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This is a throwback post, so please indulge me… To wrap up the month of January with a bang, Jacana Media invited everyone in the literary space and some of their authors to a Thank You Breakfast. Of course I wouldn’t miss it for anything, so off I went to Auckland Park. The last time I went to their offices was for their super awesome sale – which I am secretly hoping they’ll run again now that there is one in two weeks or so for Capetonians (can you read my envy? 🙂

Jacana also revealed their new children’s logo, as well as announce all upcoming titles we can look forward to for 2020.

I am excited about Jamil F. Khan‘s upcoming memoir Khamr: The Makings of a Waterslams. ‘It is a story that maps Jamil’s experience of living with an alcoholic father and the direct conflict of having to perform a Muslim life which taught him that nearly everything he called home is forbidden.’ The book is currently on pre-order on Loot here for R179, so let’s get ordering so it can be a best-seller before it’s even launched! The release date is 28 April 2020. Loot should be able to ship between Monday, 4 May 2020 and Tuesday, 12 May 2020 for the pre-ordered copies. Jacana has already warned us for an overwhelming Twitter response towards this book. Exciting times!

Also coming up this year is an anthology edited by award-winning author, Niq Mhlongo which will see contributors who are going to show us a Joburg like we’ve never seen. Joburg Noir is due towards end of the year.

Back in 2009, I read a borrowed copy of Mmatshilo Motsei’s Hearing Visions, Seeing Voices. Jacana will be reprinting this version which will be updated with a new chapter on Mmatshilo’s work with water. I’ve been admiring Mme Mmatshilo ever since I read that book – which was published in 2004. I had the pleasure of meeting her when I bought her book, Reweaving the Soul of a Nation – see the post here. This will be launched during Jacana’s Africa month.

Another author I’m really looking forward to is Nkateko Mabasa, whose memoir titled One Day This Boy will be Fine will be edited by an absolute favourite of mine, Sisonke Msimang. And then during Women’s Month follows an anthology which Nkateko will be rendering his editing skills titled Memoirs of Black Men.

With the children’s books that are coming up, I’m really looking forward to Mabel Mnensa‘s Kantiga. I enjoy a good children’s story, with beautiful illustrations and if the cover of the book is anything to go by – we are going to be on a lovely journey with Kantiga as she tries to find the perfect name. Keeping with the theme of representation, Jacana’s From Pitch to Publication event saw Karen Theunissen presenting “I Have Brown Skin and Curly Hair” to the judges and she’s bringing us her exploration of the multi-cultural differences between us and she’s encouraging us to celebrate our diverse heritage.

It’s going to be an exciting year for Jacana Media – and I cannot wait to get my hands on all these exciting titles.