Karina Author, Book, Literary Award

How to Build a House in the Mountains by Roger Lucey shortlisted for the 2026 Sunday Times Non-Fiction Award

The 2026 Sunday Times Literary Awards shortlists have been announced earlier today and we are thrilled to share the news that Roger Lucey’s How to Build a House in the Mountains has been shortlisted for the Non-Fiction Award!

Non-Fiction Award Criteria

The illumination of truthfulness, especially those forms of it that are new, delicate, unfashionable and fly in the face of power; compassion; elegance of writing; and intellectual and moral integrity.

Judges

Shylock Matsunyane (chair), Bronwyn Williams, Lorraine Sithole

Chair of judges Shylock Matsunyane says of How to Build a House in the Mountains: “a prime example of a plain, truthful story that is beautifully written, told and deeply owned by the author.”

Judges say: “A pure pleasure to read. You fall in love with the narration of the story and its humorous descriptiveness.”

Congratulations, Roger, and all shortlisted authors!

For more details, please see: Sunday Times

Karina Author, Book, Prize

Malika Lueen Ndlovu wins the 2026 University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing

The University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing (UJ Prize) in English has announced its 2026 winners: Michelle Kekana was awarded the Debut Prize for The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women (Jacana), and Malika Lueen Ndlovu the Main Prize for Griefseed (Karavan Press).

The prize is open to South African works in English across genres and was judged this year by a five-person panel from three universities: Prof Nedine Moonsamy of the University of Johannesburg (Chair), Prof Sikhumbuzo Mngadi and Prof Marzia Milazzo, both also of UJ, Prof Rebecca Fasselt of the University of Pretoria, and Dr Wisani Mushwana of the University of Cape Town. Prof Moonsamy described the judging process as an encouraging one for South African letters. “The quality of submissions was exceptionally high and offered a reassuring view of the contemporary South African literary landscape,” she said. “As usual, we have read across genres to select our winners.”

Kekana’s The Fragile Mental Health of Strong Women took the Debut Prize by unanimous decision, with judges praising the novel’s raw, refreshing portrait of Black South African women and its experimental, luminous quality.

Ndlovu’s Griefseed emerged as this year’s uncontested Main Prize winner. Jury member Marzia Milazzo called the collection, which weaves together poems, reflections, essays, and images, “an extraordinary collection on grief that moves, empowers, and, ultimately, heals.” Milazzo pointed to the book’s insistence on expression over suppression, quoting Ndlovu’s own line from the work: “Let the wound weep.”

Congratulations to all nominated authors and the winners, especially Malika Lueen Ndlovu – thank you for publishing this exceptional book with Karavan Press!

For more information, see: Brittle Paper