Karina Author, Book, Distribution

Karavan Press and Protea Distribution become local distribution partners for ODETTE by Joëlle Searle

A story of a woman’s coming of age in war-torn Paris. Her challenges, adventures and passions.

Odette is a young, highly intelligent, headstrong Parisian woman, from a bourgeois military background. She finds herself flirting around the edges of a bohemian lifestyle during the heady days of resistance fighters and WWII. Her story takes us through her work in Paris at the French Ministry of Defence, their relocation to make way for German occupation, her meeting of an enigmatic man, her journey into a world of resistance fighters and espionage during which time she discovers the pleasures of womanhood and love.

Jean is Mauritian-born of a German father and an Irish/French mother. He is an enigma. Nobody really knows who he works for. Is he a spy or not, if so, for friend or foe? He is charismatic, a born leader and undertakes daring missions as lead of a Parisian resistance cadre. He is captured and interred at Gurs internment camp. His story takes us from Mauritius to the heart of Parisian artistes and intellectual bohemians, and to the underground resistance movement, where as a leader, he sets up escape routes for the Jews of Paris.

This is their story.

“An immersive and lively tale of love, resilience, and courage, Odette transports us back to another ear while telling a compelling, pacey adventure story.” – Penny Haw, author of The Invincible Miss Cust, Woman at the Wheel, and Follow Me to Africa

“Searle’s riveting tale of passion, heartache, and devastating betrayals kept me at the edge of my seat as I travelled back in time with her. Immerse yourself in this epic tale.” – Gail Gilbride, author of Under the African Sun and Cat Therapy

Publisher: Lulu.com, U.S.

South African distribution partner: Karavan Press and Protea Distribution

Publication date: October 2024

ISBN: 978-1300969679

JOËLLE SEARLE was born in Mauritius and came to South Africa aged two. She is retired and currently lives in Hout Bay at the southern tip of Africa with her husband Alf and a border terrier, Lulu. She has four children and eleven grandchildren.

If you are a bookseller, please contact Protea Distribution to order copies of Odette. If you are a reader, please ask your local bookshop to order the book for you via Protea Distribution.

Karina Author, Book

Karavan Press title: TEARS BEFORE BEDTIME by Diane Awerbuck

This is a little book of happiness. You’ll need someone in the room to read the really funny ones to. – PAIGE NICK

This is a joke book – a collection of real conversations I’ve had with my offspring, or that they’ve had with me, mostly against my will. I started keeping records for my own entertainment when they began to talk properly:

Two-year-old: What’s that?
Me: My nipple.
Two-year-old: Is it dead?

I regretted teaching them to speak once pre-adolescence and Covid lockdowns arrived – life phases with equivalent survival strategies and effects:

Nine-year-old: Good news! While you were in your meeting, I finished your puzzle!
Me: …
Nine-year-old: I could see it was too hard for you.

It’s still noisy here.

Thirteen-year-old: I don’t like boys.
Me: Okay.
Thirteen-year-old: I like cats.
Me: Okay!
Thirteen-year-old: So … not your daughter, then.

I hope it never ends. Life is a set-up, and parenting is the punchline. As my mother once said, ‘I hope one day you have children. And then we’ll see who’s laughing.’

Publication date: April 2025

ISBN: 978-0-6398626-0-6

DIANE AWERBUCK is a prizewinning writer, reviewer, editor and teacher. She writes femme/goth thrillers (Home Remedies); memoirs (Gardening at Night); pandemic cowboy thrillers (South, as Frank Owen; North, as Frank Owen); doctorates on trauma (The Spirit and the Letter); holy-wholly poetry (As above, so below); and short story collections (Cabin Fever; Inside your body there are flowers). Tears Before Bedtime is her latest offering. She hopes you are sitting comfortably.

Karina Author, Book

Karavan Press title: Of Salt, Dust and Love by Stephen Symons

The melancholy of loss—past, present or anticipated—of time passing, life lived and the futility of war weave through these short stories. Subtly crossing genres (military fiction, science fiction, historiographic metafiction, romance), and intertwining the poetic in the prose. Narrative resolutions are left open to further interpretation and imagining; provoking a re-reading of the stories.

– Glen Thompson

ISBN: 978-0-6398626-4-4

Publication date: April 2025

STEPHEN SYMONS has published poetry and short fiction in journals, magazines and anthologies, locally and internationally. His debut collection, Questions for the Sea (uHlanga, 2016), received an honourable mention for the 2017 Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, and was also shortlisted for the 2017 Ingrid Jonker Prize. His unpublished collection Spioenkop was a semi-finalist for the Hudson Prize for Poetry (USA) in 2015. His second collection, Landscapes of Light and Loss (Dryad Press), was published in 2018, and third collection, FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS POINTLESS AND PERFECT (Karavan Press), in 2020. Small Souls, a collection of collected and new poems was published in 2022 by Karavan Press. The collection was shortlisted for a South African Literary Award (2023) and includes the winning poem of the 2021 The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Competition, ‘Small Souls’. His The Algebra of Insignificance was published in 2024. Symons holds a PhD in History (University of Pretoria) and an MA in Creative Writing (University of Cape Town). He lives with his family in Oranjezicht, Cape Town. Of Salt, Dust and Love is his first collection of short stories.

Karina Festival

Karavan Press Literary Festival 2025

We are delighted to announce that the fourth KARAVAN PRESS LITERARY FESTIVAL is going to take place on Saturday, 12 April 2025, at the wonderful South African Centre for the Netherlands and Flanders – SASNEV – 4 Central Square, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405. Thank you to Eureka Barnard and the Staff of SASNEV for hosting us!

As part of the festival, Penny Haw, winner of the 2024 Philida Literary Award, will deliver the André Brink Memorial Lecture – 6 February 2025 was the 10th anniversary of André’s death, and on 29 May 2025, he would have turned 90. We will remember and celebrate together!

Also as part of the festival, Qarnita Loxton and Amy Heydenrych are offering a Creative Writing Workshop. For all details, please see below.

EVENT 1 09:30-10:15  LIFE AND LAUGHTER

Diane Awerbuck, Lisa Tredoux and Gail Gilbride speak to Nick Clelland about how to use humour in literature across the genres to address important themes that are not necessarily always funny.

EVENT 2 10:30-11:15  FINDING ONESELF

Sarah Isaacs, Anna Stroud, Kharys Ateh Laue and Lester Walbrugh talk to John Maytham about their young characters’ search for who they are and how they want to be in the world when the world is unwilling to cooperate.

COFFEE / TEA BREAK

EVENT 3 12:00-12:45  SECOND CHANCES

“Sometimes the only thing you can do to change is to leave.” (Qarnita Loxton)

Amy Heydenrych, Stephen Symons & Alex Latimer talk to Karina M. Szczurek about their characters’ opportunities for change.

EVENT 4 13:00-13:45 

ANDRÉ BRINK MEMORIAL LECTURE

“Influences and Legacies” – PENNY HAW, winner of the 2024 Philida Literary Award

FREE ENTRY TO ALL EVENTS AT SASNEV!

~ ~ ~

WORKSHOP 15:30-17:30

6 Banksia Road, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town

(Please note change of venue for the workshop!)

OPENING THE DOOR TO YOUR STORY 

Join authors and collaborators – QARNITA LOXTON and AMY HEYDENRYCH – for an intimate, nurturing creative writing workshop. Get to the heart of your story, uncover the theme of your writing project and work through any potential blocks to your creative writing process in a quiet, encouraging setting.

Snacks and drinks will be served.

The workshop is open to writers of all levels, including beginners. Only 10 spots available. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

To book your spot for the workshop, please contact Karina: karavanpressfestival@outlook.com

WORKSHOP FEE R300

Books will be available for sale at great prices throughout the festival!

Karina Author, Book, Distribution

Karavan Press and Protea Distribution become local distribution partners for AKHONA’S JOURNEY: A true life story from the Lulibo Project by Pharie Sefali and Deborah Ewing

Akhona’s Journey – A true life story from the Lulibo Project is about a young girl who grows up in a township and faces difficulties that threaten her childhood and family life. Through this seven-part book and the accompanying animated video, discover the profound impact of her experiences and the critical choices she makes to forge ahead.

In partnership with ACT Ubumbano, Lulibo Project is launching this series along with a transformative resource pack, which is intended to help educators and facilitators guide conversations and activities with young people about the issues raised in the series. The purpose is to support young people in difficult circumstances to avoid the challenges Akhona faces and to prevent and reduce the harm related to crime and exploitation.

The launch of Akhona’s Journey is not just about a series: it’s about igniting change. And that’s why the authors – Pharie Sefali and Deborah Ewing – created the resource pack, designed to equip activists and community members with the tools to spark thought-provoking conversations and inspire young people to become agents of change in their community.

Teaser for the animated video: Akhona’s Journey Trailer

Animated video: Akhona’s Journey

South African distribution partner: Karavan Press

Publisher: ACT Ubumbano

ISBN: 978-0-7961-7428-4

If you are a bookseller, please contact Protea Distribution to order copies of Akhona’s Journey. If you are a reader / educator / activist, please ask your local bookshop to order the book for you via Protea Distribution.

Karina Author, Book, Distribution

Karavan Press becomes the local distribution partner for BRAIDS & MIGRAINES by Andile Cele

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE THAT KARAVAN PRESS IS THE SOUTH AFRICAN DISTRIBUTION PARTNER FOR BRAIDS & MIGRAINES BY ANDILE CELE, RUNNER-UP FOR THE ISLAND PRIZE 2023.

ABOUT THE BOOK

“A novel of insight and emotion. Cele has the talent to both shatter and uplift, making her an invaluable new voice in South African literature.” The Island Prize Judges

“The beauty of this novel is that while it takes a close-up look at human strife, in doing so it shines a light on the humanity we all share.” From the Foreword by Rachel Edwards

When Nomandla is awarded a scholarship to attend the prestigious Cameron House for Girls in Durban, she thinks her life will improve. Instead it falls apart. Growing up in Ziyabuya township, Nomandla battles poverty, racism, and her own mental health. She is pursued by visions which result in her being hospitalised, and is then made to accompany her father on Saturdays to his gardening job at the home of the Smith family. It is here that she first encounters Casey, a girl who will play a significant role in turning her life upside down, destroying her hope of a better future. Meanwhile, at Cameron House, Nomandla learns that, as a scholarship girl, she is expected to showcase gratitude as well as her culture, being regarded as little more than a display of transformation, unity and acceptance. Unfortunately, the reality is very different.

Andile Cele’s beautiful debut novel considers the complexities around identity, its ties to shame, grief, and to South Africa’s painful history. Braids & Migraines follows Nomandla as she comes to a place of personal understanding and acceptance, without compromise.

South African distribution partner: Karavan Press

Publisher: Holland House Books, UK

Publication date: 17 April 2025

ISBN: 978-1-7391047-6-4

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANDILE CELE is a writer and communications specialist, born and raised in Stanger, KwaZulu-Natal. She was born in 1986, when apartheid was nearing its end – to a mother who has worked as a domestic worker all her adult life. She has three siblings; one of them, a brother, is autistic and nonverbal. Andile’s advocacy for mental health awareness stems from the experiences they faced as a family – with a member who was and still is, for the most part, misunderstood. Andile has a degree in Journalism from the Tshwane University of Technology, and a Creative Writing and Theory of Literature degree from the University of South Africa. She is an MA candidate at Stellenbosch University, where she is examining the depiction of intergenerational trauma in selected South African women’s writing. She is the current holder of the Gwen Knowles-Williams Bursary, administered by the English Academy of Southern Africa. She dedicates her writing to her mother. Her short fiction has been published in Botsotso and Short.Sharp.Stories.

If you are a bookseller, please contact BOOKSITE to order copies of Braids & Migraines. If you are a reader, please ask your local bookshop to order the book for you via Booksite.

Karina Interview

Love Letter: A refuge for books – Karin Schimke interviews Karina Szczurek

Books are asylum

To say that Karina Szczurek finds refuge in books is to understate the matter. Books held her together through dispossession, flight and years of being a refugee. Certain books have travelled with her across three continents and four countries, through languages, and through love and loss.

For a long time, her mornings have begun with books – two to three hours of reading before the day begins. She has written, studied, translated and edited books.

Now she publishes them. The story of her publishing house – which has published a long string of disparate and often unusual books, and has accumulated several prizes in just six years of existence – is also a story of refuge …

Continue reading:

LOVE LETTER by Karin Schimke