ZIMBABWE has been a source of inspiration for two internationally renowned authors who will be speaking at this year’s Franschhoek Literary Festival (FLF), from 15 to 17 May.
In a session chaired by John Maytham on Sunday morning 17 May, Alexandra Fuller (Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight, Scribbling the Cat) and Petina Gappah (An Elegy for Easterly), in whose hearts Zimbabwe will forever hold a special place, will talk about their love for the country and their hope for its future.
Apart from taking part in two panel discussions at the FLF, Alexandra will also have an individual session where she will talk to Michele Magwood about her life, her work and her new true-life tale, The Legend of Colton H. Bryant.
The other panel discussion that she will take part in on the afternoon of 15 May, chaired by SAFM’s Karabo Kgoleng, is with Tan Twan Eng (who grew up in Malaysia, but now lives in Cape Town), Vikas Swarup (who grew up in India, but now lives in Pretoria) and Justin Cartwright (who grew up in South Africa, but now lives in the UK). They will be discussing how living in a country that is not their homeland affects their writing.
Another panel discussion that Petina will participate in on Friday afternoon 15 May, is with two other short-story writers, Henrietta Rose-Innes (winner of the 2008 Caine Prize) and FLF Director Christopher Hope (In the Garden of Bad Dreams) on whether or not size matters in short stories. This event will be chaired by the editor of the literary journal wordsetc, Phakama Mbonambi.
Petina, together with Sindiwe Magona (Beauty’s Gift) and publisher Terry Morris (Picador Africa), will also discuss the value of a literary journal in the electronic age on Saturday 16 May, also chaired by Phakama Mbonambi.
For details, visit www.flf.co.za.
