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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 7, 2012 · 16 Chai Tea Sunday is a trip to Kenya in your hands By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Oakville's Heather A. Clark has never been to Kenya, yet readers will be transported to the east African country when they leaf through the pages of her debut novel, Chai Tea Sunday. The novel was published this past April and has been on the Kobo bestseller list. Clark has also travelled across Canada to promote the book and has been featured on morning television shows. "A lot of people who have read the book and have been to Kenya say it takes them right back, they feel like they're transported because of the detail that's in there," Clark said. Clark, a married mother of three, wrote the book when she was on maternity leave in 2010. She hadn't intended to publish it, but wrote it The town used in the book is the very same as the one to which Rachel travelled to. However, other names, such as the one of the orphanage, have been changed. Some elements of the novel are true to what has really happened to Rachel on her travels to Kenya, while the general plotline goes further. "There are parts of the book where she takes the children from the orphanage to the hospital and has to pay for it out of her own money because they have been neglected," Heather said. "All of those elements actually happened in real time...which is why it was such an emotional experience for me while I was writing the book." In the novel, Nicky has nowhere to turn to get help for the children, so she does it on her own, similar to what happened to Rachel. At the same time, Heather was chronicling the events in the novel. "It's such a unique way to write a book. It's not telling a story that has already happened. It's actually created in the novel in real time to when it's happening," Heather said. "It was a really moving, emotional, tears onto the keyboard as I was typing, kind of an experience." Heather's novel has been well received by women and book clubs. She's travelled to meet with various reading groups and to talk to them about her novel. "A lot of the people who've read it said there is something that every woman can connect to or relate to and I think there's a lot of emotionally-complicated topics in this book that women respond to. As a result, that's why so many women pick it and want to talk about it," she said. The novel deals with fertility issues, along with finding understanding, love and strength. A portion of the proceeds from Chai Tea Sunday are going to Artbound, a Free the Children organization. The author is holding an Artbound fundraising event Wednesday, Nov. 14 at House Warmings in downtown Oakville. Oakville Ladies ­ An Evening of Local Culture will run from 7-9 p.m. Tickets cost $50. For tickets and more information, visit www.oakvilleladies. eventbrite.ca. The novel is available at major bookstores, online and as an e-book. Artscene OAKVILLE G s ad d 's n e Show and Sale November 10 & 11 Saturday 10am - 5pm / Sunday 11:05am - 4pm Antique The stars of the antique business move indoors at Oakville to stage a unique and memorable event Top dealers in antiques, vintage and Mid Century modern bring great finds direct from the source to you. Furniture, modern art glass, vintage furs, silver, folk art and fine art, pewter and copper, country, linens, antiquarian books. Find great gift ideas for everyone on your list. first book: Oakville's Heather A. Clark sits with a copy of her novel, Chai Tea Sunday, in her home enjoying a mug of chai tea. more as a passion project to keep her occupied while she stayed home with her children. The inspiration came from her cousin, Rachel Clark, who has travelled as a volunteer to Kenya on several occasions, including to an orphanage, which inspired the novel. When Rachel returned from her first Kenyan visit, she showed her pictures and journals to the authorto-be. When Heather informed her cousin she would like to write a novel inspired by her visits to Kenya, Rachel came on board. The two stayed in touch while Rachel went to Kenya a second time to volunteer at an orphanage, at the same time as Heather was on her maternity leave. "I could ask her any questions I needed to know. Things like what specifically does the table feel like that you're sitting at or what are the walls made of, or go outside and take a big breath of air and what does it smell like," Heather said. Using the details in Rachel's responses, Heather was able to write the visuals of her novel. "Because I needed to see it through her eyes so vividly, it's a little bit like a blind person whose other senses are heightened. I think that's what happened. Because I was seeing it through her eyes, I could see it that much more vividly," Heather said. Though inspired by true-life adventures, the novel is fictional, about a character named Nicky, a married woman with a rewarding career, a loving husband and a perfect home. However, dealing with fertility complications and emotional strain, Nicky's marriage breaks up. Emotionally lost, Nicky travels to Kenya to volunteer at an orphanage. eric riehl / oakville beaver / @halton_photog St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre 1280 Dundas St. W., Oakville, L6M 4H9 On Dundas St (Hwy 5) just east of Third Line, and first stoplight west of the BIG bridge. Admission $7 / Free parking Delicious Ukrainian fare in the Fireside Café www.antiqueshowscanada.com More info, discounts and directions at