prey in South Africa?
It begins in the Kruger National Park and most of the book is set in and around the Kruger Park area. The book also takes us to Johannesburg and Rundu to an SADF camp on the Caprivi Strip, which borders SA, Botswana , Namibia, Angola and Zambia.
How do you measure success as a writer?
I write both fiction and non-fiction and have had 30 books published to date. However, my aim has always been to become a full-time novelist. When I achieve this aim I shall consider myself a 'success', at least in one sense.
Is writing crime fiction a solitary profession, especially in Johannesburg ?
I don't think that writing crime fiction in Jo'burg is any different to writing crime fiction anywhere else. In order to eat regularly I do other kinds of writing: I write training programmes for companies and corporates - I'm an ex-teacher and I'm very knowledgeable about outcomes-based learning - I do consultancy work, I write radio programmes - I'm currently writing a radio play for SAfm that is based on Beasts of Prey - and I write non-fiction books. I also occasionally write newspaper and magazine articles.
Do South African readers look for the same type of crime fiction as British and American readers?
The short answer is 'Yes'. One of the problems for a South African writer is that one has to compete with writers from overseas and - generally speaking - South African bookshops import the best of the best. There is also some anecdotal evidence to suggest that certain readers prefer 'overseas' fiction. For these reasons it is very difficult to get English fiction published in South Africa . My publisher - Human & Rousseau - told me that they only publish about 3% of the English language manuscripts they receive. I'm not sure if this is the international norm. It's a little easier to get fiction published if you write in Afrikaans.
How do readers in the U.S., Canada, the UK, or Australia get their hands on a copy of Beasts of Prey?
Initially, the book will only be published in South Africa , but it can be purchased directly from the publisher, Human & Rousseau or Kalahari.net. Your readers can visit the H&R website for more information (www.nb.co.za)
You write for radio, too. What kinds of programs?
I've written over 300 radio programmes. All sorts of programmes - documentaries, educational programmes (Aids etc.) dramas, dramatisations.
Sounds like you're a busy man. What's on your to-do list now?
Firstly, I'm always working on a novel between my other work. My next novel, which features the same detective as Beasts of Prey, is quite advanced, though I'm putting aside fiction for a few months because I've been commissioned to do other work. My main task at the moment is to write the radio play based on Beasts of Prey.
And finally, I've practiced Shotokan karate for 38 years. I still train for about an hour a day and I'm still trying to improve. I find karate an effective break from writing. It helps me unwind and de-stress, and, of course, writing is a sedentary profession so physical activity is very important.
Contributing editor Keith Raffel wrote
DOT DEAD, "without question the most impressive mystery debut of the
year" according to Bookreporter.com. His next book, SMASHER, a
thriller set in Silicon Valley, is due out this fall.
It begins in the Kruger National Park and most of the book is set in and around the Kruger Park area. The book also takes us to Johannesburg and Rundu to an SADF camp on the Caprivi Strip, which borders SA, Botswana , Namibia, Angola and Zambia.
How do you measure success as a writer?I write both fiction and non-fiction and have had 30 books published to date. However, my aim has always been to become a full-time novelist. When I achieve this aim I shall consider myself a 'success', at least in one sense.
Is writing crime fiction a solitary profession, especially in Johannesburg ?
I don't think that writing crime fiction in Jo'burg is any different to writing crime fiction anywhere else. In order to eat regularly I do other kinds of writing: I write training programmes for companies and corporates - I'm an ex-teacher and I'm very knowledgeable about outcomes-based learning - I do consultancy work, I write radio programmes - I'm currently writing a radio play for SAfm that is based on Beasts of Prey - and I write non-fiction books. I also occasionally write newspaper and magazine articles.
Do South African readers look for the same type of crime fiction as British and American readers?
The short answer is 'Yes'. One of the problems for a South African writer is that one has to compete with writers from overseas and - generally speaking - South African bookshops import the best of the best. There is also some anecdotal evidence to suggest that certain readers prefer 'overseas' fiction. For these reasons it is very difficult to get English fiction published in South Africa . My publisher - Human & Rousseau - told me that they only publish about 3% of the English language manuscripts they receive. I'm not sure if this is the international norm. It's a little easier to get fiction published if you write in Afrikaans.
How do readers in the U.S., Canada, the UK, or Australia get their hands on a copy of Beasts of Prey?
Initially, the book will only be published in South Africa , but it can be purchased directly from the publisher, Human & Rousseau or Kalahari.net. Your readers can visit the H&R website for more information (www.nb.co.za)
You write for radio, too. What kinds of programs?
I've written over 300 radio programmes. All sorts of programmes - documentaries, educational programmes (Aids etc.) dramas, dramatisations.
Sounds like you're a busy man. What's on your to-do list now?
Firstly, I'm always working on a novel between my other work. My next novel, which features the same detective as Beasts of Prey, is quite advanced, though I'm putting aside fiction for a few months because I've been commissioned to do other work. My main task at the moment is to write the radio play based on Beasts of Prey.
And finally, I've practiced Shotokan karate for 38 years. I still train for about an hour a day and I'm still trying to improve. I find karate an effective break from writing. It helps me unwind and de-stress, and, of course, writing is a sedentary profession so physical activity is very important.
Contributing editor Keith Raffel wrote
DOT DEAD, "without question the most impressive mystery debut of the
year" according to Bookreporter.com. His next book, SMASHER, a
thriller set in Silicon Valley, is due out this fall.ThrillerFest
ITW's annual celebration of the thriller world is the largest event of its kind, a meeting place for authors, readers, budding writers, and publishing industry professionals.
For 2011, we’ll be back in the heart of New York in July with the ThrillerFest conference including CraftFest and AgentFest.
ThrillerFest VI will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City.
The dates will be July 6-9, 2011.
More information to follow.
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