
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
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.

Book launch: The Other Me by Joy Watson at Wordsworth Books in Sea Point
Joy Watson will be launching The Other Me in Sea Point next week! She will be in conversation with Emilie Gambade, Editor of Maverick Life (Daily Maverick).

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
Meet the Author podcast: Joy Watson at Woman Zone Book Club
First time novelist, but well practiced feminist researcher, Joy Watson’s The Other Me (Karavan Press) is an eye-opening book with a damaged but fascinating central character. Writer, editor, publisher Karina Szczurek digs deeper to get the back story…

Listen to the podcast here: MEET THE AUTHOR: Joy Watson

Last night at the Waterfront






Wherever she appears, Joy Watson is surrounded by love – human and literary – and last night’s launch of her novel at EB V&A Waterfront was no different. We were treated to an insightful, funny, moving discussion between Joy and John Maytham.
Joy’s comment on the event: “Last night’s book event at Exclusive Books was small and intimate. It was truly special – filled with all the ‘feels’. I laughed hard – John Maytham is incredibly conducive to raucous laughter. And I cried when Caroline Peters, for whom I have tremendous respect, got up to talk about my feminism and how, many years ago, in lieu of wedding gifts, I asked people to donate to the cause of violence against women. John was incredible as a discussant – bringing to the fore the most pertinent issues in my book. My heart is so full – my support crew was there and long-standing friends turned up to show love and support. I walked from that event feeling so blessed.”
Thank you to Joy and John, and to all the wonderful people who showed up to share the occasion with us.






JULY Woman Zone Book Club with Joy Watson
WZBC
First up we want to hear about the books you’ve been reading. Then we welcome Karina Szczurek, writer, publisher and literary critic, who will be in conversation with Joy Watson about her recently published novel The Other Me, described as funny, dark complex and heartbreaking.
Date: Saturday 9 July
Time: 10h00 to 12h00
Venue: Innovation Lounge, 2nd Floor, Artscape (next to the Opera bar)
The WZ Library Hub will be open after the meeting for borrowing and returning of books.
Now that Covid restrictions have been lifted let’s make this a bumper meeting!
Donation R30 for refreshments
RSVP: before 7 July hipzone@mweb.co.za
or 082 490 6652
Book Talk: Cathy Park Kelly at the Prince Albert Library
In Prince Albert next week? Lucky you!
Enjoy, and if you love reading and listening to inspiring women, catch Cathy Park Kelly at the local library next Monday.
Don’t miss it!


