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Of mountains and madness
Novel tells of drug hell, salvation
MADELEINE CHAPUT
EAST Londoner Marc
Schroeder launched his debut
novel, Sleeping with Dogs: A
Tale of Madness, at the
Beacon Bay Country Club last
week.
The launch was met by an
overwhelming response, with
Schroeder’s many friends,
family members and
supporters flocking to the
venue to catch a snippet of his
stor y.
Reading an excerpt from his
book chronicling a day of
cycling along the French
Riviera and an evening at an
underground French club,
Schroeder reflected on the
deeply introspective and
passionate writing process he
experienced while creating
this piece of literature.
The novel follows
Schroeder’s life – from his
childhood days attending
Selborne Primary School and
College and his crazy student
life at Rhodes University in
Grahamstown, to a seemingly
fulfilled adult life as a
financial analyst.
He seemed to have it all –
the house, the car, the job –
but behind Schroeder’s
perceived successful veneer
lay a deep-seated
unhappiness that he
attempted to drown out with
the use of drugs.
The book offers a
descriptive account of
Schroeder’s struggle with his
toxic drug addiction.
“There is a lot in this book,
but the one thing I hope
people take away from it is the
concept of fear and how it
impacts you and your life,”
said Schroeder.
“For years I was 'locked in a
dungeon' as an undercover
drug addict because I feared
what people would think. I had
so many doubts and fears
about what I was doing with
my life and drugs were my
coping mechanism.”
Schroeder expresses these
fears through the re-telling of
his whirlwind life, sharing his
travels, battle with addiction,
stints in rehab, many failed
attempts to sober up and
finally recounting his journey
to happiness.
It was only when Schroeder
quit his job, gave up
everything and bought a
one-way ticket to India, that
his healing truly began.
“The only thing that
anchored me in life was my
dogs. They were the single
most valuable thing I had and
it was really tough to give
them up.
“The title of the book is
inspired by them and the book
is dedicated to them.”
In 2016, he found himself in
the Kashmir Himalayas where
he undertook a month long
detox in an Indian Ayurvedic
and yoga centre.
This is where Schroeder
began his year-long journey of
writing Sleeping with Dogs.
He has since built a full and
happy life for himself in Nepal,
where he has launched the
Kashmir Trekking Company,
partnering with a local
Kashmir guide, Aslam Mota.
In writing his debut novel,
Schroeder has realised a
childhood dream, one that had
faded when he started living
for success in capitalist terms.
He is already busy writing his
second book.
With this novel, Schroeder
hopes to make an impact on
the lives of many people,
urging them to find what
makes them truly happy.
“This book is for anyone
who has had a tough time,
anyone who’s had anything
bad happen to them and
anyone who feels stuck.
“I was stuck for a really long
time and although there is so
much uncertainty in what I am
doing now – writing books
and taking people to the
mountains – I have never
been happier.”
Hardcover copies cost R200.
The digital version is ava i l a b l e
on Amazon.
HAPPINESS AT LAST: Marc Schroeder in the Kashmir Himalayas, where he has found happiness after a
toxic lifestyle led him into a state of turmoil
Picture: SUPPLIED
GIVING A HELPING HAND: Yamkela Nkomo, centre, gives guidance to Unathi High School pupils who
are hoping to enter university in the future, during the tutoring session
Picture: SUPPLIED
WhatsApp tutoring gives
pupils a good head start
SIVENATHI GOSA
FORMER Unathi High School
pupil, Yamkela Nkomo, is using
WhatsApp as a tool kit to help
those in need of some guidance
with schoolwork.
About two years ago, Nkomo
co-founded the non-profit
organisation, #SupportaLearner
that organises free tutoring
sessions for Grade 10 to 12
pupils at the school which is
situated in the Cambridge area. .
“This organisation gives
additional support to teachers by
tutoring, giving career guidance
and emotional support to pupils.
“We launched this programme
at Unathi High School two years
ago with the purpose of
supporting pupils, giving
guidance through their school
careers.
“We are currently tutoring via
a WhatsApp group and do
individual tutorial sessions upon
request. Pupils add their
questions on to the social media
group and the tutors include
school teachers, university
students and working individuals
who answer their questions
within 48 hours.”
The University of Fort Hare
graduate is a BCom Economics
and business management
postgraduate recipient and
director of Yam'íBusiness
Solutions.
Nkomo said the NPO started
with eight directors, but now she
is the only one left.
“Using WhatsApp as a tool to
help pupils is convenient, as the
youth is familiar with it. I have
about 20 pupils who I am
tutoring with the help of
university students and it is
growing,” she said.
“There are some challenges
we are facing, such as n ot
having a venue for classes. “We
are using Unathi High School as
our emergency meeting place.
“I have e-mailed a request to
the management of the
University of Fort Hare to provide
us with space at the new library
that will be collaborating with
Unisa and Walter Sisulu
Universit y.”
Anyone who is willing to assist
can contact Nkomo at 062-793
9262 or e-mail her at
nkomzitso@gmail.com