Fiction

Wednesday – 24th May 2017

Pan Macmillan SA to publish debut novel by award-winning author Peter Harris

Pan Macmillan South Africa is delighted to announce it will publish the debut novel of award-winning author Peter Harris.

After the publication of 1984, George Orwell sent a copy to his high school French teacher, Aldous Huxley

In October of 1949, a few months after 1984 was published, George Orwell sent a copy of the book to his high school French teacher, Aldous Huxley.

Buy a book for a community library through the African Book Trust

The African Book Trust is a small non-profit with a simple mission: to give South African books to South African libraries.

Tuesday – 23rd May 2017

The complicated life of podcaster in the spotlight in Steven Boykey Sidley’s new novel Free Association

Bruce Dennill has written a review of Steven Boykey Sidley’s new book Free Association for The Times.

Book trailer released for Fred Strydom’s new novel The Inside-out Man

Umuzi has revealed the book trailer for Fred Strydom’s hotly anticipated new novel The Inside-out Man!

Monday – 22nd May 2017

Assured, thoughtful and funny: Find out more about Free Association, the new novel by Steven Boykey Sidley

Free Association, the new novel by Steven Boykey Sidley, takes a deep and satiric dive into the worlds we imagine for ourselves and the lives we actually live.

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 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.