Karina Author, Book, Event

Love, ghosts, stories, death and rooibos at The Book Lounge

Alex Latimer launched his brilliant short story collection, Love Stories for Ghosts, at The Book Lounge last night. Sam Wilson asked the questions, and there was no doubt how much the stories had moved him. The two authors spoke about the inspirations, facts and fictions behind the collection, and asked us to see the world in a different light, making us laugh in the process. We all face and fear death, but in his stories, Alex shows us that there are ways of thinking about death and grief that are astounding and life-affirming.

Thank you to Alex and Sam, to Guy Neveling whose stunning photographs illustrate the stories, to The Book Lounge, and to all humans and ghosts who attended!

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

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

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!

Karina Author, Book, Event

The Bitterness of Olives launched at The Book Lounge

It feels impossible for me to capture in a few words what it meant to launch Andrew Brown’s The Bitterness of Olives at The Book Lounge last night during the present time when the world the novel is set in has been shattered and the consequences of that shattering are reverberating in the Middle East and around the globe. So I just want to express my gratitude: to Andrew, for writing this story and speaking about it with such integrity and compassion; to Mervyn, for bringing this extraordinary novel to my attention, helping us to prepare it for publication and leading the discussion last night; to all who attended, for listening with open minds and hearts; to the Karavan support network, for never underestimating the power of storytelling and -sharing; and to Adara, for trying to find the way …

Karina Author, Book, Event

Everyone Dies launched at The Book Lounge

We officially welcomed Everyone Dies, the beautifully crafted, mesmerising debut collection of short fiction by Frankie Murrey, into the literary world at the Book Lounge launch last night. Frankie was in conversation with Mervyn Sloman. To hear her speak about her love for the written word was truly inspiring. It made me open my own notebook with a smile today.

Thank you to Frankie, Mervyn, The Book Lounge and all Readers and Writers who attended. A wonderful evening.

During the conversation, Frankie referred to the alphabet as “a gateway drug”. The way she uses letters and words in her exquisite writing will make your soul soar. No surprise, Everyone Dies was the bestselling book at The Book Lounge in September. Congratulations, Frankie!

And to all the Readers who are yet to discover her work: Happy reading!