Previews

My next young adult novel, which is presently entitled "Standing Tall", is set in Africa on the edge of the Kalahari Desert in the Northern Cape, South Africa. This is a present day story and deals with HIV/AIDS.

I chose this subject after my visit to South Africa and Zambia in 2006 when I realized how overwhelming this pandemic was among all age groups and in all levels of society. On my return to Canada, I joined the Capital Grannies to work raising funds as part of the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign under the auspices of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (www.stephenlewisfoundation.org).

In May 2010, I travelled with a group of 42 Canadian grandmothers to participate in the first International African Grandmothers Gathering in Manzini, Swaziland. 500 African grandmothers attended the event, which included workshops. Mingling with grandmothers from 13 African countries and hearing their stories and witnessing their strength and courage as they raise their orphaned grandchildren was a powerful experience. On the final day we marched through the streets of Manzini with grandmothers, children, young people and men - two thousand strong - to bring awareness of the grandmothers' fight to turn the tide against this pandemic.

After this experience, my story will be undergoing a major rewrite this summer.

Jennifer with some young marchers in Manzini, Swaziland.