The Blog Returns — After a long break, the blog is officially alive again to celebrate the launch of my historical adventure novel, The Boys From Umgazana.
Read all about it on my author website: frankcollierauthor.com or visit the dedicated book site: jackandtemba.org.
You can also subscribe on my author site to receive these updates directly.
What The Boys From Umgazana Is About
Set in the rugged wilderness of 18th-century South Africa, the story follows two boys—one English, shipwrecked and orphaned, the other born of both Mpondo royalty and English heritage—who grow up as brothers.
Their world changes when a Dutch trader arrives, pulling them into the turbulent landscape of early 19th-century frontier South Africa, where courage, loyalty, and identity are forged in fire.
The Boys From Umgazana blends adventure, cultural collision, and the power of place into a sweeping historical tale with timeless relevance.
The Boys From Umgazana launches at the Zwartkops Rowing Club
The novel launched on 8 August 2025 at the infamous Zwartkops Rowing Club—fuelled by a festive flood of alcohol that almost certainly helped boost sales among the cheerful crowd.
A week later, I left for Ireland, Italy, and the Gulf of Bonifacio—leaving behind several administrative boxes spectacularly unticked.
They Printed the Wrong Version of The Boys From Umgazana … And Eagle-Eyed Readers Noticed
It didn’t take long for sharp-eyed readers to message me about mistakes—most notably “1982” instead of “1782.”
The culprit? The wrong version had been printed and uploaded.
The correct edition is now live on Amazon, Takealot and all international platforms.
Writing The Boys From Umgazana Was Only Half the Work…
Finishing a novel is only Step One. Step Two is introducing it to several billion unsuspecting readers.
I approached book marketing with enthusiasm—initially. Then reality intervened. When the plumbing fails, I call a plumber. It’s not that I doubt my ability to fix a sewage problem… but my wife certainly does.
So, discussions with actual marketing professionals are now underway.
What’s Coming After The Boys From Umgazana
I am already writing the first of three sequels to The Boys From Umgazana.
I’m also planning three short documentaries that explore my adventures across the First World.
Comments—supportive, or otherwise—are welcome at frank@frankcollierauthor.com.
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