Karina Author, Book, Event

The one thing that will sell your story … by Cathy Park Kelly

Wonderful advice by Cathy Park Kelly, author of Boiling a Frog Slowly:

I only went to the monthly literary event, a conversation between author James Whyle, author of We Two from Heaven, and John Maytham, a local radio personality, at our local library because I had to.

I’m on the Friends of Fish Hoek Library committee and we were on duty one recent wintery Saturday morning.

The blurb of the book had done the opposite of grab me – words on the back like ‘palimpsest’ and ‘four-part fugue’ had convinced me it was not my kind of book. It sounded like hard work to read, and too ‘literary’ to enjoy.

But the interview with the author, James Whyle, by resonant-voiced and insightful John Maytham, convinced me otherwise. Whyle’s responses to the questions were sometimes rambling, sometimes off-beat, but always candid and thought-provoking. And so I bought the book.

Continue reading: “The one thing that will sell your story …”

Karina Author, Book, Event, Interview

The Book Revue with Frankie Murrey

Our first book event with the wonderful Pippa Smith of The Book Revue will be taking place next Wednesday at 11.30AM in the Christchurch Constantia Hall and will feature Frankie Murrey with her second collection of stories, A Collection of Gaps, published in a limited box edition. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Open Book Festival. You don’t want to miss this special celebration!

Karina Event

Woman Zone Book Swap

Join Woman Zone Cape Town for their first-ever BOOK SWAP, celebrating the power of stories FOR, BY, and ABOUT Women as part of the Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival!

🗓 Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025
⏰ Time: 13:00 – 15:00
📍 Location: Theatre Foyer Well at Artscape

How it works:
Bring up to 10 books from your collection and swap them out for new reads to take home! Feel free to bring extra books; these will either be added to the WZ Library or donated to a charity supporting women’s literacy and empowerment.

Woman Zone is thrilled to partner with leading publishing houses who will contribute exciting new releases to the swap.

Swap Rules:

Please bring books that are in good, readable condition.
Only books you would personally recommend to others, to ensure quality and enjoyment for all.
Arrive early to get the best picks!
Come for the books, stay for the vibrant festival vibes! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect, share stories, and celebrate women’s voices. RSVP today and join the celebration! 

Karina Event

Salon Hecate at Noordhoek Art Point

Salon Hecate | 5 August, Noorhoek Art Point Gallery

We still have cold and wet months ahead, but it feels like winter might be on the wane. That means it’s time for the annual Nurture and Nourish Salon! Which will take place on Tuesday evening, 5 August. And although the way Women’s Month is marketed is problematic, August does turn our thoughts to the human qualities often assigned as “natural” to women — nurturing, co-operation, love in action — and it’s worth celebrating these.

The focus of the Salon will be on poetry: confirmed readers of words of beauty and comfort include poet, photographer, rower and bassonist Liesl Jobson; storyteller, singer and memorist Philippa Kabali-Kagwa; publisher extraordinaire Karina Szczurek; and chronicler of the Deep South, Diane Awerbuck. Fantasy fundi Nerine Dorman will give us a taste of none other than Tolkein’s writings on food, and there’ll be a short story featuring the humble sweet potato and a magical soup.

And yes, there will be homemade soup (vegan)! Paper cups will be provided, but if you remember, please bring your travel mug and a spoon.

This will be a time for warmth and closeness, for beautiful words, tastes and images. We are bitterly mindful of those suffering hunger, thirst and cold at present; this Salon will present a chance to appreciate and give thanks for our many comforts, including those supplied by friends, art, poetry, fynbos and beaches close by; the simple luxuries of boiling a kettle for a hot drink and food in the pantry.

If you are able, it would be much appreciated if you could bring along a tin of food, a jar of jam, spread or peanut butter, or a packet of seasoning or similar to pop into a box to donate to My Father’s House, which feeds two thousand vulnerable and unsheltered adults and children. Visit their website here for more information: https://www.myfathershouse.org.za/

Time: 5.30 for 6, to end at 7pm.

Attendance is free, with soup and wine/juice served. Donations are welcome, but absolutely not obligatory. Vegetarians/vegans are always catered for.

Karina Author, Book, Event

Shift from Storyteller to Story Seller with Cathy Kelly and the Life Righting Collective

Are you an author about to send your book out into the world? Does the thought of marketing make you cringe?

Then this two-hour online interactive workshop – Shift from Storyteller to Story Seller – is for you. Reframe ‘marketing’ from a blush-worthy grind to an enthusiastic and energised adventure. 

Cathy Kelly, author of Boiling a Frog Slowly, is thrilled to offer it as part of the Life Righting Collective Writer’s Way Series 2. 

This workshop will help you reignite your passion for your story by showing you three practical steps to reimagine your story’s narrative power and find your readers. 

More info: Life Righting Collective

Karina Author, Event

WRITING SHORT with Kerry Hammerton and the Life Righting Collective

Sometimes we have a personal story we want to tell but it feels too large or too overwhelming. What would it mean if you wrote that story as a piece of flash? Join writer and writing facilitator Kerry Hammerton to explore the art of writing flash creative non-fiction/memoir and fiction, or writing short. We will read interesting examples of flash and use them as a stepping stone to generate writing. The workshop will be interactive with a number of exercises and creative ways of exploring writing ideas. You will leave with a number of pieces of writing that you can edit and incorporate into a larger piece of work.

“Writing is a mode of reading is a mode of writing is a mode of thinking is a mode of feeling.” Lance Olsen

For more details see: Life Righting Collective

Karina Author, Book, Event

Poetry Evening next to the fireplace with Sarah Frost, Chantal Stewart and Lucienne Argent

Background photo fragment: Joël de Vriend | Unsplash

Dear Poetry Lovers,

Please join us for an evening of poetry next to the fireplace with Sarah Frost, Chantal Stewart and Lucienne Argent.

Sarah, who recently published her second collection of poetry with Karavan Press – River Fugue – is based in Durban, but she is visiting Cape Town towards the end of the month, and we are using this wonderful opportunity to spend an evening in her company. Together with Chantal Stewart, author of the award-winning novel The Veil of Maya who will be publishing her debut poetry collection with Karavan Press later this year, Let’s Be Legends, and Lucienne Argent, whose debut, Self-Portrait of a Guava, has been warming reader’s hearts since its publication in December last year, Sarah will be in conversation with Karina M. Szczurek, and all three poets will read from their collections. We will have a lovely fire, snacks and wine will be served, and books will be on sale. Not to be missed!

Limited space. Please RSVP as soon as possible to avoid disappointment: RSVP

We look forward to seeing you on the 31st!

Karina Event

Coffee with Karavan Press – July

You are invited to the third of six planned gatherings this year where you can chat to me, Karina, founder and publisher of Karavan Press, and likeminded writers and readers over a cup of coffee – or tea, of course – about anything related to book-writing-editing-publishing-reading. Karavan Press’s home will be open, and I will be ready to answer your questions and discuss your projects.

No need to RSVP. Just ring the bell between 10AM and 12PM on Saturday, 5 July 2025. Coffee and tea will be served. Karavan Press books will be on sale at great prices.