Alert! The London Book Fair may be several months away, but a veritable army of South African writers have already booked their tickets. In several cases, of course, we’re talking bus tickets, because many an SA scribe lives or works in the UK, and won’t have much to do to get to Earl’s Court, where the Fair takes place. But literally dozens of others will be packing for the long-haul flight from JNB to LHR come the tail end of April 2010.
BOOK SA understands that the following authors have given commitments (ranging from tentative to firm) to be part of the LBF’s South Africa Market Focus programme:
Achmat Dangor
André Brink
Angela Makholwa
Antjie Krog
Beverley Naidoo
Breyten Breytenbach
Chris van Wyk
Damon Galgut
Deon Meyer
Elias Masilela
Elleke Boehmer
Etienne van Heerden
Gillian Slovo
Imraan Coovadia
Isobel Dixon
Ivan Vladislavic
John van der Ruit
Jonny Steinberg
Kopana Matlwa
Malika Ndlovu
Mandla Langa
Mark Gevisser
Marlene van Niekerk
Maxine Case
Nadia Davids
Ndumiso Ngcobo
Niq Mhlongo
Njabulo Ndebele
Patricia Schonstein
Paul Trewhela
Pieter Dirk-Uys
Rachel Holmes
Sihle Khumalo
Sindiwe Magona
Siphiwo Mahala
Thando Mgqolozana
Wally Mongane Serote
Zakes Mda
Zoe Wicomb
What a lineup – it’s going to be one heck of a party! (Plus, several other authors who’ve been invited are still deciding whether they can make the trip.) BOOK SA will be there, of course – and we can’t wait to bring all the action to our readers online.
For Londoners who want to get to know these authors better, a sampling of their works:
Book details
Scribd.com book preview:
Invisible Earthquake: A Woman’s Journal Through Stillbirth
Scribd.com book preview:
Some of My Best Friends are White
Images courtesy BeverleyNaidoo, Financial Mail, African-writing, The JC, MG TallStoriesBooks and Victor Dlamini.
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February 3rd, 2010 @18:16 #
BTW - Sindiwe Magona is also a Modjaji author with her debut collection of poems, "Please, Take Photographs" which is flying off the shelves here.
February 3rd, 2010 @19:03 #
Wow. I'm SO wishing I were going along. The discussions over teatimes, lunch, and dinner are going to be fascinating.
February 3rd, 2010 @21:10 #
Aargh. Was going to go. But am now trying to buy a house. Can't afford the visa fees on top of everything else grr grr thanks a whole bloody lot, corrupt Home Affairs Dept. Now filled with yearning. Maybe I should go. *scuttles off to buy lotto ticket*