Karina Author, Book, Interview

Avbob Poetry: A creative lifeline in Women’s Month

This month, Avbob Poetry is celebrating women poets: “Melissa Sussens is a debut poet, writing strong and tender work about women’s reality – their love, mercy at work, and the relentless struggle against gender-based violence.”

You can read an interview with her here: A lifeline of creation in Women’s Month – with Melissa Sussens    

Melissa’s debut collection of poetry, Slaughterhouse, will be published by Karavan Press.

Karina Author, Book, Event

Karavan Press at Open Book Festival, 2-4 September

JOY WATSON

FORCED TO MOVE

Dianne Du Toit Albertze, Fred Khumalo and Joy Watson speak to Bettina Wyngaard about migrating to survive.

LEGAL ACTIVISM

Sean Davison (assisted suicide), Joy Watson (GBV) and Matthew Wilhelm-Solomon (urban housing) speak to Bronwyn Pithey about using the courts as tools for transforming our society.

MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

Pulane Mlilo Mpondo, Yewande Omotoso and Margie Orford unpick mother-daughter relationships in the company of Joy Watson.

LESTER WALBRUGH

VALUE AND VISIBILITY

Dianne Du Toit Albertze, Chase Rhys and Lester Walbrugh discuss the politics of being seen with Haji Mohamed Dawjee.

To see the full programme, click here:

OPEN BOOK FESTIVAL 2022

Karina Author, Book, Event

Karavan Press authors talk about love and relationships at the UJW’s Stonehaven

Last week, Joy Watson, Cathy Park Kelly and Melissa A. Volker spoke to Karina M. Szczurek about love and relationships in their lives and writing at the beautiful Stonehaven, the home of the Union of Jewish Women (UJW). Thank you to the UJW for hosting, thank you to the authors for their insights and laughter, and to everyone who attended with such generosity of spirit. A beautiful evening!

Thank you, Bernie Shelly, for being there and for sharing a few photographs with us!

Karina Author, Book, Review

Karen Watkins reviews The Other Me by Joy Watson

The Other Me is fast-paced, lively and with convincing characters who come, go and come again at Lolly’s bidding.

It will have you mesmerised and wanting more; to see the next mess she gets into and more importantly, how she gets out of it.

Lolly is resourceful, funny and captivating but also vulnerable, lonely and rejects violence.

Laugh at her, squeal and squirm, Lolly is a detestable character but in the best possible way.

It’s a delightful binge-worthy read.

Southern Suburbs Tatler

Read the entire review here: Southern Suburbs Tatler

Karina Author, Book, Event

Joy Watson in Joburg!

Joburg, you are in for a literary treat of note! Joy Watson will be launching her debut novel, The Other Me, at three different events next week. We hope to see you at at least one of them, if not all!

First up: Exclusive Books Nicolway, Wednesday, 20 July. Joy will be in conversation with author Angela Makholwa.

On Thursday, 21 July, Joy will be at Book Circle Capital and in conversation with media powerhouse and author Joanne Joseph.

Last, but not least, Friday, 22 July: a literary dinner at Tommy’s Bar where you will enjoy a light meal and a discussion between Joy and author/editor Sue Nyathi. Bridge Books and the Heinrich Boell Foundation are co-hosting.

Karina Author, Event, Festival

Open Book Festival Workshop Week: Two Workshops with Life Righting Collective’s Dawn Garisch

The Life Righting Collective has been running powerful workshops for a number of years and those who have attended any of them can attest to their ability to transform how one understands one’s own story. Dawn Garisch will facilitate two full day workshops on the 26th and 27th of July. Please note that these two workshops are not connected. If you would like to attend both, you will need to complete two bookings.

Have a look at other Open Book Festival workshops here: Open Book Workshop Programme