The Penguin Post
Unravelling the truth – James-Brent Styan on Markus Jooste, Steinhoff and his new book, The Dirty Secrets of the Rich and Powerful
Markus Jooste, central to Steinhoff’s collapse, faced parliament unrepentant. James-Brent Styan reflects on their encounter, Jooste’s subsequent demise, and unanswered questions in this thought piece, that also urges vigilance and awareness of the real risk involved in daily dealings.
Reviving a passion for birds – Nick Newman chats about honouring his father’s legacy with Newman’s Birds by Colour
Despite growing up in a bird-loving household, Nick Newman didn’t initially share his father Kenneth’s passion for all things feathered. However, as time went on, nature was victorious and Nick made the journey from a bored child driving through the Kruger Park to revising Newman’s Birds by Colour, and honouring his father’s legacy.
‘Many people forget that I am separate from Tannie Maria’ – an interview with Sally Andrew on her brand-new cookbook
Sally Andrew, creator of the bestselling Tannie Maria series, has published a cookbook with Penguin Random House!
Medea Unveiled – Rosie Hewlett chats about her dark and epic feminist retelling of Medea
Women in Greek Mythology have historically been relegated to roles as villains or victims due to the patriarchal society of Ancient Greece, but the recent resurgence of myth retellings by female voices is reclaiming their stories and allowing them to be seen as heroes, says Rosie Hewlett.
‘Listen for the Lie is very much a book that came from the characters’ – Amy Tintera chats about her debut novel for adults
Amy Tintera is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous novels for young adults. Listen for the Lie is her adult debut. She chats here about structuring the book around a podcast, and balancing humour and romance with crime and mystery.
Five minutes with Sven Axelrad on his new novel God’s Pocket
Sven Axelrad is seldom seen without his dog. His dog and a pen and piece of paper. How else will he be able to write down what is happening in the town of Vivo?
On my mind: Neglecting your will can be a costly mistake
Many avoid discussing wills due to fear or discomfort, but intestacy can lead to assets being distributed against the deceased’s wishes.
Explore the enchanting world of elusive Fynbos creatures with Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna
Cliff and Suretha Dorse, dedicated conservation biologists, share their two-decade exploration of the Fynbos Biome in their book, Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna.
‘Great fiction, of any type, is always about mystery and surprise’ – In conversation with Jonathan Kellerman
It’s Jonathan Kellerman’s curiosity that drives the exploration of human behaviour in his novels.
To shock and surprise – Alex Michaelides chats about his gripping new psychological thriller The Fury
Lauren Mc Diarmid chatted to Alex Michaelides about how he goes about crafting these twists and turns, and the creative process behind his new thriller, The Fury.
Frances White on her new novel, Voyage of the Damned – a murder mystery on a ship full of magical passengers
Author Frances White discusses her mind-blowing novel, Voyage of the Damned, what inspired the book, the setting and her irresistible lead character.
Romance gives us a blueprint of what we should expect from relationships – Amy Lea chats about her new book, The Catch
Amy Lea is known for her bestselling rom-coms, and her new novel, The Catch, the third in her Influencer series, is positively swoonworthy.
Crawling marvels and winged wonders – the making of Southern African Moths and their Caterpillars
Hermann Staude, Mike Picker and Charles Griffiths describe the craftsmanship involved in creating their guide Southern African Moths and their Caterpillars.
Why politics matters to prosperity – Greg Mills examines why some countries succeed while others fail in Rich State, Poor State
Africans are half as wealthy today compared to their global peers than they were at independence. There is a persistent default to economic crisis, and the appetite to carry out reforms never matches the rhetoric, says Dr Greg Mills. The reason Africa fails is … politics.
Five minutes with Lauren Beukes on her new novel Bridge
Bursting with humour, action and reality-bending experiences, Bridge is Lauren Beukes at her finest.
Trouble in paradise – Sara Ochs on writing her debut novel, The Dive
Sara Ochs’s The Dive is an unputdownable thriller about the dark side of paradise.
Dianne Stewart on how to journal your way to a novel
Journaling is an accessible way for writers to hone their craft and keep track of details while writing a book, says Dianne Stewart, author and recipient of SA Children’s Laureate Award for her lifelong contribution to children’s literature.
‘Regret belongs to the past’ – Mikki Brammer on the ideas behind her novel The Collected Regrets of Clover
Mikki Brammer’s The Collected Regrets of Clover is a big-hearted and life-affirming debut about a death doula who, in caring for others at the end of their life, has forgotten how to live her own.
Finding inspiration in the ancient world – Conn Iggulden on writing his bestselling historical fiction
Stories and myths from the ancient world have transcended millennia, and it’s from these that author Conn Iggulden draws inspiration for his bestselling historical fiction.
An arachnophile’s journey: A career spinning webs of spider expertise
Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, author of Field Guide to Spiders of South Africa, is one of the foremost experts on African spiders.