By Any Means

Escaping into the world of fiction from an early age, Kurt Ellis, born 1983 in Sydenham, Durban, started writing ‘By Any Means’ during Maths class while attending Bechet High.
After matriculating, Kurt moved to Johannesburg to study English Literature where he won the Harry Oppenheimer Creative Writing Award in his first year at Wits University. After Wits he pursued a career in sales, yet he kept on writing through it all with the dream that one day his children would walk into a book store and see his name on the shelves or even in the R5 discount bin.

Originally titled “Time to Say Goodbye”, then after a year or two changing the title to “Our Story”. he first sent the manuscript to a publisher in 2002. The publisher didn’t even bother to send him a rejection letter.
After 16 years of writing, re-writing, re-re-writing, title changes and many rejections his book has finally been published by Human and Rousseau Publishers.

By Any Means tells the story of three cousins growing up in Sydenham, Durban. Their tale is one of trying to become men in an environment of violence, drugs, alcohol and abuse. In a world where all they have is each other.
By Any Means is not a fairy tale. It is harsh. It is gritty, and yet, in this gritty world, love can flourish. Dreams can come true…but at what cost?

Kurt says that he has always found it hard answering the question as to what this story is about.
“On one hand it is a love story. Love between a teenage boy and a teenage girl. Love between family. Love between friends.
On the other hand it is a drama. The trials and challenges of being in an inter-religious relationship. The pain of coping with family members crippled by substance dependencies.”

“It is a political/strategic story of two gangs fighting for control of Sydenham’s streets, all while a single kingpin is pulling the strings from behind the curtains.”
“It is a violent story that does not soften the evil that is far too prevalent in this world.”

Admitting to drawing on some personal experiences of growing up in Sydenham, Kurt maintains that By Any Means is not an autobiography.
“I wrote this story with the intentions to entertain firstly, but also for there to be a deeper message if that is what you are looking for.”

“I wanted all readers, across the race, economic and religious lines to be able to read and identify with the tale. This is My Story. This is Our Story. This is By Any Means.”

Kurt still lives in Johannesburg with his wife and daughter and he is an avid Liverpool FC supporter.
He is currently working on his second novel and we at Bruinou.com wish him all of the best with his future literary work.

By Any Means can be purchased online as a book or ebook from Kalahari, Takealot, Loot, Amazon and from other good online stores.
You can also purchase it from Exclusive Books.