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Monday – 22nd May 2017
The Jalada collective: Charting Africa’s linguistic multiverse
Aaron Bady has written an article for Pacific Standard about Jalada Africa, a pan-African literary collective with a radical mission: ‘an ongoing translation effort to unite – and elevate – African literature’.
Jassy Mackenzie on what it was like to collaborate with writing powerhouse James Patterson
Jassy Mackenzie chatted to SABC Morning Live about collaborating with bestselling author James Patterson on her latest book, Private Gold.
Sunday – 21st May 2017
Jowhor Ile wins Etisalat Prize for Literature for his novel And After Many Days
Nigerian author Jowhor Ile has won the 2016 Etisalat Prize for Literature for his novel And After Many Days.
Friday – 19th May 2017
A young reader edition of Hope in a Ballet Shoe available in English, isiZulu, isiXhosa and Afrikaans
Beautifully and gently illustrated by Ella Okstad, Ballerina Dreams is the younger-reader edition of Michaela DePrince’s highly moving memoir, Hope in a Ballet Shoe.
Don’t miss bestselling author Lesley Pearse at the Franschhoek Literary Festival this weekend
The great and gracious bestselling author Lesley Pearse is at the Franschhoek Literary Festival this weekend!
Enjoy a literary feast with Pan Macmillan at this year’s Franschhoek Literary Festival
Pan Macmillan authors on the Franschhoek Literary Festival programme include Mohale Mashigo, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Rebecca Davis and Dikgang Moseneke – and many others!
Elnathan John’s Born on a Tuesday shortlisted for 2017 Betty Trask Prize
The Society of Authors has announced the 2017 shortlist for the Betty Trask Prize and Awards. This year’s shortlist of six debut literary novels by authors under the age of 35 includes a self-published novel for the first time.
Thursday – 18th May 2017
Nigeria-based publisher Cassava making international waves
In Nigeria, a country with millions of potential book buyers, publishing is a tough business.
Tuesday – 16th May 2017
Read an excerpt from Rotten Row by Petina Gappah
The Old Familiar Faces are unhappily gathered at a once-elegant four-star golf resort and conference centre to which tourists no longer come.
Win a signed copy of The Inside-out Man by Fred Strydom!
Enter the Penguin Random House South Africa competition to win one of three signed copies of The Inside-out Man by Fred Strydom!
‘Unputdownable’ – Karina M Szczurek reviews Asylum, a new spec-fic thriller by Marcus Low
Karina M Szczurek has written a glowing review of Asylum, a new post-apocalyptic thriller by Marcus Low, for the Cape Times.
2017 Caine Prize shortlist announced
The five-writer shortlist for the 2017 Caine Prize for African Writing has been announced by Chair of judges, award winning author, poet and editor, Nii Ayikwei Parkes. The list includes a former Caine Prize shortistee and features a story translated
Monday – 15th May 2017
2017 Alan Paton Award for non-fiction shortlist announced
The shortlist for the Alan Paton Award for non-fiction has been announced!
2017 Barry Ronge Fiction Prize shortlist announced
After months of evaluation and deliberation it is finally time to reveal the shortlist for the Barry Ronge Fiction Prize, in association with Porcupine Ridge. The winner, who will receive R100 000, will be announced on Saturday June 24.
Sunday – 14th May 2017
You have the power to save South African publishing! – a message from Paige Nick
Paige Nick has shared a ‘Sunday thought’ about the South African book world.
Friday – 12th May 2017
Don’t miss the launch of new short story collection Queer Africa 2
Queer Africa 2, the follow-up anthology to Queer Africa: new and collected fiction, will be launched at Wits University on 3 June.
Lidudumalingani’s Caine Prize-winning story ‘Memories We Lost’ translated into Spanish
María J López, an academic based at the University of Córdoba, Spain, has translated Lidudumalingani’s short story ‘Memories We Lost’ into Spanish for the Cuban-based journal Revolución y Cultura.
Thursday – 11th May 2017
Read an excerpt from No Longer Whispering to Power, the new biography of Thuli Madonsela
HuffPost SA has published an exclusive extract from the unauthorised biography of former public protector Thuli Madonsela.
A must-read for aspiring writers: Nick Mulgrew’s open letter about the state of South African poetry
The open submissions period inspired uHlanga’s publisher, Nick Mulgrew, to write an open letter about poetry in South Africa,and what he believes writers could learn from his experience.
Read Zakes Mda’s fantastic response to ‘Do you get writer’s block?’
Zakes Mda has written a great response to a fan who asked ‘Don’t you ever get writer’s block?’