PAGECAST

In this episode of Pagecast, Cato Pedder, author of Moederland: Nine Daughters of South Africa, is in conversation with Maryam Adams, Publicist at Jonathan Ball Publishers.

About the book:

Moederland: Nine Daughters of South Africa is a fascinating, unflinching and forensic work of non-fiction by Cato Pedder, the great-granddaughter of Jan Smuts, the South African prime minister responsible for heralding the age of apartheid.

Moederland is a courageous and modern appraisal of what it means to be descended from the people who created the ultra-racist apartheid system in South Africa.

Illuminating its turbulent history through the lives of her female ancestors, it is a history of South Africa like no other, told from the perspective of women long silenced in the historical narrative.

It asks, what were they doing while white supremacy was constructed?

In Moederland, Pedder travels the centuries from the 1600s, when Cape Town was a remote outpost of the Dutch East India Company, to the kraal of a Zulu king in the 1800s before doubling back to Europe and then culminating with the English Quaker aunt who defies apartheid to marry across the colour line. As anti-racist campaigners call out the statue of Jan Smuts in Parliament Square, Cato painstakingly excavates the long-forgotten life stories of the women of her prehistory, unpacking the legacy of her Afrikaans heritage and bringing their collective shame into the light.

Moederland brilliantly sits at the borderline between personal history and memoir, and shares themes with The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal, The Wife’s Tale by Aida Edemariam and Maybe Esther by Katja Petrowskaja, both of which use unknown forebears to throw new light on the troubled past. It will also appeal to readers of Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize winning novel, The Promise.

About the author:

Cato Pedder was born into the Quaker Clark shoe family and is a former newspaper reporter with 15 years of experience in South Africa and the UK, including at the Johannesburg Star and The Sun. She graduated from Cambridge University in English Literature and holds further degrees in African Studies from SOAS and Creative Writing from Kingston University, where she won the academic prize. She is a published poet, was born in California and brought up in England. She has lived in South Africa and returns there regularly.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. 

Todays episode features the phenomenal Kobby Ben Ben chatting about - No One Dies Yet.

A genre-breaking novel from a powerful new African voice.

2019. The Year of the Return. It has been exactly 400 years since the first slave ships left Ghana for America. Ghana has now opened its doors to Black diasporans, encouraging them to return and get to know the land of their ancestors.

Elton, Vincent, and Scott arrive from America to visit preserved sites from the transatlantic slave route, and to explore the country's underground queer scene. Their activities are narrated by their two combative guides: Kobby, their guide to Accra’s privileged circles; and Nana, the voice of tradition and religious principle. The pair's tense relationship sets the tone for what becomes a shocking and unsettling tale of murder that is at times funny, at times erotic, yet always outspoken and iconoclastic.

In this episode, Kobby is in conversation with Lethabo Mailula, an academic at law, society and politics commentator and a cultural production critic

Enjoy!

Thanks for listening to this episode of Pagecast, brought to you by Jonathan Ball Publishers. 

Today’s episode features the the remarkable Cecelia Ahern - speaking about her book In a thousand different ways.

Alice Kelly’s been given a gift, though if you were to ask Alice about it, she wouldn’t describe it as a gift….she’d call it a curse.

Since the age of 8 years old, Alice has been able to see people’s feelings.

That is the basis of Cecelia Ahern’s latest wonderful offering….

In this epsiode of Pagecast, Cecelia is in conversation with Samantha Herbst, ‍ Writer. Editor. Content Creator.

Enjoy!

In this captivating discussion, Pagecast host Kelly Ansara engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Justin Fox, the prolific author behind more than twenty books, including The Cape Raider, Whoever Fears the Sea, and Secret Cape Town. Together, they delve into the intriguing world of his latest release, The Wolf Hunt, the second book in the thrilling Jack Pembroke series.

Join us as we explore the gripping narrative of The Wolf Hunt - Nazi Terror in South African Waters, and gain insight into the creative process behind this standalone adventure. Discover the significance of literary festivals like Kingsmead to authors and the local literary community, and get a sneak peek into what Justin Fox is reading next.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we uncover the rich storytelling and historical depth that defines Justin Fox's work.

Enjoy!

In this captivating discussion, Pagecast host Kelly Ansara engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Koleka Putuma, a multi-award-winning theatre practitioner, writer, and poet. Koleka's work fearlessly tackles themes such as sexuality, gender, race, and politics. Her bestselling debut poetry collection, Collective Amnesia, garnered prestigious accolades, including the Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry, and was recognized as one of the best books of the year by The Sunday Times and Quartz Africa. In 2022, Putuma made history by receiving the Standard Bank Young Artist Award – the first time this award was given for poetry.

Join us as we delve into Koleka's literary journey and explore her latest collection, We Have Everything We Need to Start Again. This inspiring collection invites readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and embrace their true selves.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we discuss the profound impact of Koleka's work on the literary community and the importance of festivals like Kingsmead in fostering local talent and dialogue.

Enjoy!

In this captivating discussion, Pagecast host Kelly Ansara engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Bronwyn Williams, a renowned futurist, economist, and business trends analyst. Bronwyn earns her living as a ‘court jester,’ consulting to clients in both the public and private sectors worldwide. As a partner at Flux Trends and an associate at Futurist.com, her research delves into how macro socio-economic trends and emerging technologies will shape businesses, industries, and nations in the short and long term.

Join us as we explore her latest book, The Future Starts Now - Expert Insights into the Future of Business, Technology and Society, co-authored by Theo Priestley. Bronwyn shares her perspectives on the state of our nation, especially in the context of the upcoming elections, and offers a glimpse into how society and business will evolve in the coming years.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we discuss the future of business, technology, and society, and the critical insights Bronwyn provides.

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In this captivating discussion, Pagecast host Nompumelelo Mgidlana engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Amy Heydenrych, the talented author behind the thrillers Shame on You and The Pact, and co-author of Chasing Marian. Her latest novel, Bad Luck Penny, was released just last month and promises to be another thrilling read.

Join us as we delve into Amy's literary journey and explore her latest release, Bad Luck Penny. Amy shares her insights on what makes stories literary, a topic she will be discussing on one of her panels at this year's festival. We also discuss the significance of festivals like Kingsmead for authors and the local literary community.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we uncover the gripping narratives and creative process behind Amy's work.

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In this captivating discussion, Pagecast host Maryam Adams engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Jonathan Ancer, an award-winning journalist known for his diverse career as a reporter, features writer, and crossword columnist. Jonathan is the author of notable biographies on Craig Williamson and Pravin Gordhan. His latest book, Bullsh*t: 50 Fibs That Made South Africa, delves into the intriguing and often surprising fabrications that have shaped the nation's history.

Join us as we explore Jonathan's literary journey and uncover some of the most fascinating fibs from his latest book. Jonathan shares his insights on the importance of literary festivals like Kingsmead and their impact on the local literary community. We also discuss his favorite fibs, some that didn't make it into the book, and what he plans to cover next.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we delve into the stories and fabrications that have shaped South Africa.

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In this episode, Pagecast host Maryam Adams engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Sven Axelrad, who burst onto the literary scene in 2023 with his magical and quirky debut, Buried Treasure. An accountant by profession, Sven is an avid reader (devouring 65 books a year), a tattoo enthusiast, guitar player, and dog lover. His second novel, God’s Pocket, has just been released.

Join us as we explore Sven's remarkable transition from the world of accounting to the literary world. Sven shares his journey, discusses his literary muses, and gives us an inside look into his latest book, God’s Pocket, including the inspiration behind it. We also get a sneak peek into his plans for book number three.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we delve into the creative mind of Sven Axelrad and his captivating storytelling.

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In this discussion, Pagecast host Michael Ward engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Lloyd Burnard, the sports editor of News24.com and the author of Miracle Men and Insights into the Rugby World Cup. Lloyd's 2024 book, Twice the Glory: The Making of the Greatest Bok Team in History, delves into the fascinating story behind South Africa's most successful rugby team.

Join us as we explore the current state of sports in our nation and the unique power of sports to unite South Africans. Lloyd shares insights from his latest book, Twice the Glory, offering a detailed look at what makes this Bok team truly the greatest in history.

Don't miss this enlightening episode as we discuss the unifying spirit of sports and the compelling narratives behind South Africa's rugby success.

Enjoy!