International
Wednesday – 7th June 2017
Writing tips from John Grisham
Bestselling author John Grisham’s 30th novel, Camino Island, is out now from Jonathan Ball.
Listen to Arundhati Roy read from her long-awaited second novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
“How to tell a shattered story? By slowly becoming everybody. No. By slowly becoming everything .”
Monday – 5th June 2017
Karina M Szczurek chats about her life with Andre Brink and her new memoir The Fifth Mrs Brink
Ingrid Winterbach spoke to Karina M Szczurek at the Woordfees literary festival recently about her life with one of South Africa’s most celebrated novelists, André Brink, and her memoir, The Fifth Mrs Brink, forthcoming from Jonathan Ball Publishers.
Friday – 2nd June 2017
Michelle Hattingh’s brave and powerful memoir I’m the Girl Who Was Raped sold to 4 continents
I’m the Girl Who Was Raped was published in April 2016 and we’ve already sold North American rights to Inanna in Canada and world English rights (excluding North America and Africa) to Spinifex – the feminist publishers in Australia.
Thursday – 1st June 2017
First round of international authors announced for 2017 Open Book Festival
The Open Book Festival has announced the first round of authors for 2017 – including Paul Beatty, Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀, Nathan Hill and Fiston Mwanza Mujila.
A library is not just a refuge for the intellect, but for the whole person
If a library is just where a society keeps its books, then it’s easy to see why many people no longer perceive libraries as relevant.
Tuesday – 30th May 2017
Karl Ove Knausgaard wins 2017 Jerusalem Prize for literature
Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgaard has been awarded the Jerusalem Prize for the Freedom of the Individual in Society.
The first read of Arundhati Roy’s new novel, The Ministry of Utmost Happiness
The Guardian has shared an exclusive excerpt from The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy.
Monday – 29th May 2017
Independent feminist publisher Modjaji Books turns 10 – read an interview with founder Colleen Higgs
How have things changed in the ten years that independent feminist publishing house Modjaji Books has been around?
Philip Lymbery, author of Farmageddon: The True Cost of Cheap Meat, announces South Africa tour
Philip Lymbery, author of Farmageddon and Dead Zone, will be in South Africa in July.
Friday – 26th May 2017
The curious Trump-apartheid connection: Read an excerpt from Apartheid Guns and Money
The Daily Maverick has shared an excerpt from Apartheid Guns and Money: A Tale of Profit by Hennie van Vuuren, published by Jacana Media.
Thursday – 25th May 2017
Ever wondered why it’s ‘tick-tock’ and not ‘tock-tick’?
The BBC explains why we say ‘tick-tock’, not ‘tock-tick’, ‘ding-dong’, not ‘dong-ding’, and ‘chit-chat’, not ‘chat-chit’.
Homo Naledi palaeontologist Lee Berger responds to his critics in Almost Human
Almost Human is the personal story of a charismatic and visionary palaeontologist, a rich and readable narrative about science, exploration, and what it means to be human.
Wednesday – 24th May 2017
Read an excerpt from Deon Meyer’s new novel, Fever
Hodder & Stoughton has released an excerpt from Fever, the latest novel by bestselling author Deon Meyer.
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.
Roger Moore completed book manuscript two weeks before he died
James Bond star Roger Moore completed the manuscript for an as-yet-untitled book just two weeks before his death, The Bookseller reports.
Tuesday – 23rd May 2017
Bill Gates reviews Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime
Trevor Noah’s career continues to grow from strength to strength, with the news that Bill Gates has reviewed his memoir Born a Crime for Time magazine.
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.