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Author Patricia Friedberg’s New Book, “Letters from Wankie,” Explores Author’s Experiences Living in Zimbabwe with Her Husband During the Mid-Twentieth Century

Harry Johal

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Author Patricia Friedberg’s New Book, “Letters from Wankie,” Explores Author’s Experiences Living in Zimbabwe with Her Husband During the Mid-Twentieth Century


Bradenton, FL, March 31, 2023 –(CarryOnHarry.com)– “Letters from Wankie” is a unique true story based on the collection of some 500 air letters the author, British-born Patricia Friedberg, wrote home to England in the mid-1950s, during the first two years of her marriage to her South African physician husband. Together, the newlyweds moved to the remote mining town of Wankie in the far northwest corner of Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) where he was employed as a colliery doctor. More than 50 years later, after her mother passed away, Patricia found among her mother’s papers the bundle of air letters neatly tied and safely stored. Reading through the collection it was evident that the letters contained an incredible, historical account of life during the colonial years as seen through the eyes and writings of a young woman, twenty years of age, who was, unbelievably, even to herself, employed as Clerk of the Court at the Native Commissioner’s Office. Despite the enormous cultural differences the young Londoner faced — the challenging and often shocking exposure to tribal practices and native law — she carried on, overcoming obstacles with spunk and grit and a saving sense of humor.

Long Description
Patricia Friedberg, a London-born author who has written numerous articles, plays, docudramas, and screenplays, has completed her new book, “Letters from Wankie”: a collection of letters and stories from the author’s past when she lived in a small town in Zimbabwe after moving there with her husband for his work.

“Eight years after my father died my mother passed away,” shares Friedberg. “They had lived all their lives in London and had moved only twice in their long marriage. It had come time for me to sell what could be sold, pack what I chose to keep and give to charity shops anything they might deem profitable for their organizations. In a bottom drawer of my parents’ dressing table I found love letters they had sent to each to each other when they were courting and, to my surprise, bundles of blue air letters I’d mailed from Rhodesia, where I began my married life. The love letters I set aside, feeling it too soon to intrude on their privacy. The air letters intrigued me. I stopped what I was doing, untied the string around the first bundle and began to read.

“One after another gave a glimpse into colonial Africa in the mid-fifties. There were spelling mistakes and grammatical errors, but none of that mattered. Memories flooded back—had I really been that person in that small ‘town’ called Wankie? I had in my hands a personal account of those colonial years. I packed the letters carefully and took them back to the States, where I filed them away thinking perhaps they, like my parents’ letters, would make interesting reading for my children and grandchildren in years to come.”

Friedberg continues, “‘Letters from Wankie’ has been both a duty and a lesson that I felt more and more compelled to write. It tells the truth about one small area of Africa at a time when a country named Rhodesia had a promising future. Today, Zimbabwe teeters on the edge of starvation and ruin. It is not the country I left all those years ago.”

Published by Newman Springs Publishing, Patricia Friedberg’s engaging tale is a poignant and historic first-hand account of what life was like during the mid-1950s in what is now known as Zimbabwe. From learning of different cultural practices to overcoming her feelings of loneliness in being so far from her family, Friedberg takes readers on an intimate journey as she bares her soul, sharing her private communications to her parents that lay hidden for so long.

Readers who wish to experience this mesmerizing work can purchase “Letters from Wankie” at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iBooks Store, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Newman Springs Publishing at 732-243-8512.

About Newman Springs Publishing:

Newman Springs Publishing is a full-service publishing house for serious authors. Each title produced by Newman Springs Publishing undergoes every step of the professional publishing process, including editing, layout, cover design, circulation, distribution, and publicity. All titles are made available in both eBook and print formats. Newman Springs Publishing distributes to tens of thousands of retail outlets throughout North America and internationally. All manuscripts in any genre are welcome to be submitted for review; If the manuscript meets the necessary criteria and is accepted for publication, Newman Springs Publishing will work closely with the author to bring the book to the retail market for a relatively inexpensive initial investment.



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Books

Author Releases Novel About First Responder’s Life After 9/11 at No Cost

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Author Releases Novel About First Responder’s Life After 9/11 at No Cost

Balle Balle Radio™ Entertainment Desk

Author Erin Strong is offering her novel "She Never Left Ground Zero: A Novel of Courage, Love, and the Hidden Cost of 9/11" as a free download through September 30, according to the announcement. No registration, email address, purchase, subscription, or review is required, and coincides with the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The novel is fiction but draws on the real experience of an NYPD officer, per the announcement. It centers on Sofia Vega, an NYPD officer whose work amid the smoke and debris in the aftermath leads to lasting consequences she and her family must face. Strong has said she wanted to write about what happened to first responders and their families after press coverage of the attacks faded — a theme that echoes a broader body of anniversary-year 9/11 literature, including nonfiction essay collections and survivor accounts published or reissued around the same milestone.

According to Strong, "I wanted to tell a deeply personal story about what happened after the television cameras moved on." "Many first responders and their families continued living with the consequences of September 11 for years. This novel honors their courage, their sacrifices, and the people who loved them through it all."

The free download is available at sheneverleftgroundzero.com. The book will also remain for sale on Amazon and other retailers after the promotional window closes. Strong’s team can be reached through the same website or by phone.

Studio CarryOnHarry Perspective

At Studio CarryOnHarry, we see Strong’s September timing as a textbook example of anniversary marketing strategy. Major commemorative dates like the 25th anniversary of 9/11 generate enormous search volume and media attention—precisely when potential readers are already thinking about the subject matter. By anchoring a free promotion to this peak-interest window, authors capture visibility they’d need to spend significantly on advertising to achieve otherwise. The counterintuitive logic: giving away the book for free during high-traffic periods can actually drive more long-term sales than traditional paid campaigns, because it builds audience reach, generates word-of-mouth momentum, and establishes the title in readers’ minds before the promotional window closes. When the book returns to paid status in October, those who downloaded it free become natural candidates for follow-up engagement—reviews, recommendations, and future purchases. It’s a calculated play on consumer psychology and search behavior that extends the book’s commercial lifespan well beyond September.

Read more People’s Choice stories on Studio CarryOnHarry. Reporting via Live News Vault.

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Books

New Fantasy Novel Explores Orphan’s Journey Through Magic and Danger

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New Fantasy Novel Explores Orphan’s Journey Through Magic and Danger

Balle Balle Radio™ Entertainment Desk

Author C. A. Ballard has released a debut fantasy novel, "The Lost Legacy," following a young orphan protagonist drawn into a battle against a malevolent force seeking to strip the world of its magical power, according to the publisher’s announcement.

The book comes from Newman Springs Publishing, a New Jersey-based author-services publisher that works with writers across genres to produce and distribute their books; the company is handling both publication and promotion for the title. The novel is available in stores and through major digital retailers, including Amazon, Apple, Google Play and Barnes & Noble.

According to the publisher, Zara must safeguard her sibling while partnering with an ensemble of fantastical beings including fae warriors, mythical creatures, and magical beings to combat darkness — against an antagonist seeking to strip the world of its magic.

Ballard, described in the release as a wife, mother and grandmother with a background in accounting and medical billing, said medical challenges led her to pursue creative endeavors. "I wanted to craft deeply engaging stories about everyday individuals finding remarkable capabilities within themselves," Ballard said in a statement. "Zara’s story is about finding your tribe, embracing your power, and refusing to surrender to darkness." The publisher’s announcement notes additional projects from Ballard are already in development.

There is no independent review coverage of "The Lost Legacy" available yet; retail listings confirm the book’s publication details but do not offer critical assessment. Readers interested in the book can find purchase links through the publisher’s website or major retailers.

Studio CarryOnHarry Perspective

At Studio CarryOnHarry, we recognize that Ballard’s ensemble approach—layering fae warriors, mythical creatures, and magical beings alongside a resourceful orphan protagonist—speaks directly to a defining shift in contemporary fantasy publishing. Today’s YA and new-adult readers expect worldbuilding that extends beyond a single chosen one; they crave diverse supernatural allies and complex team dynamics that reflect both traditional mythology and modern storytelling sensibilities. Zara’s "finding your tribe" arc taps into this broader cultural moment where belonging and chosen family rival the hero’s individual journey. As the fantasy market continues to reward narratives emphasizing collective strength over solitary heroism, Ballard’s decision to populate her world with multiple fantastical perspectives positions "The Lost Legacy" within reader expectations that have reshaped the genre over the past five years. This matters because debut authors who understand—and authentically execute—these ensemble-driven narratives are better positioned to build engaged readerships from launch.

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