Helena Kriel’s debut memoir, set in 1990s South Africa, emerges from the darkness of apartheid. The Year of Facing Fire centres around Helena’s dying brother, who has kept his illness a shameful secret as he leads his family through the fire. Rita Nash will interview Helena about the real-life inspiration for her powerful book.

 “My brother was on the list of the first twenty people in South Africa that were diagnosed with HIV. Nobody even knew what HIV was. My siblings didn’t know he was diagnosed with HIV because our parents decided not to disclose to us.” Helena Kriel, The Year of Facing Fire

Helena spoke at the 2020 online Sydney Jewish Writers Festival.

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