The Good, the Bad and the Beast

Chris de Lange was born in 1941 in Harrismith, in South Africa's Free State province, and matriculated in 1959. He studied at the University of the Free State from 1960 to 1963, completing postgraduate studies and majoring in English and Afrikaans, with additional studies in German and French. In 1986 he obtained a Diploma in TESL from Iowa State University, USA. After a long career in education, de Lange transitioned into the financial sector, working as a financial advisor for 33 years. When the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted business, he found the time to pursue a long-held dream—writing his debut novel. Married to Martina for 59 years, de Lange is a devoted husband, father to two sons— Lukas, a medical doctor, and Gideon, a businessman—and grandfather to five. A keen golfer, sports enthusiast, and wildlife photographer, he lives a life filled with passion for both storytelling and the natural world. Domoina was inspired by real events during the devastating cyclone of 1984 which struck large parts of southern East Africa. One vivid image that remained with him was the rescue of a pregnant girl and her grandmother from a tree by a South African Air Force helicopter crew. Blending fact with fiction, the novel explores themes of smuggling, big game hunting, romance, and murder. Some elements are based on true experiences—including a 1964 visit to Beira, where he photographed a woman on Macuti Beach, the very setting where Franco meets Tatiana in the story.