The seventh edition of Wordsetc, South Africa’s foremost literary journal, has just reached the shelves! The publication continues to showcase the best of South African literature. This time around it focuses on crime fiction as a theme. Guest edited by author and editor Joanne Hichens the edition explores the ins and out of the genre, the motivation of crime writers to write crime fiction, and takes a look too at real-life crime in our society.
Read all about Margie Orford’s success – how she makes crime pay – with her Clare Hart series, in the main profile by Sam Beckbessinger.
There are also illuminating essays by writers such as Hichens, Jassy Mackenzie, Sarah Lotz, Richard Kunzmann, Roger Smith, Helen Moffett, Andrew Brown, Justice Malala, Emma Chen, Thembelani Ngenelwa and Megan Voysey-Braig. It’s a feast of reading for the literati or those who simply can’t get enough of South African literature.
Contents at a glance:
Mains
Personal notes: First loves: Justice Malala remembers the crime thrillers of his youth
Essay: Of heroes and villains: Jassy Mackenzie sizes up different characters in krimis
Real life: With best intentions: Andrew Brown on the humiliation of an innocent man
Feature: Oscar replies: The intrigue of Bubbles Schroeder’s murder continues by Carla Chait
Profile: The queen of crime fiction: Margie Orford lets the blood flow on her pages by Sam Beckbessinger
Essay: A little bit of ultraviolence : Richard Kunzmann finds it unavoidable, even necessary
Essay: Community matters: Novelist Joanne Hichens guards her neighbourhood
Essay: Sex and crime: The portrayal of prostitution in local crime novels by Nora Krüger
Essay: Fictional justice: Sarah Lotz, writer of Exhibit A, ruminates on the growth of the legal thriller
Real life: A letter to my killer: Writer Thembelani Ngenelwa relives the day he was shot and left dead
Real life: Crimes of passion: Poet Fungisayi Sasa ponders this ugly British stain
Perspectives: Crime and punishment: Five South Africans offer their views on the scourge of crime, as told to Phakama Mbonambi
Regulars
Letters: How readers feel about us
Fiction: Burning A short story by Megan Voysey-Braig
Book reviews & etc
A look at the latest local and international reads
Appraisal: A man of our times: How Deon Meyer revived the local crime thriller
Fiction: Poppy A short story by Helen Moffett
How I write: My life of crime: Crime writer Roger Smith examines the “what ifs” in his stories
Lifestyle
Travel: Up the River Niger: Joanne Rushby journeys to Timbuktu the hard way
Travel: A taste of Russia: Bronwyn McLennan’s enchanting visit
Food & drink: Served up the Chinese way: Emma Chen on her life, love for good food and her new book
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Visit us at www.wordsetc.co.za
Subscription is R170 for four editons.
For more information, write to: info@wordsetc.co.za
“Coovadia’s work hardly shies away from including troubling contemporary issues, including the inevitable twinning of race and political life in South Africa (and the myriad hues in which this link appears); the ambiguous position of Indians living outside of the Subcontinent – their ability to fit between the seams of discord, as well as irritate all sides of a given conflict; and the necessary criminal elements that help forge the bonds within such in-between societies, ensure survival for the time being, and foment plans of escape when necessary.” – M. Neelika Jayawardane
This sixth edition of Wordsetc, South Africa’s foremost literary journal, is out. Hot on the heels of a fantastic edition that looked at the iconic Nadine Gordimer, the latest edition continues to showcase the best of South African literature. It leads with novelist Imraan Coovadia, a young writer on a mission. He also teaches creative writing at the English Department at the University of Cape Town. He has just written his third book, High Low In-between. We explore what makes him tick as a writer, the themes he explores, his literary influences and even the music he listens to.
The rest of the contents are also sizzling.
Contents at a glance
The main profile is on novelist Imraan Coovadia, author of the recently published High Low In-between. We explore his work, the ambiguities that he tackles about Indians in the country.
In the Personal Notes section, activist Zachie Achmat relives the days of his imprisonment at the age of 15 for political activism (“My Father’s Touch”). He has bittersweet memories of his father. A touching read.
Over the years advertising icon Alistair King of King James Advertising has amassed a special collection of rare books. In an eloquent and humorous essay he tells why he frequents second-hand bookstores in search of that rare book (“The Collector”).
Award-winning journalist Kevin Bloom tells us about motivation behind writing Ways of Staying, a book that takes an unflinching view at the state of the South Africa. Some may describe the book as bleak, but deep down, Kevin makes a case of being a realist (“The Realist”).
Literary critic and writer Karina Magdalena Szczurek profiles seven of our top writers in South Africa. She specifically looks at how these writers hang on to their full-time jobs and still manage to write creatively (“Writers’ other lives”). A very illuminating feature.
In the Appraisal section, researcher and academic Joy Watson offers a rich narrative about the legacy of Ruth First as a writer and champion of social change (“Her words”).
For the past two years Victor Dlamini has been taking gorgeous photography of some of our remarkable artists, including writers. Across a spread of six pages, he shows readers his awesome work (“Capturing creative spirits”).
In the How I Write section, acclaimed novelist Angelina Sithebe details how the writing business happens for her.
Lindiwe Nkutha’s wonderful play called Woman In Transit is captivating in telling of a young woman from the countryside who comes to Johannesburg in the 1950s to find a city full of degradation, and her ultimate defiant stand against injustice. We publish an extract of the play.
In our new Poetry section, Seni Seneviratne, an acclaimed poet and performance artist from Britain, tells us about the central role poetry plays in her life.
In our Bookshelf Series, Absa’s marketing head Happy Ntshingila talks about the writing of his new book Black Jerusalem in which he reminisces about the heady days of crafting winning advertising pitches in his earlier life as a founding partner at Herdbouys advertising, the first black-owned advertising agency in the country.
There’s all this and more – literary travel, short story, book reviews, a restaurant review and listings pages. As with previous five editions, this issue is jam-packed. It will satisfy literature lovers and those keen to know more about the state of South African literature at the moment.
For an interview with publishing editor Phakama Mbonambi, or to excerpt any of the stories from Wordsetc, please contact him on 083 287 1955 or Flamencomail@gmail.com.
See website at www.wordsetc.co.za or Facebook group called Wordsetc – A South African Literary Journal.
Outlets
Wordsetc is available at bookshops (Exclusive Books, CNA and many independent bookstores such as Boekehuis, Kalk Bay Books, Clarke’s Bookstore, Protea Books and The Book Lounge) and various alternative distribution points such as DVD Gurus, Absolutely Fabulous DVD Nouveau (Morningside), Service Station Café and Wild Olive Food Store (Greenside) and Michael Stevenson Gallery (Cape Town).
Price
The journal retails for R49.95. Subscription is R170 for four editions. Back copies are available. Just write to Flamencomail@gmail.com.
Book details
The next edition of Wordsetc looks at – wait for it – Barack Obama. We’re looking at him through the lens of literature.
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Es’kia Mphahlele, a giant of African literature, passed away last night. Wordsetc had the privilege to visit him at his home in Lebowakgomo to talk about his storied past, famous works and the state of South African literature. It was his last major interview, and we bring you a portion of it here. May his soul rest in peace.
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