We can’t believe that it’s nearly the end of 2020. It’s been a difficult year for all in the publishing sector, with launches pushed back and book sales dropping, but we’re proud to say that Modjaji has come out the other side of lockdown with some excellent titles and more hope for 2021 than we have felt all year.
This year’s publications make fabulous gifts!
Please consider buying Modjaji titles – whether from this year or from the whole array of titles offered on our website – as festive season gifts, whether for friends, family, teachers, or anyone who would appreciate the joy of a good book.
Browse our titles here.
Launch of The Gospel According to Wanda B. Lazarus
You’re invited! The long-awaited The Gospel According to Wanda B. Lazarus is being launched on 25 November at 18h00 SAST. The launch will be held online and the author, Lynn Joffe, will be in conversation with Colleen Higgs. Check out the Facebook event for more details. Don’t forget to pre-order your copy of the novel, which Stephen Fry has called “just what the world needs now – a novel charged with music, energy, bounce, juice and joy.”
Find the Facebook event and RSVP here.
Join the launch by clicking here.
To whet your appetite, here’s a video of Lynn reading from the Gospel.
You can pre-order the Gospel here.
The Pride of Noonlay
Shanice Ndlovu’s debut collection of short stories is out! The Pride of Noonlay will take you on adventures through strange lands and stranger legends, weaving tales of love, sacrifice and loss in a fresh take on African fantasy. Ndlovu’s voice is original, confident, and lyrically beautiful. Don’t miss out! Order your copy today and contribute to the growth of original African fantasy and speculative fiction.
Buy your copy here.
asleep awake asleep
Jo-Ann Bekker’s collection of short stories, asleep awake asleep, was recently reviewed in the Daily Maverick! Here’s what Steve Kretzmann had to say. “The stories each open their own door to a shifted perception, some as disconcerting as finding yourself in an Escher engraving when believing you were ascending a straightforward flight of stairs.” This collection is perfect for dipping into when you have a spare moment – keep a copy in your bag for all those waiting rooms!
Read the full article here.
Buy the book here.
Who’s who in African publishing
We’re excited to report that our founder, Colleen Higgs, is to be included in a Who’s Who of women publishers in Africa! “Women in African Publishing and the Book Trade: A Series of Profiles” will be published in March 2021 in The African Book Publishing Record, Volume 47, Issue 1. In the meantime, you can download a pre-print copy of the article from the link below.
Download the article here.
Publishing as process
Colleen recently had an article published on Bruce Dennill’s website, where she details the origins and process of writing her latest book, my mother, my madness. She also talks about the birth of Modjaji:
The feeling of not being seen was a key impulse in my setting up Modjaji. I wanted to create a space not only to publish women writers, but to publish what they felt was important to write about and worthy of paying attention to. This often included things that traditionally have been invisible to men – housework, child care, juggling tasks, elder care – so-called “women’s work”.
Read the full article here.
Buy the book here.
That’s all from us this month! Until next time, stay safe and keep reading.