IT takes more than just one person with literary talent and a muse to have a sustainable writing career. The book industry is kept intact by a diverse network of often-unsung enabling support structures, and these will be given their moment in the sun at the Franschhoek Literary Festival (FLF), from 14 to 16 May.
Three of South Africa’s most respected independent booksellers, Corina van der Spoel (Boekehuis), Mervyn Sloman (The Book Lounge) and Ann Donald (Kalk Bay Books) will debrief John Maytham about the difficulties and joys of running a small bookshop in South Africa in The Third Oldest Profession on 15 May at 10:00.
In Secret Agents, chaired by SAfm’s Karabo Kgoleng on 15 May at 11:30, literary agent Isobel Dixon and literary scout Rebecca Servadio attempt to explain what agents actually do for writers, how the system works, and why it is important for the health of the global book market.
The challenges facing small presses in South Africa in the current economic climate is discussed in Small But Perfectly Formed on 15 May at 13:00 by Louise Grantham (Bookstorm), Colleen Higgs (Modjaji Press) and Arthur Attwell (Electric Book Works), who are all intimately acquainted with the difficulties of running a small publishing house. The session is chaired by Ben Williams.
There is a special bond between author and editor, but each new job is different and each author unique. Highly-regarded South African editors Suzette Kotzé-Myburgh, Lynda Gilfillan and Ivan Vladislavic talk to American author and former Paris Review editor Philip Gourevitch about the art of getting the best out of manuscripts in A Writer’s Best Friend on 15 May at 16:00.
All writers need to navigate the rapids of criticism, though they’ve dwindled to a trickle in South Africa. In Reviewing the Reviewers on 16 May at 10:00 three of the sharpest book reviewers around – Michiel Heyns, Rachelle Greeff and Karabo Kgoleng – talk to Jenny Crwys-Williams about the art of reviewing books.
Readers who pass on the news about good books provide the best publicity. In Word of Mouth on 16 May at 14:30 Nicky Stubbs (Book Promotions), Marita van der Vyver (Just Dessert, Dear/Dis Koue Kos, Skat) and Zuki Wanner (Behind Every Successful Man) talk about the impact of personal recommendations and book club discussions on the tough world of book marketing, chaired by Toby Mundy (Atlantic Books UK).
Unless otherwise indicated, ticket prices for the FLF are R60 per session (R20 for students), with a large part of the proceeds going to the FLF Literary Fund. Tickets are available from www.webtickets.co.za.
For further information and the detailed programme schedule, www.flf.co.za, or email the helpline info@flf.co.za.
For accommodation and general enquiries, contact the Franschhoek Tourism office on 021-876-3603.
