Monday, May 25, 2009
Is Chick-lit just about getting through the night?
Adele Parks, best-selling novelist, will be one of the International writers visiting the Cape Town Book Fair from 13 to 16 June. She writes what I like to call intelligent page-turners about the lives of women, and sometimes their loves as well. But the question is does she belong in the category of chick-lit, you know those books with the stylised covers and the pictures of beautiful young woman desporting themselves on beaches. The books we buy with a degree of guilty pleasure at the airport book shop when we know we should really be firing up the laptop and going over our presentations for our meeting at the other end of the flight. And why do we feel the need to give books written about the lives of women a ghetto of their own anyway? We don't call books about men having midlife crises "Harley-lit" or young blokes on the pull "lad-lit", in fact sometimes we call pretty ordinary books about men's lives literary fiction when they really aren't. It's one of the topics that will be debated at the fair and we hope you will join in, or at least I do or a whole panel of people will be sitting looking at empty chairs and then we will be very miffed. One of South Africa's new stars will join the panel Fiona Snyckers and she likes being in the chick-lit genre, Rob Turrell will also be joining us to give a blokes perspective, should be interesting (wonder what he is reading at the moment). I read all of Parks' novels to prepare for meeting her and loved them all, they are real, witty, and well-written and there is much in them that I could identify with, but I do wonder why we feel such a need to categorise books why not just enjoy them. Come along and join in the debate, and feel free to join it early on this blog. Jennifer Crocker (who is not off to read War and Peace in bed).
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The pages are beginning to turn for the Cape Town Book Fair
Things are moving rapidly on the planning for the Cape Town Book Fair, it's one of the most exciting events in Cape Town and this year the fair will have representatives from the 12 African publishers courtesy of the Goethe Institute, which is a great way to open up African publishing to the European market. But, apart from that, we all know that the public loves the fair, last year 50 000 people came through the fair in the four days, they met publishers, looked at books, shared in dynamic discussions and a few heated debates. Just the thing that we need to keep reading and puplishing growing in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. For me, as part of HWB Communications it's one of the highlights of the year, seeing people engaging with each other, bumping into old friends and meeting new authors. Hard to see it as work really, although for the Cape Town Book Fair team it is a huge undertaking. It's an event we can be really proud of and I am looking foward to meeting you all there. For more information and times on the programme it's up now on www.capetownbookfair.co.za, go and browse get out your diary and make your plans. Everything from chick lit (and we have a man on the panel) to acclaimed teen writer Kevin Brooks will be on offer, not to forget our own brilliant writers. Get ready for a lot of fun, and if you want some really practical advice from me buy a pair of comfortable shoes.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Distinguished line-up of authors and panelists for Book Fair
This year the largest literary event in sub-Saharan Africa is set to continue its successful trend with all floor space sold out and 250 exhibitors from 29 countries displaying their literary offerings.
The theme of the fourth Cape Town Book Fair this year is Education for the Future.
Countries represented at the CTBF will be the USA, UK, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, Republic of Ireland, Madagascar, Mauritius, Canada, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Togo, Dubai and Syria (as part of the UAE), Uganda, Zimbabwe and Libya.
CTBF organisers have lined up a diverse and fascinating programme. Fair Director Vanessa Badroodien announced the full programme at a press conference in Cape Town on May 7.
“This year we have worked really hard to get the programme finalised as soon as possible, giving people plenty of time to study it and plan which talks and events they want to attend,” said Badroodien.
The book fair is held in collaboration with the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Publishers’ Association of South Africa.
This year the Goethe Institute in collaboration with the organizers will run an Africa Invitation Programme that will see publishers from 12 African countries attending the fair.
The line-up includes literary luminaries Andre Brink, Ivan Vladislavic and other authors reading from a collection including stories by Nadine Gordimer, Damon Galgut, Imraan Coovadia and Henrietta Rose-Innes. The authors are donating all royalties to the Treatment Action Campaign for HIV/Aids and Zackie Achmat will be introducing the readings.
Andre Brink also joins journalist-turned-historian Max du Preez in discussing various ways in which to bring the past to life.
Best-selling author John van de Ruit (Spud and Spud – The Madness Continues) reads an extract from his latest novel, Spud – Learning to Fly and talks about his life as a writer. A discussion will follow.
Another reading and discussion session revolves around Adele Parks, international author of seven best-selling novels including her latest, Love Lies. Parks’ Happy Families was the winner at the Quick Reads Learners Favourite Awards 2008 and Tell Me Something was chosen by Cosmopolitan magazine as their Book of the Month.
There will be a slide presentation and talk by Happy Ntshingila, marketing guru and author, about the famous and infamous advertising campaigns of HerdBuoys, South Africa’s only black-owned advertising agency.
An event sure to command interest is called “Cartooning as social and political commentary in South Africa”, with renowned cartoonist Zapiro in conversation with Andy Mason, author of forthcoming book What’s So Funny: Under the skin of South African Cartooning.
A panel discussion, My success, your success, features an impressive line-up including Jane Raphaely, Basetsana Kumalo, Carrol Boyes, and Joan Joffee.
Simon Gear, popular local TV weatherman, shares eco-friendly tips from his book Going Green – 365 Ways to Change our World while Sam Scarborough, author of Cool Spaces for Kids, will tell her audience how to create spaces where children can play, learn and be safe to develop.
Contributors to the first analytical book on Zakes Mda will discuss the author and his work, and Moeletsi Mbeki will discuss his new book, Architects of Poverty.
The fair will also feature a number of workshops, including one on business writing and others on becoming a proofreader, sub-editor, or copy editor. Louise Grantham, Publisher at Penguin Books, will give a lecture entitled Have you always wanted to write a book?
The Cape Town Book Fair runs from 13 to 16 June from Saturday to Monday it is open from 10am to 6pm and on Tuesday from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are R50 per day for adults and R20 per day for pensioners. Students receive a discount and children under 18 get in free, if accompanied by an adult. Exclusive Books Fanatics members get a 50% discount on presentation of their membership card.
All told, the fourth annual Cape Town Book Fair is going to be the not-to-be-missed literary event of the year, set to exceed last year’s attendance figures of 50 000.
A Project Literacy Benefit Banquet will be held during the fair, on Sunday 14 June at 19h00. Andrew Muller, CEO of Project Literacy, says, “All proceeds from this dinner will go to our project called ‘Run Home to Read’, which introduces poor rural children to the world of books and reading and also prepares preschool children for Grade R.” Last year’s Banquet raised R500 000. The cream of the literary crop will be at this year’s Benefit Banquet, including guest speaker Annica Foxcroft. Tickets are R1 000 per person and tables of eight or 10 as well as individual tickets are available. There are 340 seats available and at the time of writing, approximately half were sold.
*For tickets to the Benefit Banquet or for more information, contact Anet Pienaar-Vosloo on (021) 465 7485 or email Pauline Plant, pauline@projectliteracy.org.za or telephone (012) 323 3447.
Issued on behalf of the Cape Town Book Fair by HWB Communications
For more information contact: Vanessa Badroodien, Managing Director, Tel: 021 418 5493.
Email: vanessab@capetownbookfair.co.za.
Website: http://www.capetownbookfair.com/
The theme of the fourth Cape Town Book Fair this year is Education for the Future.
Countries represented at the CTBF will be the USA, UK, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, China, Singapore, Korea, Republic of Ireland, Madagascar, Mauritius, Canada, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Togo, Dubai and Syria (as part of the UAE), Uganda, Zimbabwe and Libya.
CTBF organisers have lined up a diverse and fascinating programme. Fair Director Vanessa Badroodien announced the full programme at a press conference in Cape Town on May 7.
“This year we have worked really hard to get the programme finalised as soon as possible, giving people plenty of time to study it and plan which talks and events they want to attend,” said Badroodien.
The book fair is held in collaboration with the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Publishers’ Association of South Africa.
This year the Goethe Institute in collaboration with the organizers will run an Africa Invitation Programme that will see publishers from 12 African countries attending the fair.
The line-up includes literary luminaries Andre Brink, Ivan Vladislavic and other authors reading from a collection including stories by Nadine Gordimer, Damon Galgut, Imraan Coovadia and Henrietta Rose-Innes. The authors are donating all royalties to the Treatment Action Campaign for HIV/Aids and Zackie Achmat will be introducing the readings.
Andre Brink also joins journalist-turned-historian Max du Preez in discussing various ways in which to bring the past to life.
Best-selling author John van de Ruit (Spud and Spud – The Madness Continues) reads an extract from his latest novel, Spud – Learning to Fly and talks about his life as a writer. A discussion will follow.
Another reading and discussion session revolves around Adele Parks, international author of seven best-selling novels including her latest, Love Lies. Parks’ Happy Families was the winner at the Quick Reads Learners Favourite Awards 2008 and Tell Me Something was chosen by Cosmopolitan magazine as their Book of the Month.
There will be a slide presentation and talk by Happy Ntshingila, marketing guru and author, about the famous and infamous advertising campaigns of HerdBuoys, South Africa’s only black-owned advertising agency.
An event sure to command interest is called “Cartooning as social and political commentary in South Africa”, with renowned cartoonist Zapiro in conversation with Andy Mason, author of forthcoming book What’s So Funny: Under the skin of South African Cartooning.
A panel discussion, My success, your success, features an impressive line-up including Jane Raphaely, Basetsana Kumalo, Carrol Boyes, and Joan Joffee.
Simon Gear, popular local TV weatherman, shares eco-friendly tips from his book Going Green – 365 Ways to Change our World while Sam Scarborough, author of Cool Spaces for Kids, will tell her audience how to create spaces where children can play, learn and be safe to develop.
Contributors to the first analytical book on Zakes Mda will discuss the author and his work, and Moeletsi Mbeki will discuss his new book, Architects of Poverty.
The fair will also feature a number of workshops, including one on business writing and others on becoming a proofreader, sub-editor, or copy editor. Louise Grantham, Publisher at Penguin Books, will give a lecture entitled Have you always wanted to write a book?
The Cape Town Book Fair runs from 13 to 16 June from Saturday to Monday it is open from 10am to 6pm and on Tuesday from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are R50 per day for adults and R20 per day for pensioners. Students receive a discount and children under 18 get in free, if accompanied by an adult. Exclusive Books Fanatics members get a 50% discount on presentation of their membership card.
All told, the fourth annual Cape Town Book Fair is going to be the not-to-be-missed literary event of the year, set to exceed last year’s attendance figures of 50 000.
A Project Literacy Benefit Banquet will be held during the fair, on Sunday 14 June at 19h00. Andrew Muller, CEO of Project Literacy, says, “All proceeds from this dinner will go to our project called ‘Run Home to Read’, which introduces poor rural children to the world of books and reading and also prepares preschool children for Grade R.” Last year’s Banquet raised R500 000. The cream of the literary crop will be at this year’s Benefit Banquet, including guest speaker Annica Foxcroft. Tickets are R1 000 per person and tables of eight or 10 as well as individual tickets are available. There are 340 seats available and at the time of writing, approximately half were sold.
*For tickets to the Benefit Banquet or for more information, contact Anet Pienaar-Vosloo on (021) 465 7485 or email Pauline Plant, pauline@projectliteracy.org.za or telephone (012) 323 3447.
Issued on behalf of the Cape Town Book Fair by HWB Communications
For more information contact: Vanessa Badroodien, Managing Director, Tel: 021 418 5493.
Email: vanessab@capetownbookfair.co.za.
Website: http://www.capetownbookfair.com/
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