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Journey Into Memory, Mystery, and Meaning

An Interview with J. Ratcliffe, Author of Kubu Tales – A Kalahari Mystery Peter awakens on the desolate yet mystical Kubu Island with no memory of who he is or how he arrived. Guided by Masego, a spiritual healer and keeper of ancient wisdom, he embarks on a profound journey to rediscover his identity. Through vivid memories of life in apartheid-era South Africa and the spiritual echoes of the Kalahari Desert, Peter’s path becomes one of resilience, revelation, and reckoning. But as the layers of his past peel away, an ominous truth begins to emerge—a secret buried in the sands of his forgotten life. Will Peter find clarity and redemption—or uncover a mystery too dangerous to confront? Some stories entertain.Others awaken something deeper. Kubu Tales by J. Ratcliffe belongs to the second category. Set against the haunting beauty of Kubu Island and the vast spiritual landscapes of Southern Africa, the novel follows Peter — a man who wakes with no memory of who he is, only to discover that forgetting may be more dangerous than remembering. But Kubu Tales is more than a mystery. It is a story about identity, buried trauma, spiritual inheritance, and how the land itself carries memory. We sat down with J. Ratcliffe to explore the deeper layers of the book — and why this story feels especially relevant for readers today.   Peter’s journey of rediscovering his identity is central to Book 1. What aspects of Peter’s character resonate most deeply with you, and how did you approach crafting his emotional arc? As the storyline unfolds over the series, it touches on elements I experienced as an expatriate child, separated from our extended family. We were blessed that other members of the community would step in and became our surrogate aunts and uncles, and their unique values and wisdom helped shape me into the person I am today. I hope I can reflect those values in this series as Peter’s personality develops. Kubu Island is such a vivid setting. What sparked the initial idea for ‘Kubu Tales,’ and why did you choose this particular location as the heart of your story? The inspiration for Kubu Tales stems from my childhood experiences growing up in South Africa and Botswana. I lived in Orapa until I was 16, with Kubu Island a mere 60 kilometers away. The island possesses an intrinsic spirituality—from its striking monolith to its massive baobab trees that instinctively draw visitors to them. Evidence of ancient human settlements added to its allure, and I remember discovering fragments of pottery, ostrich shells, and even seashells scattered across the salt pan. The island’s beauty and mystery captivated me from childhood, making it the perfect backdrop for Peter’s story. The book weaves in the complexities of apartheid-era South Africa. How did you balance the historical and political elements with the fictional mystery, and what message do you hope readers take away regarding this period? The narrative draws from personal experiences and conversations with people who lived during that era. I witnessed firsthand the regime’s use of paranoia and propaganda to target ethnic groups—particularly the fear-mongering claim that change would end in bloodshed, which was used to frighten voters to toe the party line. Growing up in a multi-racial and multi-cultural society, I saw clearly that this narrative was both a lie and its devastating impact on society.Sadly, we still see the same use of intolerance for political gain today. Singling out ethnic groups and blaming them for declining living standards or lack of social mobility serves as a distraction from the real questions – Why we have such huge economic disparities and what must be done to create a fairer society? Masego and the spiritual themes are integral to the narrative. Can you share more about your research or personal connection to the spiritual aspects of the Kalahari and the role of the Sangoma? I incorporated several superstitions from my time in Orapa into the series, and I knew of Sangomas in our community. They serve not only as spiritual intermediaries but also as counselors and social workers. Their practice of using trance sessions to tap into ancestral wisdom helped shape Masego’s character into an ideal guide for Peter’s journey. What was the most challenging aspect of writing ‘Kubu Tales: Book 1,’ and what did you learn about your writing process during this project? Finding the time! Prior to Kubu Tales, I’d only written articles for a clinical journal, so learning to write creatively was a challenge. What do you hope readers experience or feel when they immerse themselves in ‘Kubu Tales,’ and what kind of feedback have you received so far that has been particularly meaningful? Beyond the central plot, I hope readers gain a deeper understanding of both the culture and tensions of that era. This unique period in history shaped Botswana and South Africa into the nations they are today. How did the editing process contribute to the final version of ‘Kubu Tales: Book 1,’ and what was your experience like working with an editor? Working with Lizette was an exceptional experience—she helped ensure the storyline remained authentic to a Southern African audience. I’m looking forward to collaborating with her on the rest of the series. With Book 2 underway and Book 3 outlined, what can readers anticipate in the continuation of the ‘Kubu Tales’ series, and what excites you most about the future of this story? Book 2 further explores the personalities of both Peter and Masego whilst building on the central storyline. In addition the backdrop is unique – expect to learn more growing up in a remote mining town on the edge of the Kalahari desert, its beauty and its challenges. Beyond the story itself, what personal connection do you have to the themes and settings explored in ‘Kubu Tales,’ and what do you hope to share with your readers on a more personal level? I’ve drawn on a lot of personal experiences for this series, so I’m hoping that

Marriage Over the Wedding | Focus on Lasting Love, Not One Day

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The wedding is one day; the marriage is the lifetime commitment. Stop confusing the event with the foundation. Discover the Truthbomb: Lasting love is built on Simple Stewardship, shared faith, + Restoration, not societal pressure or a six-figure spectacle. Shift your focus.

You Can’t Flog a Dead Woman

christian remarried

We often ask: Did I break my vows? But the theological truth is, the vows were often broken long before the divorce papers arrived. The marriage wasn’t a Holy Yoke; it was a worldly union yoked to dysfunction.

When a man fails to lead with honor, sacrifice, + true provision (1 Tim 5:8), God places him on silent. You cannot silence your wife’s tears + expect Heaven to hear your prayers (Malachi 2). That man denied the faith, making the yoke uneven by his actions.

But here is your Truthbomb + Restorative Faith: When you became Born Again, the ‘Old You’—the one who made the mistake, the one who bore the shame—died. You were buried with Christ (Romans 6:4). You cannot prosecute a corpse.

The New You is justified. You are clean, pure, + free to enter a true covenant with a man who places God first. This isn’t a second chance; it is the First Marriage of the New Creation.

Your Daily Bread that Heals + Restores

Some of my fondest memories include the soothing smell of soft, freshly baked bread. On Saturday mornings in winter, my mom would bake rusks. By the time I’d wake up, they’d be cooling on the rack already. I’d make a beeline for the tea towel that covered the “Liewe Heksie bolletjies” – little buns my mom made with the leftover rusk dough. We would butter them and add sweet or savory spreads.  Later in life, I lived above a supermarket bakery, and that warm, sweet, yeasty smell would be a constant fragrance in  my home.  Yes, I’ve loved bread all my life and tried to make many—failing most of the time. But I’m proud to announce that I have finally succeeded and I now “get it”. Practice really makes perfect. I can hear the crust crackle as it gives way to the breadknife, and I can smell the butter melt on the soft, warm inside. Yep, it took me until today years old to learn not to cut a hot bread fresh out of the oven, for the sake of the moisture distribution. Letting it cool down is key to the perfect texture.  Then again, you’ll learn from this blog–especially from the food sections—that I’m not about perfection that restricts my expression. My measurements are typically based on feeling and momentary inspiration, with a little bit of scientific common sense thrown in.  Things are not perfect only when you do everything “right” or according to a recipe. Perfection typically hides in the broken but beautiful parts of life.  So when I share my recipes, expect a lot of innovation, creativity (some of it perhaps somewhat bordering on insanity), and typically a little different.  Don’t expect “tradition” —unless it’s my unique spin on a traditional recipe. There was a time I avoided bread. I was convinced that it’s high in calories and therefore fattening. My tummy didn’t love bread.  Minimizing bread for several years was one of the many keys to helping me lose 43kgs. Why do we talk about sourdough like it’s a wellness super-star? It all comes down to the ancient art of “the long pause,”a slow fermentation process that makes the bread far easier to digest and unlocks nutrients conventional bread keeps locked away. Standard supermarket bread is often rushed, but sourdough takes its time (which is SO aligned with our business name and model! <3 ), and that’s the key to its benefits. Standard supermarket bread is often rushed, but sourdough takes its time, and that’s the key to its benefits. what’s so “special” about sourdough? the Phytic Acid problem Commercial bread uses fast-acting yeast, which doesn’t have time to deal with phytic acid (or phytate), a naturally occurring compound in grains. Phytic acid is an anti-nutrient—it binds to minerals like iron, zinc, and magnesium, making it impossible for your body to absorb them. Sourdough Solution: The long, slow fermentation process, involving Lactobacilli bacteria and wild yeasts, breaks down (hydrolyzes) up to 90% of the phytic acid. This means that the essential minerals in the flour are finally available for your body to use. Simple stewardship means choosing the bread that lets you absorb the good stuff! the Glycemic Index game Standard white bread has a high Glycemic Index (GI), meaning it causes a rapid spike in blood sugar followed by a crash (hello, mid-morning energy slump!). This is the opposite of building capacity. Sourdough Solution: The presence of organic acids (like lactic acid) produced during the slow fermentation process actually changes the starch structure of the bread. This results in a much lower GI. This means your body processes the energy slower and steadier, giving you sustained energy instead of a sugar spike and crash. the Gut Capacity lift If you find yourself feeling bloated or heavy after eating bread, it’s often due to the short fermentation time and high yeast content of commercial loaves. Sourdough Solution: The natural bacteria in the sourdough culture acts as a prebiotic, helping to feed the good bacteria in your gut. It also breaks down some of the complex starches and even small amounts of gluten before the bread even hits your stomach. This essentially gives your digestive system a head start. It’s a less demanding food, allowing your gut to focus on Restoration rather than struggling with a digestive burden.     Sourdough is simply bread that respects the process. It models the se-lah pause—when you slow down, the results are exponentially better, whether in your life or in your lunch. Like many of my recipes, this one will evolve over time. My Sourdough Experiment   Since I believe in radical honesty, I’ll tell you two things:   I don’t follow directions in creative projects (like recipes or DIY) very well. I watch a few videos until I become confident, and then I’ll do it my way—several times before I actually “get it”. That’s when the real fun starts to kick in and I start to experiment.  At sourdough, I tried harder, and learned harder than with most things, and I still didn’t get it right the first… 5 times. So many sourdough starters died on me—well, so I thought; until I learned that I actually killed them, because I didn’t know that they were hungry. (Disclaimer: I have successfully raised two human babies to adulthood, so I’m not completely horrible!)   That said, here’s how the process evolved in pictures! (Be sure to follow on social media – TikTok, Facebook, Instagram) for videos and more.   If you’re in the local area, here’s your chance to be a Selah Sourdough Scout! I’m constantly tweaking recipes for ultimate gut capacity, and I need a few brave, honest taste-testers (yes, this is my fancy way of asking for guinea pigs—but you get paid in artisanal carbs). DM me if you’d like to try a sample batch of the next iteration. Let’s practice simple stewardship of our bodies, one incredible slice at a time.   Takeaway:  We can meticulously pursue low

The Chaos in the Conversation: When the Pulpit Meets the Parking Lot

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Are you preaching provision while practicing panic? As senior Christians, our words about the economy, politics, and others’ choices are polluting our witness. It’s time for a Selah Pause on the fear-mongering and casual judgment. The Simple Stewardship of our heart demands that the sermon we preach on Sunday matches the conversation we have on Monday. This is the Truthbomb you need to hear.

Rainy but Romantic | Anniversary Getaway at Mantis and Moon

No honeymoon yet? No problem. We traded chaos for jungle magic at Mantis and Moon near Umzumbe Beach. Read our story of Holistic Pragmatism (Daddy’s Deals + Margate Coaches!) and how a rain-soaked, cheesy omelette escape restored our capacity + reminded us to simply be “The Beans.” Step out of the stress—the jungle is calling for deep rest.

CREATIVE AGENCY GUIDE: How to Work with a Content Writer + Ensure Happy Clients

Let’s be radically honest: working with a writer isn’t mind-reading; it’s high-stakes collaboration. The quality of your final published piece—be it a pithy tagline or a 5,000-word deep-dive—is entirely dependent on the quality of your initial brief. Think of the brief not as an annoying admin task, but as the detailed map + GPS coordinates for the writer’s destination. A vague map (“Just make it pop!”) leads to wasted time and draft purgatory. A great brief, however, is a direct deposit into your marketing bank: crystal clear goals, defined audience, tone specs, and zero guessing games. We can write like angels, but we need the facts first.