Karina Author, Book

Karavan Press title: Of Salt, Dust and Love by Stephen Symons

The melancholy of loss—past, present or anticipated—of time passing, life lived and the futility of war weave through these short stories. Subtly crossing genres (military fiction, science fiction, historiographic metafiction, romance), and intertwining the poetic in the prose. Narrative resolutions are left open to further interpretation and imagining; provoking a re-reading of the stories.

– Glen Thompson

ISBN: 978-0-6398626-4-4

Publication date: April 2025

STEPHEN SYMONS has published poetry and short fiction in journals, magazines and anthologies, locally and internationally. His debut collection, Questions for the Sea (uHlanga, 2016), received an honourable mention for the 2017 Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, and was also shortlisted for the 2017 Ingrid Jonker Prize. His unpublished collection Spioenkop was a semi-finalist for the Hudson Prize for Poetry (USA) in 2015. His second collection, Landscapes of Light and Loss (Dryad Press), was published in 2018, and third collection, FOR EVERYTHING THAT IS POINTLESS AND PERFECT (Karavan Press), in 2020. Small Souls, a collection of collected and new poems was published in 2022 by Karavan Press. The collection was shortlisted for a South African Literary Award (2023) and includes the winning poem of the 2021 The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Competition, ‘Small Souls’. His The Algebra of Insignificance was published in 2024. Symons holds a PhD in History (University of Pretoria) and an MA in Creative Writing (University of Cape Town). He lives with his family in Oranjezicht, Cape Town. Of Salt, Dust and Love is his first collection of short stories.

Karina Festival

Karavan Press Literary Festival 2025

We are delighted to announce that the fourth KARAVAN PRESS LITERARY FESTIVAL is going to take place on Saturday, 12 April 2025, at the wonderful South African Centre for the Netherlands and Flanders – SASNEV – 4 Central Square, Pinelands, Cape Town, 7405. Thank you to Eureka Barnard and the Staff of SASNEV for hosting us!

As part of the festival, Penny Haw, winner of the 2024 Philida Literary Award, will deliver the André Brink Memorial Lecture – 6 February 2025 was the 10th anniversary of André’s death, and on 29 May 2025, he would have turned 90. We will remember and celebrate together!

Also as part of the festival, Qarnita Loxton and Amy Heydenrych are offering a Creative Writing Workshop. For all details, please see below.

EVENT 1 09:30-10:15  LIFE AND LAUGHTER

Diane Awerbuck, Lisa Tredoux and Gail Gilbride speak to Nick Clelland about how to use humour in literature across the genres to address important themes that are not necessarily always funny.

EVENT 2 10:30-11:15  FINDING ONESELF

Sarah Isaacs, Anna Stroud, Kharys Ateh Laue and Lester Walbrugh talk to John Maytham about their young characters’ search for who they are and how they want to be in the world when the world is unwilling to cooperate.

COFFEE / TEA BREAK

EVENT 3 12:00-12:45  SECOND CHANCES

“Sometimes the only thing you can do to change is to leave.” (Qarnita Loxton)

Amy Heydenrych, Stephen Symons & Alex Latimer talk to Karina M. Szczurek about their characters’ opportunities for change.

EVENT 4 13:00-13:45 

ANDRÉ BRINK MEMORIAL LECTURE

“Influences and Legacies” – PENNY HAW, winner of the 2024 Philida Literary Award

FREE ENTRY TO ALL EVENTS AT SASNEV!

~ ~ ~

WORKSHOP 15:30-17:30

6 Banksia Road, Rosebank, 7700 Cape Town

(Please note change of venue for the workshop!)

OPENING THE DOOR TO YOUR STORY 

Join authors and collaborators – QARNITA LOXTON and AMY HEYDENRYCH – for an intimate, nurturing creative writing workshop. Get to the heart of your story, uncover the theme of your writing project and work through any potential blocks to your creative writing process in a quiet, encouraging setting.

Snacks and drinks will be served.

The workshop is open to writers of all levels, including beginners. Only 10 spots available. Please book early to avoid disappointment.

To book your spot for the workshop, please contact Karina: karavanpressfestival@outlook.com

WORKSHOP FEE R300

Books will be available for sale at great prices throughout the festival!

Karina Author, Book, Event, Festival

Cape Flats Book Festival 2025

The first book festival of 2025 is just around the corner – Cape Flats Book Festival – and we are delighted to announce the following events featuring Karavan Press authors:

SATURDAY, 1 February, 10:45-11:25 | IN OTHER STORIES

SATURDAY, 1 February, 11:40-12:20 | STORYTELLING FOR CHILDREN

SATURDAY, 1 February, 12:35-13:15 | COURAGEOUS SURVIVORS: OVERCOMING A TRAUMATIC PAST

SATURDAY, 1 February, 15:20-16:00 | TRIBUTE TO POET IN EXILE: ATHOL WILLIAMS

Lester Walbrugh will also be at the Festival, speaking about the book he co-wrote with Karin Kortje – not to be missed!

SUNDAY, 2 February, 12:45-13:25 | DIE HELE STORIE / THE WHOLE STORY

For details about other events, please see:

Cape Flats Book Festival

Please join us for these two days of literary wonder!

Karina Author, Book, Event

The Algebra of Insignificance by Stephen Symons launched at Wordsworth Books Gardens

Being in a bookshop always makes me happy. Being in a bookshop while a poet is reading his work and discussing it with insight and care makes me extra happy. So when we gathered at Wordsworth Books Gardens at the end of a long, windy day to celebrate the launch of The Algebra of Insignificance by Stephen Symons the world immediately felt like a better place.

Stephen is one of the finest poets I know, and it is a great joy to work with him and to share his writing with other readers. He was in conversation with John Maytham, who asked all the right questions to allow the audience to get a real taste of what lies at the heart of Stephen’s creative process.

An audience member shared how he always marvels at Stephen’s ability to not only remain accessible, but to allow nearly each line of his poems to shine as a poetic gem in its own right. And so it is …

Half the city is drunk on the black liquor of February heat.

A wad of forgotten letters from which a type of longing germinates.

Two lovers inhale the scene
and unfurl their white flags of surrender
over each other’s salt-sticky flesh.

Day will eventually
beat its wings and become flight …

Thank you to Wordsworth Books Gardens for hosting the evening and for being so supportive of Stephen’s work and of so many other local writers! Thank you to Stephen and John for the conversation. And thank you to all who attended!

Far beyond the rummage of whitewater
the sail of a yacht argues with the wind,
rolling and pitching in hesitancy
as if about to make
a life-changing decision.

Happy poetry reading, Everyone!

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!