Suffern library hosts Congo Crisis writer
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- March
- 11
Author Dave Donelson who wrote a novel, “Heart of Diamonds” with the Congo crisis and the diamond trade as a central focus, will be at the Suffern Free Library this Monday to talk about the African nation. He will give a brief overview of the current situation in the Congo and show photos from his travels to Africa.
Donelson says his fictional treatment of the Congo’s ongoing strife and desire to hold onto the nation’s riches relate to the real situation as the cause of over five million deaths since 1998.
In his novel, Donelson uses a diamond smuggling scheme to represent the fight for control of the DRC’s gold, timber, uranium, copper, coltan, and other natural resources. An intricate plot involving an American televangelist, the President of the DRC, and the White House reflects the convoluted relationships of the factions involved in the struggle. His heroine, Valerie Grey, is a TV journalist who uncovers the scheme and fights to expose it to the world.
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“Since I started writing the book, there have been glimmers of hope in the situation,” Donelson said in a recent press release. “But violence continues and hundreds of thousands of people are still suffering as refugees. Peace and prosperity are still a long way away.” He adds, “I hope Heart of Diamonds will help draw attention to the crisis.”
Donelson is a freelance writer and photographer. He lives in West Harrison and is a trustee with the Westchester Library System.
“Heart of Diamonds” was published by Kunati Books, named Independent Publisher of the Year at the 2008 Book Expo America.
The talk is at 7 p.m. The library is at 210 Lafayette Ave.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 3:34 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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