Karina Author, Book, Event, Festival

Karavan Press and Friends at Open Book Festival 2023

In their latest newsletter, The Book Lounge, wrote the following about Karavan Press:

Karavan Press is a small publishing house owned and run by Karina Szczurek, seriously punching above its weight. We are so grateful to Karina for publishing so many wonderful books that we thought we should shine a light on some of the books she is responsible for that will be featured at Open Book Festival:

Everyone Dies by Frankie Murrey ~ An exquisite debut collection of stories – I will be cajoling Frankie on to the stage to talk about Everyone Dies. – Mervyn

A Crowded Lonely Walk by Sipho Banda ~ In this riveting poetry collection, Sipho Banda delves into the daily happenings of the ubiquitous but anonymous working class, and restores dignity to those whose lived experiences so often go overlooked. – Belinda

Glass Tower by Sarah Isaacs ~ Glass Tower is the winner of the inaugural Island Prize for debut fiction from Africa.

Inside your body there are flowers by Diane Awerbuck ~ an incredibly versatile writer who returns to the genre for which she is best known – the short story – in this new collection which is nothing short of superb.

The Bitterness of Olives is set in Gaza and Israel and is Andrew’s finest novel. Empathetic, thought provoking, beautifully written with the pace of a thriller. – Mervyn

Striving for Social Equity edited by Joy Watson and Ogochuku Nzewi ~ an invaluable gathering of voices touching on the very real challenges facing South Africans today.

What Remains by Dawn Garisch ~ new collection of stories from one of our best-loved writers that deals with relationships, ageing and so much more.

Karina will be participating in a discussion about the future of publishing.

The Book Lounge

We are immensely grateful for the encouragement and support! And this is how we will be “punching” at Open Book Festival 2023:

Open Book Festival 2023 Programme

Watch out for Karavan Press authors and Friends (we are lucky distribution partners for Glass Tower by Sarah Isaacs and Cat Therapy by Gail Gilbride):

Book your tickets here:

Open Book Festival – Webtickets

Karina Author, Book, Event

Sindiwe Magona’s 80th

Portrait by Danielle Clough

Dr Sindiwe Magona turns 80 today and on behalf of all of us in the literary community whose lives she has touched with her inspiration, wonder and wisdom, I would like to simply say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY and THANK YOU!

Together with compilers – Sindiwe’s daughter, Thokozile Sayedwa, and Nancy Richards – as well as all the amazing contributors, Karavan Press celebrates Sindiwe’s 80th with the publication of Sindiwe’s Gift, a collection of personal essays by only a few of the people whose journeys have been enriched by Sindiwe’s presence in their lives.

Yesterday, family, friends and Sindiwe’s Gift contributors gathered at Artscape to honour Dr Sindiwe Magona at 80 and to celebrate her own collection of essays, I Write the Yawning Void (Wits UP, 2023), as well as Sindiwe’s Gift as part of the Woman Zone / Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival MILESTONES:  Celebrating, Supporting and Empowering Women of Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

The first copy of Sindiwe’s Gift was presented to Sindiwe by Thoko, who also praised her mother and thanked her for being her best friend. The all-woman marimba band Women Unite welcomed everyone with the warmth of their sound, happy birthday was sung, dancing occurred spontaneously, contributors said a few words, Nancy interviewed Sindiwe, the birthday cake was delicious, there was a lot of laughter and hugging, and tears of joy were shed.

If we could have bottled the energy of the occasion, it would have powered the country for the next decade. And if she were put in charge of things, Sindiwe would need only a tenth of the time to sort us all out. Her intellect, talent, compassion and generosity have no equals. It is impossible to put into words what a gift she and her work have been to all of us in South Africa, and way beyond.

“Wake up to yourself!” Sindiwe said.

Thank you, Sindiwe!

Gratitude to Thoko, Nancy, Woman Zone, Artscape and all who celebrated with us. Danielle Clough, thank you for allowing us to use your portrait for the cover, and Monique Cleghorn, for the beautiful design of the book! And thank you to all the Sindiwe’s Gift contributors:

Two of our contributors, Bergliot Dallas and Rosemary Gray, celebrate their birthdays with Sindiwe today. Happy Birthday to you!

All profits from the publication of Sindiwe’s Gift will be donated to Sparklekids, an organisation close to Sindiwe’s heart.

Karina Author, Book, Event

“Twenty tales about life’s great challenges”: Karen Watkins reports on the launch of WHAT REMAINS by Dawn Garisch

Kalk Bay author Dawn Garisch launched a collection of short stories, What Remains, at the Book Lounge on Thursday August 17. She was in conversation with Mignonne Breier, winner of the 2022 Sunday Times Literary Award for non-fiction.

Published by Karavan Press, the book of 20 stories has taken Dr Garisch, who is also a medical doctor, poet, playwright, film producer and teacher, 20 years to complete …

Continue reading: Sentinel News

Here are a few more images from the launch:

Karina Author, Book, Event, Festival

Lethokuhle Msimang at the Durban International Book Fair, 9-13 August 2023

The Durban International Book Fair is taking place between 9 and 13 August, and Lethokuhle Msimang will be returning to her hometown to speak about The Frightened.

9 August:

12:00-13:00 | Lethokuhle Msimang The Frightened (Alan Paton Stage)

16:00-17:00 | Black women in the arts: challenging the notion of subservience, with Gcina Mhlophe, LethokuhleMsimang and Mbali Malimela (Phyllis Naidoo Stage)

Click here for the full programme: DIBF 2023

Karina Author, Book, Event

Pretoria launch of THE FREIGHTENED by Lethokuhle Msimang

The Frightened by Lethokuhle Msimang is partly set in Paris. Lethokuhle herself lived and studied in Paris and has continued learning French at the Alliance Française de Pretoria. The institute has invited her to launch her novella with them. If you are in Pretoria on 20 July, this is your opportunity to meet Lethokuhle and to celebrate the launch of her stunning book with her. She will be in conversation with Thobile Ndimande.

Karina Author, Book, Event

Rosebank Writers: Book talk with Kerry Hammerton

Photo credit: Digby Young

A poetry morning next to the fireplace. Rosebank Writers and Friends gathered yesterday next to a cosy fire to listen to Kerry Hammerton speak about and read from her latest poetry collection, afterwards. I (Karina) had the privilege to ask the questions. It was a beautiful way to begin the weekend: hearing Kerry speak about her work was nourishment for the soul and the mind.

Thank you to all who attended, especially all the Rosebank Writers. Thank you also to Kim Gurney for recording the conversation and Digby Young for the photographs.

The Rosebank Writers have been meeting for almost a year now and are going from strength to strength.

All photographs: Digby Young

Karina Author, Book, Event

Cape Town launch of THE FRIGHTENED by Lethokuhle Msimang

We are thrilled to announce that Lethokuhle Msimang will be in Cape Town on 13 July and will be launching her novella, The Frightened, at The Book Lounge. She will be in conversation with Mohale Mashigo. Need we say more? You have got to be there! RSVP details below:

Lethokuhle won’t be joining us for the Open Book Festival later this year, so if you would like to meet her and get your copy of The Frightened signed, this is the opportunity!