Under an African Sky
A story of friendship, belonging, and resilience in a divided land.
Where the Story Unfolds
From the streets of Johannesburg in 1989 to the timeless monasteries of Greece,
two worlds collide. History and faith shape the choices of ordinary lives caught
in extraordinary times.
The final years of apartheid. Nelson Mandela’s release is imminent. A nation stands at the brink of democracy, but unrest is never far away, and its struggle is reflected in the lives of two families
A timeless peninsula devoted to prayer and silence. Its ancient monastic rhythms provide contrast — and comfort — to a world torn by division, raising questions of faith and forgiveness.
About the Book
In 1989, South Africa is one of the most complex and troubled nations on earth due to its policy of apartheid which separated people by the color of their skin. As the walls of division come tumbling down, two women must navigate a world where everything they hold dear is threatened by the crosscurrents of political upheaval.
Sofia Levantis is a Greek-Cypriot immigrant living a lavish lifestyle in South Africa, her second homeland, and will do anything to keep her children close to their Greek roots. Grace Molepe, a local South African and longtime employee in Sofia’s household, cherishes dreams for her son’s education, an opportunity that had not existed for her. The two women share an unlikely friendship but when social forces entangle their hopes for the children in an unimaginable way with devastating consequences, their bond is tested. Father Theo steps into this turmoil when he arrives from a remote Greek monastery where very little has changed in over a thousand years. The reclusive monk priest provides comfort for Grace but unsettles Sofia as memories of a youthful love affair and long-buried secrets rise to the surface.
Under An African Sky explores the heartbreak of betrayal and how neither countries nor people can move forward unless they are willing to confront their past and forgive one another. Two ordinary women living in extraordinary times reflect the resilience of the human spirit, the persistent human need to belong and the universal values of love, hope and forgiveness that connect all people.
Themes at the Heart of the Story
Friendship
An unlikely bond between two women becomes a lifeline in a divided world, reminding us that human connection can bridge even the deepest divides.
Belonging
Across borders and generations, the search for home shapes every choice — revealing how identity is carried in both memory and place.
Faith
A quiet thread of grace and endurance runs through the story, offering strength in times of upheaval and anchoring hope in timeless truths.
Resilience
Through loss, sacrifice, and change, the women’s strength emerges not in grand gestures but in the small, steadfast choices that carry them forward.
What Readers and Authors Are Saying
Early praise for Under an African Sky highlights the novel’s emotional depth, sense of place,and timeless themes of friendship, belonging, and resilience.
The Journey Behind the Story
The seed of this novel was planted when Elene left her homeland of South Africa. As the only child of protective immigrant parents, books and fictional characters became her companions from a young age. Years later, when she moved to America, the ache of separation and memory of place inspired her to write.
Her characters — Sofia and Grace — were born from this longing to reconcile past and present, homeland and adopted country. Through them, she explores how ordinary lives are shaped by history, and how compassion and resilience can bridge divides.
As Elene reflects:
“Stories became the vessel through which love, loss and hope could be reconciled.”