Dear Kalk Bay Readers, Please join us on 6 December, 6:30 for 7PM, at Studio Muse as we launch Kalk Bay's very own Dawn Garisch's short story collection, What Remains. Dawn will be in conversation with John Maytham. Love, Karavan Press

Dear Kalk Bay Readers, Please join us on 6 December, 6:30 for 7PM, at Studio Muse as we launch Kalk Bay's very own Dawn Garisch's short story collection, What Remains. Dawn will be in conversation with John Maytham. Love, Karavan Press


Listening to Finuala Dowling interviewing her daughter Beatrice Willoughby at the launch of her debut poetry collection – So, – at The Book Lounge last night felt like witnessing literary history in the making. The two have published and performed poetry together before, but with So, Beatrice is embarking on her own, individual path as a poet. She is bringing the love, nurture, talent, support, creativity of an entire community of creatives with her, and making it her own. So, is a remarkable debut. It will enchant you with its exquisite clarity.







Thank you to Beaty and Finuala for an evening of poetic magic, to The Book Lounge for hosting the event, and to everyone who was present for being there on this special evening.

One of South Africa’s finest short story writers, Diane Awerbuck, is launching her collection, Inside your body there are flowers, at The Book Lounge next week. She will be in conversation with Joanne Hichens, writer, editor and founder of Short.Sharp.Stories.

Short story enthusiast, please join us!

Striving for Social Equity, edited by Joy Watson and Ogochukwu Nzewi, is a collection of essays on experiences of social injustice in South Africa. While a few seasoned writers have contributed stories, the book was an initiative to primarily amplify voices that would not ordinarily get published. The stories in the book are about personal experiences of social inequity, illustrating how the ‘personal’ becomes ‘political.’ Focusing on poverty, land and spatial inequality, the construction of identity, poor quality government services and experiences of violence, the book is a must-read for all who care deeply about South Africa. It’s a call to remaining the future of country and why we have to save it.
Don’t miss this crucial conversation!
Please join us for the launch of this exquisite debut poetry collection. Beatrice will be in conversation with her mother Finuala Dowling.


It feels impossible for me to capture in a few words what it meant to launch Andrew Brown’s The Bitterness of Olives at The Book Lounge last night during the present time when the world the novel is set in has been shattered and the consequences of that shattering are reverberating in the Middle East and around the globe. So I just want to express my gratitude: to Andrew, for writing this story and speaking about it with such integrity and compassion; to Mervyn, for bringing this extraordinary novel to my attention, helping us to prepare it for publication and leading the discussion last night; to all who attended, for listening with open minds and hearts; to the Karavan support network, for never underestimating the power of storytelling and -sharing; and to Adara, for trying to find the way …














We officially welcomed Everyone Dies, the beautifully crafted, mesmerising debut collection of short fiction by Frankie Murrey, into the literary world at the Book Lounge launch last night. Frankie was in conversation with Mervyn Sloman. To hear her speak about her love for the written word was truly inspiring. It made me open my own notebook with a smile today.

Thank you to Frankie, Mervyn, The Book Lounge and all Readers and Writers who attended. A wonderful evening.



During the conversation, Frankie referred to the alphabet as “a gateway drug”. The way she uses letters and words in her exquisite writing will make your soul soar. No surprise, Everyone Dies was the bestselling book at The Book Lounge in September. Congratulations, Frankie!



And to all the Readers who are yet to discover her work: Happy reading!


Hearing Frankie Murrey speak about her debut, Everyone Dies, at the Open Book Festival last month was one of the highlights of the festival. It gives us great pleasure to invite you to the official launch of this exquisite book, and we hope to see you all at The Book Lounge on 16 October to celebrate the occasion. Frankie will be in conversation with Mervyn Sloman.
Please join us as we celebrate the official launch of Glass Tower by Sarah Isaacs, the inaugural Island Prize winner, published by Holland House in the UK and distributed locally by Karavan Press. Sarah will be in conversation with the prize’s founder, Karen Jennings. Let’s give both a warm welcome at The Book Lounge!

Please join us for the launch of this wonderful collection!
