bookshy: Joanne Macgregor

It has been four years since the plague began - the rat fever launched by the terrorists. Back then it was spread through human suicide bombs. Today, the terrorists mostly use rats. Jinxy Emma James - twelve at the time - also lost her father, to a heart attack; and her mother became a shell of her former self. Now sixteen, Jinxy is an expert sniper in The Game. So good that she finally won it - after eighteen months of playing it; and will now be heading to PlayState for the ultimate prize - a real-life simulated sniper mission. This eventually leads to an even more ultimate prize - selected to join the Advanced Skills Training Programme at the Advanced Specialised Training Academy (ASTA), and be part of the first ever elite sniper squad.

I should mention that we are in the US - a futuristic, dystopian one divided into three sectors: the Northeast, the Mid-and-West and the South. I should also mention that everyone wears Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) - masks, gloves, respirators and the extreme ones, disposable PPE suits - protection from the rat fever. Additionally, after the plague children stopped going out (to be safe), except on designated special occasions a number of times a year, and The Game really took off. Finally, there are many different roles you can play in The Game: a sniper (like Jinxy), a spy, a code-breaker and intel agent or even Ops Management. There are, of course, more things I could mention; but here's one more thing - this is the brilliant and dark world that South African author, Joanne Macgregor has created in Recoil - the first part in The Recoil Trilogy.

I loved this book! But to be honest, after reading two other books by Joanne Macgregor, I am such a fan of her writing, that I can't wait for part two in the trilogy. I also really truly believe Joanne Macgregor can write anything. Macgregor also writes really nuanced and real female characters.

Jinxy is bad-ass. She is without a doubt the best sniper in her unit; she is determined; she is eager to learn; she doesn't see failing as an option; and she is not afraid to call out anyone who sexualises her, such as Bruce her squad member, constantly fixated with her looks- Jinxy has blond hair, blue eyes with a streak of blue in her hair.

Enough about Jinxy's looks, the first ever elite squads job is extremely important - eliminate the dangerous rodents. Very important, as they are the ones that spread the fever, and cause the plague. And you don't want to be infected by these rats -trust me! With time, Jinxy gets promoted to even more special ops work - that's just how good she is! There is, however, a problem! Well, two!

One - as good as a sniper Jinxy is, she really struggles to shoot the animal targets - the tangos (T for targets) - even if they may be deadly and are infecting (and eventually killing) people. As bad-ass as Jinxy is, a soft interior could be seen as a bad thing for an elite sniper squad. Second, is eighteen-year-old Quinn O'Riley - also selected to join ASTA's training programme.

Ah Quinn! Hottie Quinn - with his darker hair and skin and Irish accent; with his 'lean face and strong jaw' - who Jinxy is instantly attracted to (and it seems the feeling is mutual). Questioning Quinn, who doesn't take things at face value. Selected for Intel division Quinn, who is morally opposed to ratters - snipers like Jinxy. This, particularly becomes a major problem after their six week ASTA training, and Quinn finds out what division Jinxy has been training for (people were unable to talk about their training with non-division members). How do these new, and young, lovers survive this difference in opinion on the importance of ratters?

Recoil was an absolute joy and pleasure to read, and I was hooked from the first line. I was totally immersed into this world Joanne Magregor created, and I also found it believable - a plague that affected the world, the Government's response, setting up a special ops unit with young people, particularly having a young girl as a sniper - especially, when women are usually the last ones people would expect to be expertly trained snipers, and especially young ones. I honestly can't wait for part two - Refuse; and if you're a fan of dystopian YA, with a kick-ass female lead, then definitely give this a read.

22:20 2 Comments

Back in March of 2014, I delved into the world of a crazed gynaecologist and a psychologist trying to bring him down. The novel was Dark Whispers, a psychological thriller, and it was my first introduction to the work of South African author Joanne Macgregor. Recently, I had the pleasure of reading Joanne Macgregor's new novel, Scarred - a YA novel set in the United States and I am just going to come right out and say Scarred was an absolute pleasure to read. Also, Joanne Macgregor has a way of drawing you in from the first page with her writing (I felt the exact same way with Dark Whispers) - she made me want to find out more.

Scarred tells the story of Sloane Munster who used to be THAT teen - popular, great athlete (a champion swimmer) and gorgeous. Until a tragic accident which greatly affects her. All that was BS (before scar). Now AS (after scar), in addition to many pills and regular visits to her psychologist, Sloane is also obsessed with tragic accidents. She follows the news about them regularly to make her self feel somewhat better about her situation - it could have been worse. Now starting her senior year in a new school, Sloane is prepared for the worst - stares, teasing and bullying from the other kids. As the accident, well, left her scarred.

Scarred is as much about physical scarring - Sloane was severely injured in the accident leading to critical damage not only internally, but also a scar on her face which makes her extremely self conscious so she tries to hide behind tons of make-up and her hair - as it is about emotional scarring. Unable to swim again (competitively) and dealing with the consequences of the accident, Scarred reveals the scars we cannot see, which usually causes us even more pain.

Scarred is also about love, but not the gooey teen romance, but a quite mature love that requires forgiveness. This is where Luke Naughton comes in - super hottie swimmer who Sloane had a serious crush on before the accident (when she was still swimming competitively in her other school). Now in the same school, Sloane cannot believe her luck. That is until Luke - who she thought might be different - gives her this look of disdain when she first walks into class on her first day of school (vain much, Luke. Here, I was rooting for you). Looks, however, can be deceiving, and one of the ways in which Scarred works is that we are not left to wonder only from Sloane's perspective what that look could mean. This is because with time we learn that Scarred is also told from Luke's perspective. Luke himself is actually more complex than you would imagine and is not just another pretty boy (he volunteers at an animal shelter for one).

While Sloane is clearly the main character and we hear more of her; plus understandably, the accident has preoccupied Sloane's entire being (both physically and emotionally) since it happened. Yet, from Luke's perspective we learn that scars can run deep, and that more than one person has been scarred in this novel. Finding love, when you think you can no longer find it because physically you don't find yourself attractive or worthy emotionally is one thing. Finding love in the most unexpected place, or to be more precise with the most unexpected person, is a whole 'nother battle. Joanne Macgregor reveals the complexity of teen love and the maturity in both Sloane and Luke, especially based on the history their potential relationship is based on. As young as they are (seventeen/eighteen), these two characters showcase a level of maturity people 10, 20, 30 years their age may not necessarily have.

Another thing about Scarred is that it manages to reveal scarring in other characters in the novel - from Luke's family to another character, L.J - who like Sloane is the subject of school bullying. While Sloane is a very brave and confident girl (although she herself does not believe she is) and can handle the teasing and bullying, L.J clearly cannot. Kids really can be cruel and he reveals in a quite scary manner the impact bullying can have on young people, especially if they do not have enough support at home.

I may have started off reading Scarred thinking it was about the pain of Sloane, but the more I read, the more I realised we are all in pain in one way or the other - Sloane's was just more obvious and sometimes the visible scars are better as you cannot run or hide from it. It is the invisible ones that if left to fester can lead to some unintended negative consequences. Joanne Macgregor has written another beautiful novel, and while it is YA and readers of contemporary YA would enjoy this, I think its message cuts across ages and older readers could certainly relate to it.

11:50 No Comments

The 'Meet' Series is my chance to interview anyone I would love to meet that is involved in African literature. This month is extra special as I have had the great pleasure of meeting two wonderful authors. Today, I bring the second author in my two-part special.

Back in March, I delved into the world of a crazed gynaecologist and a psychologist trying to bring him down. It was a terrifying novel, which still gives me chills whenever I think of it. Which is why I am so excited that in my extra special 'Meet' series, I have the pleasure of meeting Joanne Macgregor - the author behind the chilling psychological thriller, Dark Whispers. Enjoy!!!

Thanks so much for having me on your fabulous blog!

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself (where you’re from, what you do, any fun details)?

I’m a born and bred Joburger, deeply rooted in the frenetic adrenaline-rush of this amazing city. I have lived here among the Hadedahs and mine-dumps all my life. Johannesburg isn’t a beautiful city – though we do have fabulous trees – but there’s something about the vibe and the pace that’s exciting. Or maybe we all just have altitude sickness.

By profession, I’m a Counselling Psychologist in private practice, dealing primarily with adult victims of crime and trauma. It’s tough work and to combat creeping burnout, I started writing fiction several years ago. Now I consult and write on alternate days, and in completely different head- and physical spaces.

I started my professional life as a high school English Teacher, but at different times in my life I have also worked as an IT trainer, a waitress, a theatre dogsbody, a management consultant and I once had a job handing out helium balloons in a shopping mall, while wearing a bathing suit and high heels!

What was the first piece you ever wrote?

I had a poem published in our city’s newspaper at the age of 7 years and I’ve tinkered with writing ever since, but I started writing my first book – or trying to – about nine years ago. It was a biography of the sole survivor of the 2003 “Sizzlers Massacre” of nine men working in a Cape Town massage parlour. Although it was never published, I learned an enormous amount about writing and that gave me the confidence to begin writing books that have, thankfully, been published.

What draws you to writing?

I think it’s that the work is so varied that even I can’t get bored. Each time there’s a rhythm to getting the idea, fleshing it out in pleasant daydreams, getting it down on paper, editing and rewriting, and these days, of course, marketing, but it’s never the same. Each new book is like a new baby, and you can’t quite be sure what it might become! Also, I have just always been in love with words, so becoming a wordsmith has felt like coming home.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I work at my day job, mother my kids and read in every spare moment. I’m a pretty good cook, too, so you’ll likely find me in the kitchen instead of at parties :).

On Novels

You are a successful writer of YA novels in South Africa, so before I go into the questions I am dying to ask about your latest novel, Dark Whispers, could you tell us a bit about your ‘books for under 18s’?

I have two books for younger YA readers which have been published, and many more already in the pipeline. Turtle Walk and its sequel Rock Steady tell the story of three girls at a high school in South Africa. In every book, they’re a year older and in a higher grade, and in each they tackle some broadly ecological issue which is a metaphor for their inner growth and development. In Turtle Walk it was illegal long-line fishing which decimates our marine Leatherback Turtle population; in Rock Steady it’s the illegal trade in San Rock Art. In the third of the series, which I’m currently writing, the girls come face to face with fracking – external and internal!

Of course, back at school, the eco-warriors have to deal with the usual teen issues – first love, parental pressure, really mean teachers, etc. Samantha, the main character, also suffers from anxiety and it’s been fun to explore that in the books.

What was the inspiration behind the YA series?

My inspiration for the series came from the books I saw on the YA bookshelves at book stores – almost exclusively written by foreign authors, set in Europe or the US, telling stories very often based in fantasy, with a preponderance of male protagonists and feeble girl sidekicks who served as loyal friends, victims to be rescued, or passive foils to the boy’s actions. With this series, I wanted to write realistic fiction (a break from wings and wands and fangs), telling South African stories set in our beautiful country, with smart, funny, resourceful, kick-ass heroines. In short, the kind of books I’d love my teen daughter and her friends to read.

08:35 No Comments

This novel should come with a warning: Not for the fainthearted.

I will be honest, I don't tend to read a lot of psychological thrillers. But when Joanne Macgregor contacted me asking if I would review her new novel Dark Whispers and sent this excerpt:

'She is so still, so relaxed, so ready as she lies on the stainless steel, her breathing slow and steady, her gaze unfocused. There is just time for a small whisper, a soft encouragement of hope, before the darkness slides her entirely into his honing hands. He leans over and breathes into her ear, "I'm going to do something very special for you now. Cut it all away and make it neat. And when you wake up, you're going to be just perfect."'

... I was very intrigued.

I also was not really sure what to expect and if I would enjoy it. You know what? While it was terrifying, I thoroughly enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I picked Dark Whispers up on a Saturday morning and before I knew it I was already on page 178. This is because I had to know more - even though the content was really shocking.

There is no time-wasting in Joanne Macgreor's first adult novel - from the first page we know we are dealing with a crazed gynaecologist, Dr. Trotteur, trying to 'fix' his patients because 'Doctor knows best'. We are then introduced to Megan Wright, a psychologist who has this desire to constantly save others. But it's a new year and she is adamant to stop being so good to other people - pretty hard when her job is to help make her patients better.

One patient - Alta Cronje has been seeing Megan for about 6 months and there still isn't much improvement. We know she was operated on and it was after the surgery that she had developed post-traumatic stress disorder. Although she has blocked it out, Alta unfortunately is a victim of Dr. Trotteur's urge to fix. During one session, Megan finally learns what happened to Alta and is determined to find out who else has been hurt by Dr. Trotteur and also try to stop him. Stopping him is not that easy and there's also a price to pay for getting in Trotteur's way.

Joanne Macgregor does not hold back in this novel and do not think you will spared any of the gory details - this doctor sexually mutilates women and ruins not only their bodies, but their minds and their spirits. I wonder if being a Counselling Psychologist, who works primarily with victims of trauma and crime, enabled Joanne Macgregor to be able to delve into the physically traumatic experiences these women face but also the more human experiences after the fact - the impact on the women and their loved ones.

What makes this novel even more terrifying is the fact that it is a doctor, a trusted doctor. A gynaecologist, who has access to the most intimate parts of women's bodies when they are probably the most vulnerable. Whose patients and their families trust to do the right thing. That a qualified doctor can do such horrible things, get a way with it and continue practicing medicine also adds to the shocking nature of this story. Yet, the scariest thing is that Dark Whispers is inspired by an online news report Joanne Macgregor read in 2010 about the 'Butcher of Bega' - an Australian doctor who abused and sexually mutilated his patients. While Joanne Macgregor was inspired by this event, she writes on The Spark, that this 'isn't an account of the Australian "butcher"'. As Dark Whispers is set in South Africa, she explains that this story also gives 'glimpses into the shocking scenes in our public hospitals ... and the horrors of my public hospital scene were drawn directly from real experiences by patients at one or other of our state hospitals'.

This is definitely a terrifying novel, made even more so by the real-life events that inspired it. But this is also a novel that pulls you in and is pretty hard to put down once you start reading it - even if along the way you might get a bit squeamish. I know I did. Dark Whispers is currently out in South Africa, but will be available via Amazon in the UK and US July 18th.

12:07 No Comments

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