Interview with Sonia Main, Love at War. A Love Story.

 

 

Sonia is the main character in Lynelle Clark’s latest book, Love at War.

Since the world is still in lockdown, I interviewed Sonia via Skype one afternoon.

Sonia is everything I thought she will be. Well dressed and sophisticated, she gave nothing away of her experiences. Her confidence was visible in every gesture.

Her curly hair falling from the lose bun and the green eyes sparkled with wisdom and joy. One, cannot help but respect her. Strength resonated from her.

The story made many changes before it finally settled into the plotline it is. Even your name had undergone a few changes until Sonia stuck. What is your take about all the changes your character underwent?

Sonia smiled, her eyes squinting before she replied. "Lynelle underwent a painful time when she had written the first draft back in 2012. Her mindset far removed from the person she is. My character walked with her each painful step until we both found our feet. I am happy with the story and how my life turned out. In the beginning, I never thought it would." A far-off look appeared, and she looked at the cars passing by. I cannot help but wonder what is really going on in her mind.

There are many topics covered within the book but the main ones that really stand out is abuse against women. I don’t think we will ever really cover all bases of this subject. Even now, in 2020, we still need to address it.

"That is true." Her attention returns towards me. "Unless we do not talk about it, we will not. It is important to note that every time a woman talks about her ordeal the more the gravity will shine forth, and the culprit will not get away. As long as there are free will, people will use it as they see fit. Women needs to know that there are people willing to listen, who can and wants to help."

It seems this is especially important to you.

"Yes, I feel passionate about it. My time on the streets and in Africa taught me that not enough are done for women and children. They are the most vulnerable to life’s turnings. When you add war into the mix it becomes harder for them. We all need to survive. One is not more privilege than the other. All women want to feel safe, know they are cared for and have the opportunity to grow. No matter race or skin colour. We are so much more than the colour of our skin or our past. That does not define us. Our willingness to be the best sets us apart. But if a woman does not know that, she will remain in her situation without hope."

What does hope means to you?

"The Bible says, 'Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.' When our faith is obscured by the worries of the world, we lose hope in everything around us. Then you become an unbalanced person with no steering wheel and no direction. I was like that long before my story began in Love at War. When Lynelle changed the name of the book it changed everything in my story as well. Gone was the lost girl that had no anchor. Lynelle made it possible for me to find my legs again. She helped me to grow, I just did not always did it the way she did it, but I trusted her."

Do you think Lynelle’s experienced something similar?

"No, not exactly like me. Her story differs from mine, but she and Phillip Burger’s life stories are strikingly comparable. The reason she created Phillip’s character. He is the anchor within the story with wisdom that blows my mind at times."

What do you mean?

 "Phillip’s experiences grounded me and Curt in so many ways. Other than the Father, he became our go-to guy when life presented us with curveballs. No one can be like that if they did not underwent their own turmoil. Only when we have overcome can we give."

What does your faith mean to you, now?

"in the beginning my faith was meaningless. But God had a way of getting my attention. Once he had it, I learned to depend on him more. The six-month-plotline were an eye-opener. It cleansed me, healed me, and taught me valuable lessons I would not have learned any other way. My faith is my secret weapon and I go no where if God is not with me."

Once we find our feet and tap into the bigger part of us then we become more focused, I have learned.

"That is true. Once we tap into the Lord and who He is we cannot go wrong. We must have a childlike faith otherwise we will lose the fight.

You and Lynelle comes a long way – from 2012, I believe. That is when the first draft was written. What have you learned about her?

"Lynelle is a passionate woman that feels deeply, loves deeply and gives unconditionally. Her faith was tested severely, and she had lost everything. She was not the same person as on the day she began the first draft. She had lost her confidence and faith. Once her trust was broken, she fell back. I sensed that during all the changes Curt and I had to go through. When she struggled with her marriage it was visible in the story. When she struggled with pornography it was seen in the book, she fell hard. That too, can be seen in the story. She had to find her feet in a dark street in Pretoria, to continue with the story."

It seems Pretoria is significant for both of you.

"Pretoria has no good memories for both of us. But we had to stand up again. So, it was much like a sweet and sour time in our lives. It left its mark on us. Life continues no matter where you are. The secret is to connect with God again. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

What did you learn about yourself during this time?

She giggled, fell silent and then blush. "It is so easy to judge a person when you don’t know the full story. I think Lynelle really touched it very well by showing the effects of every character’s choices. At times we are forced to do things, even when it goes against the norm, but we achieve the result and not only survive. No sorry, not survive but walk in victory. That is the main message of the story. No matter where you are, what you face or how bad it gets, there is always hope. Love at the end is a war you first need to conquer within yourself before you can really win. It is an apt name for the book.

The book is divided into four main parts. Love in conflict, Love’s decisions, Love’s betrayal, and Love’s Victory. The four stages seemed like seasons in a person’s life. Love can be our anchor, but it can also deceive us. Only when we grow in ourselves do we understand love.

Time plays a big role as well. Love and time a unique combination that not only tells of a deadline but what can happen in a short amount of time."

At times we think we do have all the time in the world till time becomes a definite schedule.

"Everything resolves around time. From the moment we are born our life is measured in time. Right in the beginning of the book Lynelle had written, 'Measured in seconds, time's algorithm captures infinity within each movement. Worlds changes and fragments becomes relics. Fashioning a new set of rules to profit from your only choice.' I thought about those rules she referred to. It is only through a higher source that we can find a new set of rules. As a child we learn a set of rules from our parents, school and church and add our own because of experiences. But once life confronts us then we need to tap into the higher source, receive a new set of rules and begin to live. The time has a different meaning and it becomes wiser in its application."

In closing, without giving away any spoilers, what can you share with us about the book?

She started to laugh, an easy laugh of one that is at ease with her life. "Love at war is a love story with many layers. It promises adventure, tension, turmoil, pain, and some lighter moments as you move from South Sudan to Iraq to America in different stages of the story. It is a global story and any reader can relate to the story. Abuse, rape, fear, pain, divorce, and the search for more in life a universal connection that binds us all.