Karina Author, Book, Prize

2026 UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans: KORTLYSTE

Die UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans word toegeken aan uitnemende tekste in enige genre wat oorspronklik in Afrikaans geskryf is en in die vorige kalenderjaar verskyn het.

65 boeke wat in 2025 gepubliseer is, was vir hierdie jaar ingeskryf: 50 vir die UJ-prys en 15 vir die UJ-debuutprys.

Die UJ-pryse is in 2001 vir die eerste maal toegeken, toe as die RAU Mardene Maraisprys: die gevolg van die inisiatief en skenking van dr Fanie Marais van Cordis Trust. Sedert 2005, met die stigting van die Universiteit van Johannesburg, staan die pryse bekend as die UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans.

Vir die tweede agtereenvolgende jaar is geen dramatekste ingeskryf nie, terwyl ongeveer ’n derde van die inskrywings digbundels was: 20 in totaal, met 5 hiervan debute. 

Die volgende boeke, alfabeties volgens outeur, is deur die beoordelaars uitgesonder vir die kortlyste van die 2026 UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans.

2026 UJ-debuutprys vir Afrikaans

  • Ek’t / Act deur Klara du Plessis (Karavan Press)
  • waar daar eens ‘n see was deur Jennifer Pape (Turksy Uitgewers)
  • Kruiper – Crawler deur Shane van der Hoven (Uhlanga Press)

2026 UJ-prys vir Afrikaans

  • Patmos – Willem Anker (Queillerie, Jonathan Ball)
  • Kolam – Fourie Botha (Protea Boekhuis)
  • Klein konings – Theo Kemp (Protea Boekhuis)
  • Die binnerym van bloed – Antjie Krog (Penguin)
  • Prins – Ryan Pedro (Kwela, Jonathan Ball)

Die kortlyste van die UJ-pryse het deur die jare goeie verteenwoordiging van digbundels getoon, maar dit is opvallend dat al drie titels op die kortlys vir die debuutprys, en ook twee titels op die kortlys vir die UJ-prys digbundels is. Dit is ook die eerste maal dat die kortlys vir die debuutprys slegs kleiner, onafhanklike uitgewerye verteenwoordig.

Van harte geluk aan die skrywers en uitgewers!

Die paneel beoordelaars vir die 2026 UJ-pryse vir Afrikaans, is prof Reinhard Fourie (UNISA), me Mercy Kannemeyer (UJ), dr Dewald Koen (NMU), dr Janien Linde (NWU), me Elodi Troskie (UK) en prof Karen de Wet (UJ, voorsitter).

Die aankondiging van die wenners word volgende week verwag.

Van harte geluk aan Klara!

Karina Author, Book, Event, Festival

Stephen Symons is headline guest of this year’s Karoo Writers Festival

Taking place in Cradock, Olive Schreiner’s childhood home, in the Eastern Cape from 18 to 20 June 2026, this year’s edition of the Karoo Writers Festival is hosted jointly by Amazwi South African Museum of Literature and the Victoria Manor Hotel.

The headline guest this year is Stephen Symons, whose fifth poetry collection The Algebra of Insignificance won the 2026 Olive Schreiner Prize for Poetry.

Catch him at the following events:

Thursday, 18 June, Victoria Manor Hotel, 19:00

AVBOB Showcase with music by ACCESS Music, featuring Stephen Symons, 2026 Olive Schreiner Prize Winner for Poetry for The Algebra of Insignificance & Clinton V du Plessis, AVBOB Afrikaans Poetry Winner, reading from his latest poetry collection, Maar steeds sal daar miskien.

Friday, 19 June, Victoria Manor Hotel, 08:30-10:30

Stephen Symons: ‘Why poetry matters … especially in the classroom’

Saturday, 20 June, Victoria Manor Hotel, 10:00

Stephen Symons: ‘The highs and lows of my writing journey’

More info: Brittle Paper

Full programme: Karoo Writers Festival

Karina Author, Book

“Invisible Mending” by Dawn Garisch

In March, LIRIC Journal published a wonderful essay on life and creativity by Dawn Garisch. You can read it online here:

“Invisible Mending”

Abstract

One aspect of creative writing not well understood or researched is how associations from the unconscious can bring spontaneous and unexpected insights and connections to the writer’s awareness. This feature promotes wellbeing by providing motivation to alter harmful attitudes and behaviour. From linguistics comes the term mirativity, which expresses a speaker’s surprise at the discovery of new information. Mirativity can also apply to the creative writing process, when unforeseen and beneficial material appears from idiosyncratic associations, and therefore cannot be reproduced by AI. Creative writing is a low-cost, inbuilt resource to help people manage their lives and circumstances, to bear witness to influence policy change, and to improve self-care.

Dawn Garisch is an author and medical doctor. She is a founding member of the Life Righting Collective (liferighting.com), running writing courses. She has had seven novels, poetry, short stories, a nonfiction work, and a memoir published. She has had five plays and a short film produced, and has written for television. Dawn has won numerous awards for her published works.

Karavan Press published the following titles by Dawn:

Karina Author, Book, Literary Awards

Sunday Times Literary Awards longlists

The Sunday Times Literary Awards longlists are out and we are thrilled to have three titles on the Fiction Prize longlist and one on the Non-Fiction Prize longlist!

FICTION PRIZE

SALT WATER POOL BOY by PETER-ADRIAN ALTINI
ICE SHOCK by ELLEKE BOEHMER
THE FOURTH BOY by ANDREW ROBERT WILSON

NON-FICTION PRIZE

HOW TO BUILD A HOUSE IN THE MOUNTAINS by ROGER LUCEY

Click here for the full longlists:

Sunday Times Literary Awards

Congratulations to all longlisted authors!

Karina Author, Book, Festival

Karavan Press and Indeed Books at the KBF 2026

The Kingsmead Book Fair always offers a fabulous lineup, and this year is no different. Hosted by the Kingsmead College, the 14th iteration of the annual Book Fair, will be taking place on Saturday, 23 May 2026, from 08h30 to 18h00, in Johannesburg, opposite the Rosebank Gautrain station.

This year, Karavan Press and Indeed Books feature on the children and teen programme:

School Girl or Celebrity? – It’s All Alien to Me!
It’s not easy being a famous television star especially when you must navigate your first day at high school ever! 🌟 As she longs to be a ‘normal’ teen, Lexi James faces school bullies, an online stalker, and family challenges. Through fun activities and discussions, with author Pamela Newham, uncover Lexi’s journey of self-discovery and the importance of friendship in My Three Names. Can Lexi find her true self amidst the chaos? Let’s find out together!
Age: 14+

Blast Off with Laughter!
Join us for an out-of-this-world adventure with Farting in Outer Space by Nick Clelland! This colourful and humorous picture book explores the themes of gender and acceptance, reminding us that girls and boys are all human—and that’s something to celebrate! Get ready for giggles and engaging discussions as we discover how differences can bring us together, one funny fart at a time!
Age: 5+

Watch out also for Anna Stroud and Michael Boyd, who are chairing sessions on the programme for adult readers.

FULL PROGRAMME HERE: KBF 2026

TICKETS: WEBTICKETS

Karina Author, Book

Karavan Press title: Farting in Outer Space by Nick Clelland, illustrated by Marta Pucci

What happens when a book decides to talk – and fart – for itself? Farting in Outer Space turns bathroom humour into laughs while boldly celebrating the freedom to be whoever you are. Joyful, inclusive, and unapologetically funny. It’s a perfect read-aloud for families who want stories that make kids laugh and think.

A raucous, cheeky book with fart jokes and a simple truth: there are no rules about what or who you can like.

NICK CLELLAND wrote this book for his daughter, Elizabeth, when she was 4 – she’s 13 now! Nick lives in Cape Town, rides bicycles too much and writes books for all ages.

MARTA PUCCI is an Italian illustrator and designer living in Berlin. She makes books about big topics and tiny tots. When she’s not drawing, she’s near the water, saying hi to every dog she meets.

Publication date: May 2026

ISBN: 978-1-0492-8810-9

Karina Author, Book, Event, Festival

ELGIN POETRY FESTIVAL: 24-26 July 2026

Together with Cheverells Farm and Liberty Books, we are delighted to invite you to the inaugural Elgin Poetry Festival in the stunning Elgin! Between 24 and 26 July 2026, Cheverells Farm and Liberty Books will be home to a series of events – discussions, readings, a launch and a workshop – celebrating poetry with all poetry lovers. The festival will commence with a Friday night fine dining & poetry evening and continue over the weekend.

Friday, 24 July 2026

18:30 for 19:00 Cheverells Farm: Friday night fine dining & poetry evening, featuring John Maytham reading words by Finuala Dowling.

An unforgettable evening of fine dining and poetry at The Cheverells Farm Shed as we celebrate the launch of the very first Elgin Poetry Festival on Friday, 24 July 2026.

Your ticket includes a welcome drink, delicious canapés, and a beautifully curated three-course meal – all enjoyed alongside a special live poetry reading by John Maytham, who will bring the words of Finuala Dowling to life in an intimate and atmospheric setting.

Proceeds from the ticket sales for this event will go to an NPO in Grabouw called Siphila Sonke. Funds will be donated to their Kids Club, which provides approximately 100 children a place for creative and academic stimulation in a safe and fun environment.

BOOK YOUR TICKET HERE: FINE DINING AND POETRY EVENING

On Saturday we are hosting the following events (for the free events please book your ticket as the numbers are limited):

Saturday, 25 July 2026

At The Shed, Cheverells Farm

09:00–10:00 Poetry as Resistance

10:15–11:15 Writing Between Languages

11:30–12:30 Writing What’s Hard

14:00–15:00 The Geography of Poetry

15:15–16:45 OPEN MIC (free event)

At Liberty Books, Peregrine Farm Stall

18:00–19:30 Karavan Press poetry anthology book launch (free event, booking essential)

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE: ELGIN POETRY FESTIVAL

Sunday, 26 July 2026

10:00–13:00 An intimate poetry workshop with Kerry Hammerton and Melissa Sussens.

BOOK BY EMAILING KARAVAN PRESS: POETRY WORKSHOP

Workshop fee: R550. Tickets are limited. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

For visitors wanting to stay in Elgin during the Elgin Poetry Festival weekend, Cheverells Farm offers cosy cottages … soft linens, warm light, and peaceful farm mornings included. From 1 May 2026, book two nights and enjoy your third night on Cheverells Farm.

Slow down, breathe in the fresh air, and savour the simple pleasures of farm life.

BOOK HERE: CHEVERELLES FARM ACCOMMODATION