Karina Author, Book, Event

Salon Hecate: Salt-splashed authors Melissa A. Volker and Glen L. Thompson in conversation

On 1 September 2026, Helen Moffett’s Salon Hecate will be having a ‘full circle’ celebration: many of you heard novelist Melissa ‘Missy’ Volker read extracts from her work in progress at one of the surfing salons in World Ocean Month. Likewise, you’ll have heard Glen Thompson, historian and surf scholar (there is such a thing!), read his poems on sea and surf. Both are familiar faces at Salon Hecate: they’re great supporters of local authors, they’re passionate about preserving the ocean and its denizens for the future, and share the Noordhoek Art Point gallery’s commitment to all things green and blue.

So we’re delighted to announce that we will launch not only Missy’s important new book – Chasing Waves: The Rise of Women’s Surfing in South Africa – but we’ll be celebrating the arrival of Glen’s debut collection of poetry – In the Slowness of Melting – as well! This is particularly special because he read those poems for the first time at the Salon.

The salt-splashed pair will interview each other, complementing each other’s approach to waves in words. Don’t miss this event, and be sure to tell all your surfing buddies to come along. (Remember, entrance is free, and there’ll be wine and small snacks.)

Details: Noordhoek Art Point | 1 September | 5.30 for 6PM.

Karina Author, Book

Karavan Press title: In the Slowness of Melting by Glen L. Thompson

Paddling
to what pleasure?
sporting hope in dying
waters

from ‘Paddle action!’

They slip
out of reach
while forming on my lips,
utterances mouthed
become
not sound; an essence of sound
a blank speech-bubble,
the panel un-inked.

from ‘I wander between words’

Publication date: September 2026

ISBN: 978-1-0671781-2-3

About the author

GLEN L. THOMPSON (he/him) is a Research Fellow in the History Department at Stellenbosch and holds a PhD in History (University of Stellenbosch). He lives in Cape Town and is writing a book on the history, politics and culture of surfing in South Africa.

He is the co-host of The Deep Duck Dive Podcast, a hydrofeminist and critical surf studies public scholarship project. To support his pursuit of the waves and the past, he works as the privacy officer at a mobile messaging technology company. In 2006, he co-wrote Txt Me: A Cellphone Affair, a stage play that was performed at the National Arts Festival Fringe. In the Slowness of Melting is his debut poetry collection.

Find him at writingsurfinghistory.org.za and thedeepduckdivepodcast.alitu.com