Released on = January 26, 2007, 5:22 am

Press Release Author = Emma Howard/Legend Press

Industry = Entertainment

Press Release Summary = Candi Miller, author of the powerful novel Salt & Honey, has
reiterated her backing for the campaign against the illegal trade of conflict diamonds on the day of the UK launch of blockbuster film Blood Diamond, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio.

Press Release Body = Set in Apartheid-riven southern Africa, Salt & Honey tells the
story of a young Bushman girl who is wrenched from her Kalahari desert-tribe after
witnessing the brutal murder of her parents. The novel has received great acclaim,
was included in Heat's top ten books and editions are due to appear in five
different languages around the world.

Miller is one of the only authors brave enough to tackle these controversial yet
vital issues and the novel has already been connected to high-profile happenings in
the non-book world. This included receiving public backing from Survival
International, the charity for tribal people's rights, who were helping the Gana and
Gwi Bushmen fight a court action to stop them being forcibly evicted from their
traditional hunting ground in the Kalahari Desert.

Happily, the trial was eventually ruled in favour of the Bushmen, but not before six
people had died and the survivors had been starved out by government forces,
rumoured to want the land because diamonds have been found there. This is the issue
at the heart of Blood Diamond, set in Sierra Leone and focussing on the illegal
trade in conflict diamonds. News of the film has caused howls of protest from
diamond industry bosses.

Asked how she felt about these issues raised by her novel and now the blockbuster
film, African-born Miller said she'd be delighted if anything she wrote helped raise
awareness of exploitative practices on the continent. "Diamonds are beautiful, but I
don't wear them, not even an engagement ring. Yes, the diamond industry has tried to
clean up its act and ban trade in conflict diamonds but, with corruption so rife at
the supply end, how can one be sure the bling on one's finger isn't covered in a
child's blood?"


ENDS

Note to editors:

· Candi Miller is available for interview and comment and should be contacted via
Legend Press.

· For more information on Legend Press visit www.legendpress.co.uk or email
info@legendpress.co.uk.

· Publishing Executive at Legend Press, Emma Howard, can be contacted at
emmahoward@legendpress.co.uk.

· For further information from Survival International contact Miriam Ross on 0207
687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org. For more details on their Bushman
campaign visit www.survival-international.org

· Legend Press also offers regularly updated news pages and a free monthly
e-bulletin packed with news, reviews and comment. To sign-up, simply email
info@legendpress.co.uk stating your name and email address.




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