The Penguin Post
Venture into the Kruger National Park with the new Nature Now series from Struik Nature
Struik Nature publisher Pippa Parker shares the origins of an exciting new series of books on the Kruger National Park, perfect for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.
Five minutes with author Sihle Khumalo – ‘We are getting closer and closer to the abyss …’
Sihle Khumalo has travelled all over Africa getting to know the people. But it’s South Africa’s history that bewitches him, and for his latest book, Milk the Beloved Country, he started off by looking into the history of place names – but ended with a lot more stories to tell.
In conversation with Jenny Jackson on her debut novel Pineapple Street – a witty exploration of family, money, love and heartbreak
Pineapple Street is an unputdownable debut, following three women in an old Brooklyn Heights clan: one who was born with money, one who married into it, and one who wants to give it all away.
Grace Adams is mad as hell and she’s not taking it anymore …
‘Grace is on a quest to demonstrate some fierce mother love, and no thing or person is going to stop her.’
Author Costanza Casati on bringing to life a Greek legend in her novel Clytemnestra
A thrilling tale of power and prophecies, of hatred, love, and of an unforgettable Queen who fiercely dealt out death to those who wronged her.
Where there’s Smoak, there’s fire – Gregg Hurwitz chats about his bestselling Orphan X series
Author Gregg Hurwitz on the formidable Evan Smoak, a trained government assassin who’s on a personal mission to help those with nowhere to turn, and the bad-ass hero of the Orphan X series.
Cooking from the Heart – Sarah Graham on the inspiration behind her new cookbook Good + Simple
Sarah Graham began her career in food with her blog, Bitten, in 2010. Since then, she’s written six cookbooks, and starred in her very own cookery show. Her new cookbook, Good + Simple, is a return to simple, old-fashioned cooking. She chatted with Lauren Mc Diarmid about simplifying our approach to cooking, the stories behind the food we eat and how anyone can get around a busy schedule and prepare nourishing and tasty meals.
‘The impulse to write often strikes when I’m observing someone else’ – Ayobami Adebayo chats about her new novel A Spell of Good Things
The seed of a story starts with the glimpse of a shadow, writes Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀.
Of Wild Flowers and Trees – Braam van Wyk chats about his new book Trees of Kruger
Braam van Wyk is emeritus professor of botany at the University of Pretoria. A leading expert on plant taxonomy, he has had an abiding interest in making botany accessible to the general public, and has authored more than 350 publications about southern African vegetation and flora. He writes here about where it all began.
A tale of obsession and magic – Author Katy Hays chats about her sinister, atmospheric debut novel The Cloisters
The Cloisters is a sinister, atmospheric novel about the discovery of a mysterious deck of tarot cards. Author Katy Hays speaks about the setting of the story, fortune and the idea behind her riveting debut.
‘The entire novel is so close to my heart … I almost couldn’t write it’ – Catherine Newman chats about her debut We All Want Impossible Things
Author Catherine Newman chats about writing fiction versus writing memoirs, taking inspiration from real life, and her favourite scene from her first novel for adults, We All Want Impossible Things.
‘There is little doubt that BEE needs a rethink’ – Chris Bishop, author of The BEE Billionaires: Redressing the Imbalances of the Past, or Creating New Ones
Chris Bishop, veteran journalist and the founding editor of Forbes Africa and Billionaire Tomorrow, describes the process he went through in writing a book that questions the impact of one of the biggest economic experiments in Africa that began a quarter of a century ago: black economic empowerment.
Five minutes with David Viviers, author of the debut novel Mirage
You may know the face. David Viviers is one of our well-known actors, but now he is a published author as well. And his writing is every bit as good has his acting.
‘The globe is littered with dismal populists, nationalists or downright dictators.’
With the ANC’s national elective conference coming up, political analyst and co-author of The Presidents Richard Calland reflects on ‘the age of crisis’ in which SA sits with its political leaders.
Filling in the missing years of naturalist William Burchell’s southern African Journey
Uncovering the events and finds of the missing years of famous naturalist William Burchell’s return journey across the southern African veld 200 years ago was the mission authors Roger Stewart and Marion Whitehead set themselves in Burchell’s African Odyssey: Revealing the Return Journey 1812–1815.
‘Leaving a legacy of recipes for memorable meals brings me so much joy.’ – Zola Nene
Media personality, chef and cookbook author Zola Nene is cooking up a storm with her latest cookbook, Simply Seven Colours. Zola chatted to Lauren McDiarmid about the joys of cooking, her most favourite kitchen appliance and her biggest food combo fail.
Small Miracles – a novel about nuns and miracles that’s big on love
Small Miracles will take you on a joyful and uplifting journey as three nuns learn more about life, love and friendship than they could ever have imagined – and it all began with the seed of an idea planted in the mind of author Anne Booth.
Elizabeth Strout chats about her Booker Prize-shortlisted novel Oh William!
Elizabeth Strout is the Pulitzer Prize-winning, bestselling author of My Name is Lucy Barton. She chatted with Lauren McDiarmid about her novel, the 2022 Booker Prize-shortlisted Oh William!, which sees the much-anticipated return of her beloved character, Lucy, what made her continue with the series, and the person who inspired her to become a writer.
‘It doesn’t get bigger than Naspers and the billions Koos Bekker made from it’ – TJ Strydom
There is plenty to learn from South Africa’s most interesting entrepreneur, says TJ Strydom, financial journalist, game-show enthusiast and author of Koos Bekker’s Billions.
Five minutes with author Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu
Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu’s debut novel turned out to be the first in a trilogy. Not that she planned it that way. But now, she’s just written the last, The Quality of Mercy.