Karina Author, Book, Festival

Karavan Press at Books on the Bay 2026

Books on the Bay is taking place in Simon’s Town between 13 and 15 March 2026 this year and we are thrilled to announce that a few Karavan Press authors will be taking part. We hope to see you all there!

SATURDAY, 14 March 2026

11:30 – 12:30

Simon’s Town Methodist Church

Elleke Boehmer

Ice Shock

An Icelandic volcano has thrown an ash cloud into the atmosphere and, across the world, planes have stopped flying. Karina Szczurek is in conversation with Elleke Boehmer about how her characters respond to a catastrophically changing environment.

17:00 – 18:00

Simon’s Town Methodist Church

Karen Jennings

Swartbooij and Titus

Critically acclaimed author Karen Jennings tells Karina Szczurek about the inspiration behind her latest book, set in the eighteenth century on the Cape’s northern frontier, its mix of genres, and the real-life father and son at the heart of it.

18:30 – 20:00

Town Hall

Roger Lucey

How to Build a House in the Mountains

His musical career was destroyed by the security police: this is the story of how he built back his life, brick by brick. Legendary musician Roger Lucey, combines storytelling, memoir and song in this moving account of building his own house in the mountains of the Breede River Valley.

Sponsored by The Hardy Boys

Wine sponsored by Mooiplaas.

Books on the Bay: 2026 Authors

Click here for the entire three-day programme: Books on the Bay

Karina Author, Book

Karavan Press title: Swartbooij & Titus by Karen Jennings

IT WAS IN 1739 when the wars in the northern frontier of the Cape began. Ten settler farmers with ox wagons and trading goods, and several Khoisan servants, spent a month with the Groot Namaqua at the kraal of Chief Gal. Bribed with promises of cattle, the servants broke into the kraal. The foray resulted in several deaths, including that of the Chief. The settlers, however, reneged on their promise …

Two individuals played a key role in these events, the formerly loyal Khoisan servant Swartbooij and his son Titus. Enraged by being tricked, the two incited various raids on the settler community in retaliation. The ensuing cycles of revenge eventually led to a brutal massacre of Khoisan women and children.

Part prose, part poetry, Swartbooij and Titus reimagines the story of the unyielding father and son and the times that shaped them.

KAREN JENNINGS is a South African writer whose novel, An Island, was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2021. Her most recent novel, Crooked Seeds, came out in 2024 and was longlisted for the Women’s Prize. Karen has also published a collection of poetry, a collection of short stories, and several other books. From 2022 to 2024, Karen was the writer-in-residence with LEAP at Stellenbosch University, where she first came across the story of Swartbooij and Titus.

Publication date: November 2025

ISBN: 978-0-6398626-6-8