Warm Heart

Warm Heart, a novel by Michael C Wood, published in May 2008 by Just Done Productions of Durban, South Africa.

Book cover blurb: 'In the Warm Heart of Africa, Zungula is plagued by inept government, murderous tribal conflict and the outbreak of a mysterious virus which is [...] thousands of villagers. Compounded by serious food shortage, the nation is plunged into crisis. But President Elliot Joseph Chilembe has a single preoccupation: securing a Third Term of office by any means. 'Warm Heart' is a story of despair so familiar to the African landscape, derived from the corrosiveness of political corruption and the depths to which its perpetrators will stoop. Yet there is also an underlying message of hope best portrayed by the fortitude of Noah Bamidele, a Nigerian trader whose kindness and inner strength somehow manage to shine through in the face of terrible odds'.

Critics, including the Editor of the Open Writing Web Magazine, Peter Hinchcliffe, and Athena Press UK, have described this novel as both 'an enthralling and disturbing work, with brilliant plotting and characterisation, leaving the reader longing to know what happens next. Packed with excitement, African atmosphere and humour'. It is 'an immersive story of Africa which brings to life a gallery of characters, black and white, rich and poor, powerful and weak, corrupt and honest. The author CREATES in the reader, the willing suspension of disbelief and an acceptance of the book's strong political and human message'.

The author has based the work on a merging of experience (as a development aid practitioner) in Ghana and Malawi. It provides fascinating background on the 2000-03 maize crisis in Malawi. Chapters on tribal conflict come from experience (in tandem with Actionaid) in helping to negotiate an end to the Konkomba/Dagomba war in Northern Ghana (1996-97) which killed more than 5000 people.

A fuller synopsis, descriptions of the main characters and access to Chapter 1 of the novel, can be found on www.warmheart.co.za