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Tuesday – 11th September 2018

Shortlists announced for the University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing

The shortlists for the 2017 University of Johannesburg Prizes for South African Writing in English have been announced.

Monday – 3rd September 2018

Read an excerpt from Nigerian–American author Tomi Adeyemi’s epic West African fantasy novel Children of Blood and Bone 

It’s all I can do not to scream. I dig my nails into the marula oak of my staff and squeeze to keep from fidgeting. Beads of sweat drip down my back, but I can’t tell if it’s from dawn’s early heat or from my heart slamming against my chest. Moon after moon I’ve been passed over.

Read an excerpt from Sally Rooney’s Man Booker Prize-longlisted novel, Normal People

Sally Rooney’s Man Booker Prize-longlisted novel Normal People is out now from Jonathan Ball Publishers!

Lives of Great Men by Chike Frankie Edozien – an incredibly powerful portrayal of what it means to be a gay Nigerian man

Lives of Great Men, the award-winning memoir from Chike Frankie Edozien, is out now from Jacana Media.

Cover reveal! Zakes Mda’s new novel The Zulus of New York

Umuzi has revealed the cover for Zakes Mda’s new novel The Zulus of New York!

Friday – 31st August 2018

Friday Night Book Club: Read an excerpt from The Shepherd’s Hut, the new novel from Tim Winton

The Friday Night Book Club: Exclusive excerpts from Pan Macmillan every weekend!

Swapo Captive by Oiva Angula – The gripping account of an incarcerated Swapo cadre

Swapo Captive: A Comrade’s Experience of Betrayal and Torture by Oiva Angula is out now from Penguin Random House. 

Watch an interview with Africa’s Lit September #litrockstar Mphuthumi Ntabeni, author of The Broken River Tent

Mphuthumi Ntabeni explains how his debut novel The Broken River Tent was inspired by his need to understand Xhosa history from the perspective of the dispossessed.

‘I think anyone could enjoy this book’ – Kate Sidley chats about 100 Mandela Moments

‘It’s meant to be something that anyone can read. Not everyone’s up for a 500-page biography, and the style of it is supposed to be light.’

Thursday – 30th August 2018

New book alert! The Last Words of Rowan du Preez: Murder and Conspiracy on the Cape Flats by Simone Haysom

‘A South African version of In Cold Blood, done with great integrity. It reads like a thriller.’ – John Maytham

Out early September – Stephan Hofstatter’s Licence to Loot: How the Plunder of Eskom and Other Parastatals Almost Sank South Africa

Licence to Loot traces the genesis of the Eskom looting spree and explores how the Gupta family extracted billions in suspected kickbacks from state contracts and scored hugely inflated coal contracts from backroom deals.

A game ranger, a knife, a lion and a sheep walked into a bar …

The Game Ranger, the Knife, the Lion and the Sheep offers spellbinding stories of some amazing, little-known characters from South Africa, past and very past. Let us introduce you to some of the characters you’ll meet inside.

A weekend of wild partying goes horribly wrong – Don’t miss Vanessa Raphaely’s debut novel, Plus One

It would be a weekend of fun, sunshine, champagne and partying. And it was all of those things. Until it wasn’t …

Wednesday – 29th August 2018

Don’t miss the launch of Barry Gilder’s novel The List in Johannesburg

Jacana Media and Exclusive Books invite you to the launch of Barry Gilder’s The List.

Jacques Pauw’s Zuma exposé The President’s Keepers wins Nielsen Booksellers Choice Award

The President’s Keepers by investigative journalist Jacques Pauw has won the Nielsen Booksellers Choice Award – a prize for South African booksellers’ favourite book.

Tuesday – 28th August 2018

Try Jamie Oliver’s Classic carbonara with crunchy porcini breadcrumbs from his new book Jamie Cooks Italy

Penguin Random House has shared the recipe for Jamie Oliver’s Classic carbonara with crunchy porcini breadcrumbs from Jamie Cooks Italy!

Short Story Day Africa Prize 2018 deadline extended

The deadline for the Short Story Day Africa Prize has been extended to 31 October 2018.

A page-turning heartbreaker – The Shepherd’s Hut, the new novel from Tim Winton

Fierce and lyrical, The Shepherd’s Hut by Tim Winton is a story of survival, solitude and unlikely friendship.

When spooks write fiction, that’s when you read the truth – don’t miss Barry Gilder’s debut novel The List

Barry Gilder’s debut novel The List is out in September from Jacana Media.