Story still not done: Wentworth author releases ninth book
Also read: PLLUM awards recognise community heroes
The book is a spin-off from his debut title, Many a Cold Night, and revisits a chapter in James' life in Cape Town during the mid-1960s. After cancelling his seafaring work contract, James found himself alone and adrift in a city away from home. Without direction and no place to call his own, he gravitated towards District Six, a cosmopolitan but turbulent centre reeling from the brutal impact of the Group Areas Act.
'Durbanite in District 6 is the story of my life as a stranger in that unique District 6. I eventually became homeless and survived on the streets, along with what they called 'the Strollers', homeless young vagrants,' said James.
Having spent nearly nine months writing the book, James said the story delves into displacement, racial harassment, unjustified arrests and petty crime, all set within the context of the dehumanising apartheid policies that tore communities apart.
Despite the painful memories, James said the writing process helped him to think back to that part of his life that helped shape the man he is today.
'It allowed me to reflect on realities of those days and how I survived on the streets,' he said.
James' own life is a tale of remarkable determination. Born poor, he quit school in Grade Seven to work and look after his family after his father died. He did whatever work he could find, from carrying coal and wood on a wheelbarrow, to selling cosmetics, fruit and vegetables.
Despite these challenges, the only constant that remained was his love for reading. 'I used to hide in libraries for hours just to read. Even when I went to the toilet, I took a book with me,' he joked.
It wasn't until 2010, after he retired, that James finally pursued his heart's desire and began to write. At the insistence of his wife, Linda, and spurred on by grief after the loss of the couple's only child, he penned Many a Cold Night. Despite scepticism and ridicule from others who doubted that he could do it because he had no schooling, James persevered.
'I remember reading the comments on Facebook when I announced I had a book coming out. People would comment, 'I had no education and did not know how to write books.' It motivated me to prove them wrong,' he said.
Now on his 10th manuscript, James is not losing momentum. 'As long as I have a story to tell, I will continue to write,' said James.
Durbanite in District 6 is R150 and is available by contacting Cyril James on 071 363 5512.
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