Join Mila de Villiers in this episode of Pagecast as she sits down with acclaimed author Ted Botha to discuss his latest book, Hollywood on the Veld.

More about the book:

In 1913, a secretive American millionaire, who lived on the top floor of the famous Carlton Hotel, had a crazy idea: to make movies in Johannesburg. And not just any movies but the biggest in the world, huge spectacles with elaborate sets, thousands of extras and epic story lines.

Isidore Schlesinger – better known as ‘IW’ – built a studio on a farm called Killarney, where he set out to challenge a place in America that was in its infancy: Hollywood.

The glamour, gossip and high drama of IW’s studio fit perfectly into a city experiencing an intoxicating golden age. There was as much action on the movie sets as there was on screen: from political intrigue and the clashing of massive egos to public outbursts, fiery judicial inquiries, disaster and death.

Behind this mad enterprise was a maverick, a tycoon, a recluse, a friend of the famed and the connected. IW could have held his own in California but he chose as his base the City of Gold, and his indomitable ambition saw his ‘Hollywood on the Veld’ soar. This is the never-been-told-before story of the rise and fall of the strangest and most unique movie empire ever.

#Pagecast #TedBotha #HollywoodOnTheVeld #BookPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #LiteraryPodcast #AuthorInterview #BookDiscussion #CinemaHistory #MustReadBooks

Join Mphuthumi Ntabeni in conversation with historian and author Bronwen Everill, as they discuss her book Africonomics: A History of Western Ignorance. This conversation offers essential insights into how we can rethink the African continent’s economic past, present, and future.

More about the book:

We need to think differently about African economics.

For centuries, Westerners have tried to 'fix' African economies. From the abolition of slavery onwards, missionaries, philanthropists, development economists and NGOs have arrived on the continent, full of good intentions and bad ideas. Their experiments have invariably gone awry, to the great surprise of all involved.

In this short, bold story of Western economic thought about Africa, historian Bronwen Everill argues that these interventions fail because they start from a misguided premise: that African economies just need to be more like the West. Ignoring Africa's own traditions of economic thought, Europeans and Americans assumed a set of universal economic laws that they thought could be applied anywhere. They enforced specifically Western ideas about growth, wealth, debt, unemployment, inflation, women's work and more, and used Western metrics to find African countries wanting.

The West does not know better than African nations how an economy should be run. By laying bare the myths and realities of our tangled economic history, Africonomics moves from Western ignorance to African knowledge.

#Africonomics #BookPodcast #AfricanEconomy #AuthorInterview #EconomicDevelopment #AfricanBusiness #PodcastEpisode #Pagecast

#BronwenEverill #MphuthumiNtabeni

In this episode of Pagecast at the Kingsmead Book Fair, Sibongile Machika sits down with two dynamic South African authors, Siya Khumalo and Khaya Dlanga, as they explore how storytelling challenges norms, sparks dialogue, and drives social change in today’s South Africa.

Khaya Dlanga, author of Life Is Like That Sometimes, reflects on personal resilience, blending humour with profound social commentary rooted in his Eastern Cape upbringing.

Siya Khumalo, author of The Queer Book of Revelation, discusses navigating the intersections of religion, sexuality, and activism through bold science fiction that challenges perceptions and inspires acceptance.

Discover how these voices use their craft to confront complex issues of identity, justice, and transformation.

#PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #StorytellingForChange #BookPodcast #SocialJustice #SouthAfricanLiterature #IdentityAndJustice #AuthenticVoices #LiteraryPodcast #CulturalDialogue

Welcome to a fascinating episode of Pagecast at the Kingsmead Book Fair hosted by Kelly Ansara. What was meant to be a thoughtful discussion on writing the moment quickly turned into a passionate conversation about one of life’s biggest questions: is love fate or choice?

Join Kelly as she chats with four brilliant South African authors, each bringing their unique perspective on love, relationships, identity, and triumph.

In this episode, hear from:

Zukiswa Wanner, acclaimed novelist , whose latest book Love Marry Kill explores the complexities of modern relationships with sharp social commentary and humour.

Duduzile Nhlabathi-Madonsela, dating coach and author of The Dating Playbook, sharing candid and practical advice for navigating today’s dating scene.

Sven Axelrad, Durban-based author of The Nicotine Gospel, blending dark humour with poignant reflections on family, loss, and identity.

Khanyiso Tshwaku, sports journalist and co-author of Twice the Glory, chronicling the Springboks’ historic back-to-back Rugby World Cup victories and their cultural significance.

Tune in for an engaging, heartfelt, and sometimes fiery exploration of love in all its forms.

#PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #LoveAndWriting #ModernRelationships #LiteraryPodcast #SouthAfricanLiterature #WritingCommunity #RugbyWorldCup #StorytellingMatters #LoveFateOrChoice #BookPodcast

In this episode of Pagecst at the Kingsmead Book Fair, Jean-Marie Korff is in conversation with four authors who are creating thrilling narratives around crime, culture, identity and their social realities.

In this episode, Jean-Marie Korff speaks with:

Marina Auer, a medical doctor turned author, whose novel Single Minded explores the pressures and resilience of hospital life.

Costa Ayiotis, South African-Greek author and former UN diplomat, who shares his nostalgic and humorous memoir Matriarchs, Meze and the Evil Eye, reflecting on family, culture, and identity.

Tony Park, acclaimed thriller writer, discusses his latest novel The Protector, focusing on wildlife crime and conservation.

Juliette Manitshana-Mnqeta, legal transcriptionist and isiXhosa translator, whose debut crime novel If the Dead Could Talk investigates justice and memory in South Africa.

Discover their writing rituals, the inspiration behind their stories, and how their South African heritage shapes their work.

#PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #CrimeFiction #CulturalStorytelling #SouthAfricanLiterature #ThrillerWriters #LiteraryPodcast #WildlifeConservation #AfricanAuthors #StorytellingMatters

In this episode of Pagecast, recorded at the Kingsmead Book Fair, Shakti Pillay is chatting to three incredible authors about the art of storytelling and how they build fictional worlds that resonate with real emotions and reflect complex human experiences.

Join us for an intimate conversation with:

Louisa Treger, acclaimed author of The Paris Muse, who brings to life the untold stories of women silenced by history and explores the responsibilities of fictionalising real lives.

Bonnie Espie, writer and poet, whose latest novel Making A Killing blends dark comedy with crime fiction, offering fresh perspectives on identity, motherhood, and mental health.

Alistair Mackay, the Cape Town-based author of The Lucky Ones, whose fiction challenges social norms while championing love, kindness, and connection in uncertain times.

Together, they reflect on their writing rituals, how their voices have evolved, and the ways their work contributes to both local and global literary landscapes. Discover what it means to truly feel “seen” as a writer, how they balance humour and serious themes, and the books that have recently inspired them.

Whether you’re a writer, reader, or lover of stories that touch the heart and mind, this episode offers rich insights into the power of fiction to illuminate real emotions and lived experiences.

#PagecastPodcast #SouthAfricanAuthors #FictionWriting #Storytelling #LiteraryPodcast #MakingA Killing #TheParisMuse #TheLuckyOnes #WritingCommunity #RealEmotionsInFiction #BookPodcast #KingsmeadBookFair

In this special episode of Pagecast, we bring you an inspiring conversation recorded live at the 2025 Kingsmead Book Fair. Hloniphile Mzangwa is in conversation with four South African children’s authors who are transforming childhood through stories that celebrate empathy, inclusion, cultural pride, and representation.

Meet the incredible voices behind these powerful books:

Lara Nathan, author of Jamie Shai and his Superpower, shares how her special-needs son inspired a story rooted in empathy and inclusion.

Professor Claudine Storbeck, founder of the Centre for Deaf Studies, explores the importance of Deaf culture and sign language in children’s literature and education.

Salamina Mosese, acclaimed actress and author of Disaster at Gogo’s Spaza, brings township family life vividly to the page through her storytelling.

Refiloe Moahloli, award-winning author and founder of Twelve Animation Studios, celebrates multilingualism, joy, and self-confidence in her work.

Together, they answer thought-provoking questions about the importance of representation in South African children’s literature, how social themes like inclusion and identity are woven into their stories, and the core values they hope young readers will embrace.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or book enthusiast, this episode offers a look at the stories shaping the future of childhood in South Africa.

#KingsmeadBookFair #SouthAfricanAuthors #ChildrensBooks #InclusionInLiterature #RepresentationMatters #EmpathyThroughStories #AfricanChildrensBooks #LiteraryFestival #BookLoversSA #StorytellingForChange #BookPodcast

Relive the excitement of the 2025 Kingsmead Book Fair with our exclusive behind-the-scenes podcast episode. Just minutes before the festivities began, Maryam Adams sat down with the talented team who brought this year’s incredible programme to life. Alex Bouche, Sue Nyathi, Jennifer Platt and Pamela Power spoke about what it took to organise one of South Africa’s most anticipated literary festivals, shared their intentions for the day, and offered unique insights into the creative process. And for a fun twist, Maryam asked them the burning question: If you could be any bird, which one would you be?

#KingsmeadBookFair #BookPodcast #BookFair2025 #SouthAfricanAuthors #LiteraryFestival #BehindTheScenes #BookLoversSA #PodcastInterview #BookCommunity #FestivalHighlights #ReadingCulture

Eva Mazza sits down with Lindsay Norman to discuss her latest novel, Khaki Fever. This lively conversation delves into the inspiration behind the book, Norman’s writing process, and the unique South African setting that brings the story to life.

Khaki Fever is ‘Chick-lit in khaki’ that offers pure escapism with the perfect combination of romance and drama spiced with laugh-out-loud moments.

Game guide Alexandra Carnell-Ellis is principled, doesn’t suffer fools, and is generally not too fond of ordinary people either. When she’s fired from The Plains, a commercial ‘Ferrari Safari’-type game reserve in the Karoo for being rude to guests, she’s determined to make a fresh start.

She lands a dream job at an exclusive game reserve in Mpumalanga, but Alex’s new beginning appears to be doomed from the start as she arrives at the lodge with attitude, a few facts about her that aren’t strictly true, and a stolen dog in tow. For one, she had pretended to be a man in her application, because she is convinced that khaki fever gives male guides an advantage.

Alex struggles to control her unruly tongue and almost immediately makes enemies with the camp manager and the owner’s terrifyingly scary girlfriend, who can’t wait to expose Alex’s deepest darkest secrets. She finds love in the form of the level-headed and attractive head guide, but it’s not long before everything goes wrong.

After impulsively abandoning her vehicle and guests to rescue an abandoned baby baboon, a storm breaks over her head and she flees the reserve. Will she ever be able to find her way back?

Tune in to hear Lindsay Norman share behind-the-scenes insights and what makes Khaki Fever a must-read for 2025!

#KhakiFever #LindsayNorman #SouthAfricanFiction #PagecastPodcast #BookChat #WomenWriters #AdventureReads #BookRecommendation #MustRead2025 #PodcastInterview #BookPodcast

Pagecast along with a host of book people take a seat in the vibrant courtyard of Smitten Cafe surrounded by a soirée of literary buzz.

Reflecting on the festival buzz in the air, standout moments, and the nostalgic love affair with Johannesburg, all against the breathtaking beauty of Franschhoek. In “The Last Word: Endings, Echoes, and What Comes Next”, Michele Magwood, Paige Nick, and Kate Mosse were interviewed by Shaun de Waal in a powerful, funny, and moving conversation that captured it all.