Doné Martin shrugs off retrenchment and realises writing dream
As a production supervisor at automotive technology company Lear Corporation in Neave Industrial for nearly 20 years, writing a book was a dream for 37-year-old mother of three Doné Martin.
After she was retrenched last year, Martin, of Hillside, focused on completing her first novel — and she did that in December.
The avid reader said the 92page novel titled Stroke of Luck was the first of many to come.
“Since I can remember I loved to read,” she said.
“I was still a young child, not at school yet, surely 4 or 5, and I would always imitate what I was reading by making assumptions from my mother’s magazines.
“At school, I always put extra effort into writing my essays.
“I grew to love English as my second language and always put in extra effort because I realised a writer must be able to spell and have a good vocabulary.
“I loved the library growing up.
“I would always complain my mother was taking too long to return her books and would count down to the due date stamped in the front of the book, just so that I could go to the library.
“The wait felt like an eternity.”
She said she had started writing part-time in early 2022.
“I was still working as a supervisor at Lear Corporation. The dream of writing a book was then just only a dream.
“The Lord on the other hand had something much more in store and His plans for me began in March 2022 when I got the news that I would be unemployed.
“Among my first thoughts was that now I could complete my novel.
“Through His grace, I completed the book on December 6 2022.”
She said that the main characters in her book were Cassie and Enoch, who were total opposites yet had far more in common than they both knew.
“They find themselves instantly attracted to each other, but the chances of them seeing each other again are unlikely.
“But by a stroke of luck, they find each other.
“The whirlwind romance plays out over a challenging and strange week.
“Their blossoming relationship opens up a chest of secrets.
“I have crafted a lovable story that I hope readers will enjoy.
“The setting of Gqeberha and the story’s charm provide a beautiful backdrop to the characters’ journeys.
“The message in the novel is one of truth and reconciliation through love.” The book launch takes place at 4pm on Saturday May 27 in Doreen Crescent in Hillside.
The publisher of the selffunded book, Selwyn Milborrow, owner of Milborrow Media, said Martin’s readers could expect more remarkable tales from her imaginative mind.
“One thing is certain: Doné Martin’s star is on the rise, and the literary world will be forever changed by her remarkable contributions,” he said.