Karina Author, Book, Event

‘The Other Me’ by Joy Watson launched at EB Cavendish and Liberty Books

We had a full house for the EB Cavendish launch of Joy Watson’s The Other Me. Joy was in conversation with the fabulous Rebecca Davis.

This particular Exclusive Books branch is close to Joy’s heart as she has been buying books there for many years and has been reviewing new titles for the bookshop in her capacity as a Daily Maverick Lifestyle contributor and the great reader that she is. Friends of Joy’s organised beautiful live music and a blessing bowl, which allowed all present to say thank you for the good things in our lives and to let go of the burdens we carry.

Wherever she goes, Joy brings with her the emotion contained in her beautiful name. The intimate gathering at the Liberty Books launch of The Other Me was full of it. Joy was interviewed by Liberty Books’ owner, Christy Weyer.

The two amazing women spoke about the novel and Joy’s research and how the two areas of her life influence each other. The conversation was truly illuminating. It is always inspiring to listen to astute readers talk about books. The evening include Cleopatra, the resident literary cat, the book-loving Elgin/Grabouw community, Peregrine hospitality and the warmth of the fire place.

Unforgettable events! Thank you to all who made them possible and who attended.

No one wanted to leave at the end of the evening. We all wanted to stay, like Cleo, who was sad to see us go.

Can’t wait to return!

Karina Author, Book, Event

THE OTHER ME by JOY WATSON launched last night at The Electric, with The Book Lounge co-hosting

Family, friends, writers and readers gathered at The Electric last night to celebrate the launch of The Other Me by Joy Watson. Our wonderful Book Lounge co-hosted. An occasion that proved once again that oceans of love can be contained in relatively small spaces. Thank you to Joy and everyone else who made the event possible!

Joy was in conversation with the wonderful Qarnita Loxton, author of the Being Series.

Mervyn Sloman of The Book Lounge said that The Other Me is the kind of debut novel that makes you want to know immediately when the next one is coming. Joy’s fans are hoping for SOON!

A magical evening. Thank you to everyone, especially Joy, Qarnita and Mervyn! And all who attended and brought so much warmth to the occasion.

A special thank you to Karavan Press authors, Cathy Park Kelly and Melissa A. Volker, one of our fabulous designers, Monique Cleghorn, and Nazreen Essack, who took Joy’s author photograph, for attending. Monique designed The Other Me and Cathy’s memoir, Boiling a Frog Slowly.

Karina Author, Book, Event

A HIBISCUS COAST by Nick Mulgrew launched at The Book Lounge

To say that I was moved would be the understatement of the last two years. Our first post-lockdown book launch at THE BOOK LOUNGE again – after more than seven hundred loss-filled days! Fittingly, it was of Nick Mulgrew’s debut novel A Hibiscus Coast, and he was interviewed by Bongani Kona. Nick is as much of a literary institutions in his own right as is The Book Lounge. So is Bongani. Between the three of them – Mervyn (and his Book Lounge team!), Bongani and Nick – they connect most of the local literary community around us in ways that are difficult to capture in a few words. I would just like to say that I do not want to imagine a world without them. They make what I do at Karavan Press possible. They give me hope when little else does. Thank you!

And thank you to all the writers and readers who showed up at The Book Lounge tonight – I cannot tell you what it meant to me to sit among you during this evening of celebration.

Nick, thank you! You are an inspiration.