the dust of hope: from page to screen

I had such fun making the book trailer for my latest volume of poetry "the dust of hope: rune poems" released by Aztar Press in September 2021. 

Browsing for images from iStock's enormous collection was challenging - so many beautiful photos, how could I chose only 7? And then the, as always, painful process of paying for them in ZAR! Hunting for the perfect audio in Shockwaves vast archives was relatively easy - the perfect tune popped up almost immediately. 

Hope you enjoy watching the video as much as I enjoyed making it! 

And you can buy your own copy from Amazon or access it free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited. 

A long road to STREET SMART TAXPAYERS

In 2008, my husband Beric was awarded his PhD thesis on taxpayers' rights in South Africa. This pioneering work was later published as a legal text Taxpayers' Rights in South Africa (Juta Law, 2010), but he always believed it should be made available as a less technical guide to educate the ordinary South African taxpayers of their rights.  

In 2013, I offered my services as a writer and we approached Juta Law withe the proposal that I "translate" the legal text into a fun and easily understandable text that would make the complex tax laws of South Africa more accessible to the ordinary South Africa taxpayer.

Because of Beric's devastating illness (he was diagnosed with aggressive oesphageal cancer in 2015) the journey to publication has, at times, been as challenging as it was exhilirating. We couldn't have done it without the support and patience of our publishers Juta Law (especially our editor Melanie Wagner)  and the support of our family (especially my Mom, Dawn Heinemann, who despite having her second heart attack in 2016, has been a rock of support for us.) Our friends, too, have been incredibly supportive and understanding of the focus we needed to stay on the path to publication.

Finally, after four and a half years, "STREET SMART TAXPAYERS: A Practical Guide to Your Rights in South Africa" was revealed for the first time at the Tax Indaba 2017. 

You can order your copy of Street Smart Taxpayers from Juta Law by clicking here

Here's the blurb from the book's catalogue page on Juta's on-line shop:

Simplifying complex legal language and tax terminology, the book attempts to reduce the fear factor and frustrations that many taxpayers experience when dealing with tax matters.

Street Smart Taxpayers explains the processes SARS must follow when working with taxpayers throughout the various stages of the tax process, and identifies the remedies available to taxpayers. Together with interesting tax stories and a useful glossary for taxpayers to better understand tax lingo, Street Smart Taxpayers explores the following taxpayers’ rights:

• the right to property
• the right to equality
• the right to privacy
• the right of access to information
• the right to administrative justice
• the right to remain silent
• the right of access to courts

Combining humour, expert knowledge and anecdotes about the troubles taxpayers encounter in their dealings with SARS, the authors also investigate taxpayers’ obligations, how tax and religion intersect and the important question of ethics from the point of view of both SARS and the taxpayer. It is hoped that this book will enable taxpayers to be street smart and competent in handling their tax affairs.

Dr Beric Croome with Judge Bernard Ngoepe the Tax Ombud before joining him in panel discussion on "The Psychology of Tax Behaviour in Times of Recession" Tax Indaba 2017

 You can order your copy of Street Smart Taxpayers from Juta Law by clicking here

Contents Include:

• A history of South African taxation
• Taxpayers and the tax process
• Seeking help as a taxpayer
• What are your taxpayer rights?
• Taxpayers’ right to property
• Taxpayers’ right to equality
• Taxpayers’ right to privacy
• Taxpayers’ right to access to information
• Taxpayers’ right to administrative justice
• Taxpayers’ right to remain silent
• Taxpayers’ right of access to courts
• Taxpayers’ obligations
• The ethics of paying tax
• Taxpayers’ rights — an international work in progress
• Taxpayers’ remedies in South Africa
• The future of taxpayers’ rights
• Glossary 

At Tax Indaba 2017 - panel discussion on "The Psychology of Tax Behaviour in Times of Recession" Speakers from left to right: Dr Beric John Croome (ENSafrica), Dr Randall Carolissen (SARS), Judge Bernard Ngoepe (Tax Ombud SA) and Patricia Williams (Bowmans)
(Photograph courtesy of Thyann Delport of https://www.payspace.com/)

 Street Smart Taxpayers is of interest and benefit to:

• South African taxpayers
• Law students
• Tax practitioners 
• Government officials

 You can order your copy of Street Smart Taxpayers from Juta Law by clicking here

Sunday Times Travel Weekly: Head among the Clouds in the Italian Alps

After our recent overseas trip, my travel article was published in the SUNDAY TIMES. Here is the article in the on-line Times

HEAD AMONG THE CLOUDS IN THE ITALIAN ALPS by Judy Croome

As due to copyright, I can't reproduce the article here (not even the original unedited article) here are some random photos from the holiday:

Val de Mello near Chiavenna Italy

View from the balcony of Casa dell Ava in Pianazzola, our home for a week

We climbed down more than 2 kms of these steps from Pianazzola to Chiavenna
(and, yes, they are as steep as they look!)

On the way to Chiavenna we overnighted at St Moritz and woke to the first snows of the season

I loved Pianazzola because it was full of cats!

Exploring Pianazzola

The view from Casa dell Ava's balcony in Pianazzola after a rain storm

After Pianazzola, it was off to Milan and Teatro de alla Scala

and the Castello Sforza in Milan

And even more cats at the Castello then we found in Pianazzola!

and amazing buskers in the Milan Duomo

We started in Basel Switzerland where Beric represented South Africa at the International Fiscal Association's 69th Annual Congress - here he is talking to the nearly 2000 delegates!

In Chiavenna in the ancient and beautiful Church of San Lorenzo a close up of the magnificent gold filigree on the Peace of Chiavenna, a 12th century gold & bejewelled Bible cover.

Frescos at Church of San Lorenzo in Chiavenna

Aqua Fraggia near Chiavenna

View of the Rhine from our hotel room in Basel where the conference was

Switzerland = chocolate shops!!!!

Day time cruise down the Rhine

Radio Interview

Samm Marshall of SABC2 TV discusses THE WEIGHT OF A FEATHER and OTHER STORIES

Samm Marshall of SABC2's Morning Live discusses Judy Croome's anthology of short stories THE WEIGHT OF A FEATHER AND OTHER STORIES on early morning TV.

Author Judy Croome's anthology of short stories has a vibrant slice of life for anybody who dares to pick up her offering. She has hit her stride from the classical The Weight of a Feather to the emotional The Last Sacrifice. Her short story collection "The Weight of a Feather and Other Stories" is a special collection worth reading. She joins Samm Marshall in studio

The Huffington Post Featured my Fiction!

I'm delighted (thrilled/over-the-moon/excited/all of the above) that THE HUFFINGTON POST has published a short story of mine called THE WEIGHT OF A FEATHER. 

You can read it free on the HuffPost by clicking on this link

Wikipedia  claims that the HuffPost is "is ranked the most powerful blog in the world by The Observer" 

Whether it is or isn't, I'm still enjoying the thrill of seeing my work published by an international and well-reputed organisation such as The HuffPost.

My paternal Ouma (grandmother) feeding chickens on the farm
ca 1940s

I made the Top 10 books of 2012

After a slow start 2013 has suddenly picked up! 

I've just been advised that my spiritual novel DANCING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE has been picked by Lee Harmon of THE DUBIOUS DISCIPLE as one of his Top 10 Religious Reads for 2012.

Here's what Lee had to say about why he picked DANCING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE for this honour:

A captivating and haunting novel about love, betrayal, lust, trust, and learning to live again. This one earns its place because of its penetrating writing style.

You can find out more about all ten of Lee's Top 10 Reads here.

Lee's blog is listed as "an exceptional website for Christian theologians" on the Top 100 Christian Websites (The Dubious Disciple is in the top 10 under the "General Category"),  so his pick of DANCING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE is a real honour!

You can read Lee's original review of DANCING IN THE SHADOWS OF LOVE here

Thank you, Lee!

And a Happy 2013 to all - let's hope the good news keeps rolling in!

a Lamp at Midday

I'm delighted to announce that the paperback edition of my debut collection of poetry a Lamp at Midday is now available for sale at Amazon.com.

As many of you know, the last 18 months have been somewhat stressful as my adored Dad's health continued to deteriorate. I had no time to work on my planned new novel, so I fed my Muse by writing poetry.

This collection is the result and, along with poems on a variety of topics, includes some poems to my Dad that you've seen before on this blog.  But these are not only poems about my Dad. The official blurb is: 

"Containing a wide selection of poems, a Lamp at Midday gives voice to the contrasts and contradictions of modern life. As they challenge complex emotions and explore timeless themes, these poems also have relevance for the reader’s own life. This personal collection of poems is a vivid celebration of one woman's spiritual questioning and earthly existence, speaking with a haunting intensity of life, loss and love. "

Here are some of my personal favourites from the Haiku section in  a Lamp at Midday:

flames

skipping skywards so

fast, burnt orange warmth can turn

to red inferno. 

forget-me-nots 

above the sea of

brightly coloured petals i

wave farewell to you.

halloween

a field of golden

round pumpkins, ripe and ready,

basks in the sunshine.

lightning

suddenly the sky

is furious, and lets loose

a finger of fire.

giraffes 

long necks undulate. 

gentle eyes and jigsaw coats

crown a setting sun.

No book is completed without the help of others. 

As always, my dear writing friends (Debs, Leonie, Janet, LvW) were there to cheer me on when I faltered and fell into deep fits of angst about this work.

Angela Voges of Typographica Manuscript brought her excellent editing skills and insightful comments to the text, while the multi-talented author Michelle Davidson Argyle created the beautiful cover.

And, last but not least,  without the faith and support of my family - in particular my wonderful husband Beric and my incredible Mom, Dawn Heinemann - I'd never write anything at all.

The paperback copy will be available at South African on-line stores from around middle August 2012, which is the same time that the eBook will be available for sale. 

I'll be running giveaways on GoodReads and LibraryThing, so if you want a chance at winning a free copy, keep an eye out for my tweets and Facebook announcements.