New Book of Interracial Relationships under Apartheid Raises Questions about Race Relations in America Today

TORRANCE, Calif. - July 22, 2015 - PRLog -- In Mark Fine’s new novel, ‘THE ZEBRA AFFAIRE: An Apartheid Love Story,’ readers are introduced to an interracial couple’s terrifying experiences in 1970’s South Africa. For Elsa, her affair with Stanwell may prove lethal; she’s white and he’s black, and they dared to fall in love. Defying the ‘Sexual Offences Act of 1957,’ a criminal felony, the lovers are hunted by the security police from Johannesburg to the wilds of the African bushveld.

Through Fine’s unrelenting narrative — the guilt, cruelty, subterfuge, and hypocrisy in all layers of apartheid society are exposed in a way only possible by a native born South African. All sides across the color divide are represented in this audacious love story. The novel stresses white privilege and black deprivations, as well as the perils of colonialism and tribalism.

When asked why he wrote this book now, Fine responded, “I’m taken by the apparent common ground Southerners from the United States have shared with South Africans; some say it’s only the Southern accent that’s different. In this regard THE ZEBRA AFFAIRE is both thoughtful and relevant, and is a warning about forces that divide humanity to this very day.”

Fine’s book is praised for its authenticity by former ANC freedom fighter and Senior Diplomat in Nelson Mandela’s administration. “The story of Stanwell and Elsa really touched me. Racial discrimination was so dehumanizing,” wrote Ambassador Thandi Lujabe-Rankoe on the cover. “This book took me to the days of the liberation struggle, and I experienced the hurt as I read. It was a real privilege to the read the history, a period of pain and hope, as seen through Mark Fine’s eyes.”

THE ZEBRA AFFAIRE: An Apartheid Love Story (Publish: August 2015, ISBN-10: 1512321028, Paperback $13.99/Kindle $2.99 | Pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011PXSEWG)

About the Author:

Mark Fine was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since 1984 he has lived in Los Angeles. For a decade Fine headed an award-winning record label that united non-profits with world-class music talent to create benefit albums in aid of breast cancer and wildlife conservation. For these philanthropic initiatives he received several awards from both the music and oncology communities. Mark was voted by Variety magazine as the “Music Executive with 20/20 Vision” and is shortlisted for Dublin, Ireland’s BGS Best Book 2015 Award. You can visit him at markfinebooks.com and on Twitter @MarkFine_author.

Review Copies and Media Interviews:

For a review copy of THE ZEBRA AFFAIRE: An Apartheid Love Story, or an interview with author Mark Fine, please contact Erin Marshall by email pr@finebooks.co or phone (424) 262-0608.
When requesting a review copy, please express your preferences (Mobi, PDF or print format). For the latter please provide street address.

About Mark Fine:

Mark Fine was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has made the United States his home since 1979, living in New York, Minneapolis, and Los Angeles. For four decades he had worked alongside world famous recording artists. He eventually launched his own award-winning record label, Hammer & Lace, with a mandate to produce benefit albums in support of such causes as breast cancer awareness, at-risk children, and wildlife conservation. For these philanthropic initiatives Mark was voted by Variety magazine as the “Music Executive with 20/20 Vision.” He has also contributed articles to entertainment industry publications, and conducted public speaking engagements at multimedia events. Now he resides in the South Bay, where he lives with his two sons, his “significant other” and Charlie, a neighborhood dog that drops in from time to time. There he wrote the historic romance novel, The Zebra Affaire. Set in apartheid South Africa, Mark brings an insider's perspective to the gripping account of a bi-racial couple's forbidden love. Visit the author’s website at www.MarkFinebooks.com.

About the Book:

THE ZEBRA AFFAIRE: An Apartheid Love Story ISBN-10: 1512321028, Paperback $13.99/Kindle $2.99 | August 2015, Pre-order: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B011PXSEWG
It’s the spring of ’76. For Elsa, her affair with Stanwell may prove lethal, as she’s white and he’s black, and they dared to fall in love in apartheid South Africa. The terrified lovers are the prey in a deadly manhunt from the golden city of Johannesburg to the exotic but dangerous wilds of the African bushveld. THE ZEBRA AFFAIRE is a thrilling fusion of romance and suspense, laced with rich South African history. This book covers new ground, with information hidden during apartheid era censorship now available. Advance reviewers rave about this intimate, yet dangerous love story; that’s set against a canvas that is both vividly authentic and powerfully provocative. Available from Amazon and other retail outlets.