Second edition of book festival to be a thriller
The response from publishers, authors and visitors was overwhelmingly positive after the inaugural festival in 2016,
WHITE RIVER – A bumper programme is expected at the second annual Lowveld Book Festival this year, with authors travelling from around the country to convene at Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre from August 18 to 20.
It promises to be a weekend of poetry, folklore, workshops, storytelling, panel discussions and interviews with some of South Africa’s greatest literary talents.
Not only is the Lowveld home to many of the nation’s well-known writers, it is also the setting for a best-selling novel or poem.
The response from publishers, authors and visitors was overwhelmingly positive after the inaugural festival in 2016, and this year visitors can look forward to a host of interesting authors, including Karina Szcuzurek (The fifth Mrs Brink), Derick van der Walt, DJ Sbu and Isabella Morris, to name a few. Radio and television personality, Gareth Cliff will also join the mix. He will interview the Lowveld’s much-loved Tracy Todd about her recently released book, Brave Lotus Flower Rides The Dragon.
Casterbridge Music Development Academy will also launch its new show on the history of South African music.
Apart from the fantastic entertainment and informative events, the organisers’ goal is to reach out to the surrounding rural schools and expose children to the joy of stories and reading, to encourage teenagers to read more, whether electronic or printed books, and to support local writers and illustrators through workshops hosted by published authors.
South African authors will sell and autograph their latest publications, and will be slotted into events to ensure interesting discussions that grapple with the issues.
“We look forward to hosting visitors and well-known authors from across the country in White River, and introduce them to the creative talent resident here, as well as to motivate local authors and artists by uncovering their work and exposing them to a wider world of literature,” explained Louis van der Merwe, chairman of the Lowveld Book Festival.
A taste of the authors who will be at the Lowveld Book Festival 2017
The author of 13 novels set in Africa and six biographies is returning to the book festival for a second time. His 14th novel, The Cull, about an elite anti-poaching squad, is due for release in October 2017.
Fikile Hlatswayo brings you Blacks Do Caravan, which tells the story of a young South African family’s caravan journey, and the everlasting memories created along the way. She says the book aims to inspire people to take time out of their busy schedules and spend valuable time with their families to discover the beauty of the country. Hlatswayo and her family visited over 60 caravan parks in the nine provinces, and extended their trip to the Kingdom of Swaziland, covering a total of 25 000 kilometres. She was blown away by the warm reception from her fellow campers.
Athol is an award-winning poet and social philosopher. He is the author of Pushing Boulders: Oppressed to Inspired, which tells of his journey from poverty to earning master’s degrees from five of the world’s top universities. He is the only person to be awarded the Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Award twice, and was a winner of a poetry prize at Oxford.
Bridget’s colourful career in the media spans more than two decades. She is best known for her wild and wacky travel writing and books. In her ninth book, a political memoir, Bridget takes you on a poignant journey back to her life as a student activist in the final days of apartheid, where she was betrayed by a police spy and ended up in jail.
Elaine has written academic books and short stories. Zwai and the Little Creature is her first children’s book. In March 2017 she represented South Africa at the Centennial Celebration of the Abolition of Indentured Labour in Fiji.
Mario’s career has taken him from Timbavati and Mala Mala to Olifants River. His memoir – Man-eaters, Mambas and Marula Madness – provides a wealth of lessons on conservation and stories of life in the bush. Mario recently wrote The Man with the Black Dog, a touching story of a man and his faithful canine companion. Mario brings a storyteller’s delight – and a dash of Italian passion – to sharing his world.
Jayne’s 25th book will be published during 2017; Game Plan, the third novel in her Soccer Season trilogy for Cover2Cover Books. In recent years, her focus has been on writing for youth. Her YA novels have been awarded the Macmillan Writers Prize for Africa, the Sanlam Gold Prize for Youth Literature and the Maskew Miller Longman Literature Award.
The full programme and information about ticket sales will be available from mid-June at www.lowveldbookfestival.co.za. For more information, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, or send an email to lowveldbookfestival@gmail.com.
