Karina Author, Book, Event

Bad Luck Penny by Amy Heydenrych to be launched at The Book Lounge

Amy Heydenrych is visiting our beautiful Cape later this month, and we will be launching her latest novel, Bad Luck Penny, at The Book Lounge on 18 April. Amy will be in conversation with one of her Chasing Marian co-authors, Qarnita Loxton. A literary celebration awaits!

About the book:

IN THE WAKE OF HER beloved grandfather’s death, Lou and her family gather at their coastal family home for a long-awaited family reunion. The windswept and wild surroundings remind Lou of who she was before being a mother, a wife, and a professional failure. They bring back memories of Michael, her toxic first love and, according to the family, her ‘bad luck penny’. A shocking crisis in the country disrupts the funeral arrangements and forces the family together for longer than planned. As secrets rise to the surface, the threads of Lou’s life unravel and she faces a difficult choice – after all, it’s only a bad luck penny if you pick it up.

Karina Author, Book, Event

‘The Algebra of Insignificance’ by Stephen Symons to be launched at Wordsworth Books Gardens

“This poet is a gem,” says David Keplinger, and anyone who has ever encountered Stephen Symons’s poetry will understand the sentiment. The Algebra of Insignificance is as beautiful and intriguing as its title. Don’t miss this special launch at Wordsworth Books Gardens. Stephen will be in conversation with John Maytham. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Karina Author, Book, Event

Love Stories for Ghosts by Alex Latimer to be launched at The Book Lounge

Alex says: “If you’re in Cape Town on the 4th of April, come along to the launch of my first ever short story collection – Love Stories for Ghosts. (I normally make books for children, but this one isn’t.) I’ll be chatting to Sam Wilson and there’ll be wine for free and books for sale. I’m really very proud of this collection – I’ve been writing these stories over the past eight years and they’re fun and weird and sincere and often Death shows up with a cup of rooibos tea. Plus the stories are accompanied by some truly incredible photographs by Guy Neveling. Hope to see you there!”

Love Stories for Ghosts will make you think about the mystery of death, and it will make you delight in the beauty of life. Can’t wait to listen to Alex and Sam talk about this remarkable collection and its ghosts!

Karina Author, Book, Event

The Bitterness of Olives launched at Liberty Books

We launched The Bitterness of Olives by Andrew Brown at Liberty Books last night. Andrew always knew that it would be difficult to talk about his latest novel which is set at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but no one could have predicted just how topical the book would become. It was published in time for the Open Book Festival in early September, almost exactly a month before the 7th of October. Since then, the world the novel is set in has once again been completely shattered by violence and suffering. It has become even more fraught to discuss the novel in the context of our tragic present, but the way Christy Weyer and Andrew spoke about it last night was soul-restoring. Thank you both for your kindness, integrity and courage! Thank you for offering insight and gentleness at a time when both are deeply needed.

Thank you to all who attended, but especially to Karavan Press authors Lester Walbrugh and Joanne Hichens for your continued support!

Lester also baked fresh bread (best in the country!) for the occasion, and fittingly, we enjoyed it with olives. Thank you, Lester!

Lester also shared the good news with us that one of his stories from Let It Fall Where It Will has been turned into a short film which will premier in the new year, and that he has finished editing the first Afrikaans book that Karavan Press will publish, a memoir by Erika Viljoen!

Launching The Bitterness of Olives at Liberty Books was the perfect way to end a year of exciting book events. Thank you to Christy for being a champion of local literature, for inviting us to share our stories with the wonderful readers of Elgin and for leading the conversations that make us believe that what we do is meaningful to others.

Dear festive season travellers! If you are on the N2 in Grabouw, stop at Liberty Books for your holiday read fix. You will not regret it!

Karina Author, Book, Event

So, by Beatrice Willoughby launched at The Book Lounge

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.

Beatrice Willoughby, Kerry Hammerton and Melissa Sussens
Karina Author, Book, Event

STRIVING FOR SOCIAL EQUITY to be launched at The Book Lounge

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!