10% off Books for the Franschhoek Literary Festival 2023!
Are you ready for the Franschhoek Literary Festival (FLF)?
The renowned literary festival Franschhoek hosts are held annually over the third weekend of May (19th-23rd, 2023). It's a vibrant celebration of literature and culture in the idyllic streets of this historic wine town with people who share a passion for books.
At this festival, you'll get the chance to engage with some of the most brilliant minds of our time, attend informal discussions, and participate in spirited debates on a variety of topical issues.
But that's not all…
The Franschhoek Festival is also a fantastic opportunity to attend storytelling sessions with local and international authors, business breakfasts, live performances, documentaries, and writing workshops.
Whether you're looking for thought-provoking reads or fun and inspirational books, the fare has something for everybody.
Sale on Franschhoek Literary Festival Books!
We're thrilled to offer festival-goers a chance to grab their copies of books by iconic authors in South Africa, and an opportunity to discover an array of new titles by authors they will meet at the festival for personal signings.
Wordsworth Online Bookstore offers you 10% off the vast selection of titles of authors attending the Franschhoek Literary Festival.
Authors at the Franschhoek Literary Festival
The Franschhoek Literary Festival programme for 2023 has been released and promises to be an exciting event.
More than 100 authors and facilitators have been selected to participate in over 80 sessions. The festival's focus this year is on the latest books that have been published in the past year, as well as a select group of writers who have won prizes over the last 12 months.
At Wordsworth Online we have created a category especially for this festival for you to show up prepared for the weekend. Below are some of our honourable mentions, but be sure to browse the participants' list and find more gems that are not to be missed!
17 Authors Not To Miss At The Festival
- Nataniël
- Sue Nyathi
- Jonny Steinberg
- Pamela Power
- Rudie van Rensburg
- Irma Venter
- Sarah Bullen
- Ruby Wax
- Antjie Krog
- Eva Mazza
- Mandy Wiener
- Chase Rhys
- T.J. Strydom
- Pumla Dineo Gqola
- Gerard Labuschagne
- Siphiwe Ndlovu
- Eve Fairbanks
About The Authors
Nataniël
Nataniël is a South African artist who has made significant contributions to the fields of music, theatre, and literature.
He has released 19 albums, staged over 80 original theatre productions, and written 21 books. He is a solo stage act expert and has been writing the Kaalkop column in SARIE for over 20 years.
At the Franschhoek Literary Festival, Nataniël will speak about storytelling, longevity in the industry, inspiration, and the importance of understanding cover design. The conversation is expected to be humorous and insightfully moving.
Sue Nyathi
Sue Nyathi was born and raised in Bulawayo. She has a master’s degree in Finance and worked for more than five years as a research associate for an economic and strategic planning consulting firm in Johannesburg.
She has published four novels to much reader and critical acclaim: The Polygamist (2012), The Gold Diggers (2018) and The Family Affair (2020). She will be discussing her latest book, An Angel’s Demise, which was released in 2022 and has made her one of the most spoken-about authors in South Africa at the moment.
Jonny Steinberg
Jonny Steinberg is a celebrated writer and scholar known for his books on everyday life in post-apartheid South Africa. He is a two-time winner of the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award and was also the inaugural recipient of the Donald Windham-Sandy M. Campbell Literature Prize in 2013.
Until 2020, he taught African studies at Oxford University, and he currently teaches part-time at Yale and is a visiting professor at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (Wiser) in Johannesburg. Steinberg's latest book, Winnie & Nelson: Portrait of a Marriage, is set to be released in South Africa in May 2023 and will surely be one of the highlights of the festival.
Pamela Power
Pamela Power is a talented television scriptwriter, script editor and author, who has made a mark in the entertainment industry by working on some of South Africa's popular television shows, including Generations and Muvhango.
Besides television, Pamela has also written captivating novels including, Things Unseen (2016), Delilah Now Trending (2017), and co-authored Chasing Marian in 2022.
Pamela Power will be discussing her latest book, My Year Of Not Getting Sh*tfaced: How I Tried And Failed To Give Up Alcohol And Learned The Joys Of Moderation, which hit the shelves early this year.
Rudie van Rensburg
Rudie van Rensburg, the brilliant writer from Cape Town who has taken the world of crime novels by storm! Rudie has an impressive collection of eleven Afrikaans crime novels that have all been bestsellers, including the heart-pumping titles Slagyster, Kopskoot, Judaskus, Pirana, Kamikaze, Ys, Medusa, Vloek, Merk, Hartedief and Monster.
Rudie's talent for writing isn't limited to just crime novels. He's also the mastermind behind the top-selling comic novels Hans Steek die Rubicon Oor, Hans Gee Herklaas Horings, Hans Bars die Bioborrel and Hans Hou Sy Lyf Sherlock.
Irma Venter
Irma Venter is a highly acclaimed and award-winning thriller writer and journalist. Her works revolve around strong female protagonists, intriguing male characters, and the enthralling grey area between right and wrong.
Irma's Afrikaans thrillers, such as Skoenlapper, Skrapnel, Sondebok, Skarlaken, Sirkus, Sondag, Sewe-en-veertig, and Minder as Niks, are a testament to her remarkable talent and creative prowess. Several of her books have been translated into English, with Red Tide being the latest addition (2022) to her impressive portfolio.
Irma's outstanding achievements have not gone unnoticed, as she has become the first South African author to be published internationally by Amazon Crossing.
Sarah Bullen
Sarah Bullen is a true powerhouse in the world of literature. A prolific author, renowned writing coach and literary agent, she is the founder of The Writing Room and Kent Literary.
Sarah has become a sought-after guest on talk shows, podcasts, and writers' circles. Additionally, she has been leading writing retreats and exciting adventures around the world for the past ten years.
Her recent book, Write your Book in 100 Days! Stop Mucking about and Just Write, is an essential guide for aspiring authors. Meanwhile, Love & Above - A Journey into Shamanism, Coma and Joy, is a captivating memoir that takes readers on a deeply personal journey of spiritual discovery.
Ruby Wax
Ruby Wax is an American-British actress, comedian, writer, and mental health campaigner. Her writing credits include popular TV comedies like Girls on Top and Absolutely Fabulous.
Wax earned a master's degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy from Oxford's Kellogg College in 2013 and received an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her mental health advocacy in 2015.
Her memoirs, How Do You Want Me? (2002), and Sane New World (2013), both reached number one on the Sunday Times bestseller list. She will release her seventh book, I'm Not as Well as I Thought I Was, in May 2023.
Antjie Krog
Antjie Krog is a distinguished poet in South Africa, having earned the Hertzog Prize for Lady Anne in 1989 and Mede-wete in 2017.
Her book, Country of My Skull, detailing her experiences with the TRC, has been widely acclaimed and won numerous awards, including the Hiroshima Foundation's Peace and Culture award.
Since 2004, Krog has served as an Extraordinary Professor of Literature and Philosophy at UWC. She recently released a new collection of poetry, Plunder in Afrikaans and Pillage in English, showcasing her exceptional writing skills once again.
Eva Mazza
Eva Mazza, a Drama teacher born in Johannesburg, Mazza has resided in Stellenbosch for the past 25 years.
Mazza gained critical acclaim for her play Acceptance which was staged at the Joburg Theatre in 2016. Her novel Christine, published in 2021, was also optioned for a film by an international producer.
Mazza is known for her 'sex-trilogy' based on true events, uncovering what goes on behind the millionaires' closed doors in the seemingly up-standing community of Stellenbosch. The trilogy includes Sex, Lies and Stellenbosch and Sex, Lies Declassified. The most recent instalment, Sex, Lies & Alibis, released in 2022.
Mandy Wiener
Mandy Wiener, an intrepid investigative journalist, burst onto the scene with her riveting book "Killing Kebble: An Underworld Exposed" in 2010.
Her bold exposés of South Africa's seedy underbelly continued with "Ministry Of Crime: An Underworld Explored" and "The Whistleblowers" in 2020.
Wiener's latest book, "The Robert Marawa Story," promises to be another thrilling read. As the host of the Midday Report on 702 and Cape Talk, and a regular columnist for News24, Wiener fearlessly tackles controversial topics. She's been hailed as brave, charming, and utterly fearless.
Chase Rhys
Chase Rhys, the multi-talented writer from Cape Town, is making waves in the literary world. With a debut book, Kinnes, that won both the K. Sello Duiker Prize and the kykNET-Rapport Prize in the film category in 2019, Chase has proven to be a force to be reckoned with.
Their weekly column, Suikewate, published in Rapport, is a must-read for fans of insightful commentary.
Chase's latest book, Misfit: Stories Vannie Anne Kant, is a collection of reworked columns and short prose that explores issues of identity, sexuality, familial relationships, and the lives of people on the outskirts of society. Readers are taken on a journey with colourful characters like Nana, an unintentional spiritual guide with peroxided hair, as they navigate the challenges of everyday life.
T.J. Strydom
T.J. Strydom is a well-respected business author and journalist, with an impressive portfolio. His work is published in Reuters, the Sunday Times, Financial Mail, and Beeld.
Strydom's first non-fiction book, an unauthorised biography of retail tycoon Christo Wiese, became an instant bestseller in both English and Afrikaans.
His latest work, Koos Bekker's Billions, delves into the life and career of another South African business mogul, Koos Bekker. Bekker's success in pay TV, mobile communications, and media conglomerate Naspers has made him one of the richest people in the world. Strydom's compelling storytelling is a great read for anyone in the world of business and entrepreneurship.
Pumla Dineo Gqola
Pumla Dineo Gqola is a renowned feminist writer and professor at Nelson Mandela University. She holds the SARChl Chair in African Feminist Imagination and has authored several influential publications, including Rape: A South African Nightmare and Reflecting Rogue.
Her latest book, Female Fear Factory, is a powerful follow-up to Rape, exploring the intersections of gender, race, and power that perpetuate violence against women.
Through her writing and scholarship, Gqola has made significant contributions to the feminist movement and inspired many to challenge patriarchal systems of oppression. Her work serves as a beacon of hope for a more equitable and just future.
Gerard Labuschagne
Gérard Labuschagne is a renowned clinical psychologist, criminologist, and homicide investigator who headed the South African Police Service's Investigative Psychology Section for over 14 years.
He is also a US-certified threat manager, hostage negotiator, and advocate of the High Court. Labuschagne is the founder and president of the African Association of Threat Assessment Professionals and a director of L&S Threat Management.
He has trained the Behavioral Analysis Units of the FBI and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department and advised foreign law-enforcement agencies on their cases.
Through his gruelling experiences, he has become a prolific author of professional journals and textbooks and published two bestselling books, The Profiler Diaries and The Profiler Diaries 2 released in 2022.
Siphiwe Ndlovu
Siphiwe Gloria Ndlovu is a multi-talented artist and academic celebrated for her acclaimed literary works. Her bestselling novel, The Theory of Flight won the 2019 Sunday Times Fiction Prize and is a prescribed school text.
It was followed by The History of Man and most recently The Quality of Mercy, which was released in 2022, concluding the trilogy.
In addition to her literary achievements, Ndlovu is a filmmaker and academic with a PhD from Stanford University and master's degrees in African Studies and Film from Ohio University.
She has researched the historical figure Saartjie Baartman and directed the award-winning short film Graffiti. Ndlovu resides in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and was honoured with the prestigious Windham Campbell Prize from Yale University in 2022.
Eve Fairbanks
Born in Washington DC and raised in Virginia, Eve Fairbanks has called Johannesburg home for the past thirteen years. Former political writer for The New Republic, she has been published in many world-renowned publications such as The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Her deep love and curiosity for South Africa's complex and tumultuous history are evident in the pages of her new book called The Inheritors.
Through the stories of three ordinary South Africans, Fairbanks traces the country's journey from the height of apartheid to the present day. Her writing is both powerful and empathetic, taking readers on an emotional journey through the struggles and triumphs of a nation in transition.
Get 10% Off On All These Titles!
Getting ready for a literary fare is an exhilarating experience. As the Franschhoek Literary Festival approaches, book lovers and literature enthusiasts are gearing up for a weekend of engaging discussions, inspiring debates, and thought-provoking reads.
Don’t forget to research the festival program and authors you want to see. A Great tip is to bring a trusty notebook and pen to capture moments of inspiration.
Now is the time to head on over to Wordsworth Books to stock up on your favourite reads, discover new authors and ideas, and support the literary community.
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