Booktown Richmond 2017
Greetings Karoosters,
No we have not dropped off the edge of the planet….just doing our best to see that the beloved country stays on the rails and is still here at least until we go on pension. We live in interesting times and it is these times which make something different like heading off to the Karoo such a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the greater picture.
I must apologize for not being at BookBedonnerd IX, but it seems that whenever I am on the brink of something really big I suffer a major illness. Before Booktown 10 years ago it was Ophthalmic Shingles. Last October it was a slipped disc in my back and neck which resulted in me being under instruction for lie flat on my back at home notwithstanding the doctors’ report which indicated that I really should go under the knife. No, not this boy, I listen to my vet!
I was working on a UNESCO City of Literature for Durban. It doesn’t get any bigger than that. On the 16 th of June, I submitted Durban’s bid to become the first UNESCO City of Literature on the African continent. By the time BookBedonnerd X draws to a close at the end of October, we will get an answer from UNESCO. Read the full article on Litnet by clicking on the following link.
However, this is going to be a big year for Booktown Richmond. Our 10 th anniversary. Can you believe it? What a milestone for a small Karoo dorp. If we do get UNESCO status in Durban it will be thanks to Booktown Richmond. It was a town that gave me the freedom to let my imagination roam free.
But don’t think for one minute think Richmond has been relegated to a backburner. Our line-up is all but finalised, and once again we have a stellar list of wonderful writers.
Here is an early indication of what’s on the Booktown Richmond Hit Parade 2017:
1) NAOMI MEYER - WEB
2) ERNS GRUNDLING – EL CAMINO
3) THOMAS MOLLET – ANNI DEWANI
4) MIKE NORRIS – ARTIST ROUND THE BEND
5) MATTHYS STRYDOM- STORIES TEEN MY MUUR
6) JOAN KRUGER - TABLE MOUNTAIN BOOK
7) GAIREYAH FREDERICKS
8) FANIE OLIVIER
9) ANDRIES BEZUIDENHOUT – THE HISTORY OF PICTURES
10) GARY CUMMISKEY – POET
11) ANTOINETTE OLIVIER – HAIKOES - OPTELKLIPPIES
12) ANDRIES BEZUIDENHOUT – COSATU
13) KEN BARRIS – PHOTOGRAPHIC
14) SABATA MOKAE – IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SOL PLAATJE
15) ELKARIEN FOURIE – VAT JOU HELE HART - CHINESE ODYSSEY
16) VERNON HEAD – NEW BOOK 1
17) VERNON HEAD – NEW BOOK 2
18) TONY JACKMAN - COOKBOOK
19) JULIAN JANSEN – DIE DE ZALZE –MOORDE
20) LOUISE HECKL
But it doesn’t end here! Oh no, for it is the SA INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS AWARDS that really have Booktown Richmond beaming with pride. Not only have we attracted the best writers but we are proud to be the only book event countrywide to honour the best of the best amongst self-published books. This is truly a singular event in the Karoo, because self-published books are special. In most cases they represent a writer’s life-time obsession. Have a gander of what to expect.
We shall have a gala awards banquet on Thursday October 26 at the Supper Klub.
1) MIKE NORRIS – ARTIST ROUND THE BEND
2) ELKARIEN FOURIE – VAT JOU HELE HART
3) ASHWIN DESAI – HARI POTTERMARI
4) CICELY ANNE VAN STRATEN
5) ROSE WILLIS
6) MARILYNN MILLS
7) TOD COLLINS – THE BLACK SHEEP
8) WERNER SCHMIDT – DEATH BY DESIGN
9) DEON KNOBEL
10) JOAN KRUGER – ON TOP OF TABLE MOUNTAIN
11) MATTHYS STRYDOM - STORIES TEEN MY MUUR
12) LOUISE HECKL - THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT
13) DONVE LEE – SYD KITCHEN
14) WERNER SCHMIDT – CHINCHILLAS
15) JEFF GAISFORD
16) BARRY SMITH/ ANDREW BLAINE – THE NEXT STEP
17) JOHN CAMERON-DOW – F.W. DE KLERK BIOGRAPHY
18) JOE SPIRIT – THE BOOK OF JANE
19) WYNAND VAN EEDEN
20) JOHN MATISONN
21) DUDU BUSANE DUBE
22) JOHN BURGESS- THE ROAD THROUGH THE GROVE
For all you self-published authors out there- it is not too late. You have until 31 July to enter. Simply contact me on davidd@ukzn.ac.za.
By the time of our next newsletter we will be more or less ready to announce our final line-up. We might just have to host a 4 day festival this year to accommodate our self-published authors. And why not, when you are celebrating 10 years – against all odds I might add!
Over and out
Darryl & Peter
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