Radio interview on SAfm Literature about The Baobab Prize

I was recently invited by Deborah Ahenkorah, Director and Co-founder of The Baobab Prize, as a former winner, to talk with Deborah and Karabo Kgoleng on SAfm Literature about The Baobab Prize. I think the show went well (apart from my blanking on the names of Lauren Beukes books, apologies Lauren, I do know they are Moxyland and the forthcoming Zoo City).

I hope it served to really put the prize out there as a much needed encouragement and call for African writers to step up and start writing our own stories in All Genres. As well as a call to African publishers to start publishing All Genres, and perhaps begin to make a dent in the imports that dominate bookshop shelves across Africa, (and maybe we African writers can escape from being lumped all together in those far shelves in the darkest depths of book stores marked African Literature).

You may listen to the podcast of the show here.

African Roar fan page launched!

Happy to announce that the forthcoming StoryTime anthology African Roar has just launched its facebook fan page:

Forthcoming in 2010, African Roar#1: An eclectic anthology of African Authors. Selected from the StoryTime Ezine and edited by Emmanuel Sigauke & Ivor W. Hartmann, to be published by The Lion Press Ltd.

The African Roar#1 anthology selections were made from all works published in the StoryTime Ezine up to Aug 2009, through a combination of a public voting process and final selections from the anthology editors. It will feature works from:

Ayesha Attah
Ayodele Morocco-Clarke
Beaven Tapureta
Chuma Nwokolo Jr.
Christopher Mlalazi
Emmanuel Sigauke
Ivor W. Hartmann
Kola Tubosun
Masimba Musodza
Nana A. Damoah
Novuyo Rosa Tshuma

Received for Review: Amelia's Inheritance - Sarudzai Mubvakure

Sarudzai Mubvakure - Amelia's Inheritance

Received for Review: Black Diamond - Zakes Mda

Zakes Mda - Black Diamond

Nick Wood looks at South African SF

Nick Wood, author of "The Stone Chameleon", takes a comprehensive look at South Africa's Speculative Fiction in ongoing series called SF in Sth Africa. Though mostly focused on South Africa, he does mention a few writers from other African countries, including yours truly in part 10. His articles are well worth a read and give much insight into this emerging but oft overlooked genre in Africa.

New book Cover - Amelias Inheritance by Sarudzai Mubvakure

Just finished a new book cover design - Amelias Inheritance by Sarudzai Mubvakure - to be published soon by The Lion Press.

Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo 2009

It was my privilege to be invited to participate in the literary section of this years Intwasa Arts Festival in KoBulawayo.

The theme for this, the 5th year of the festival, was "Uni5ying" coined by my friend, author and organiser of the lit section Chris Mlalazi. Running from the 23rd-26th of September the fest was jam packed with events encompassing Literary, Film, Theatre, Dance, Music and Visual Arts, and brought in such names as Ignatius Mabasa, Zukiswa Wanner, Daysahead, Phefumula Arts, Kwabatsha Dance Co. Babmbelela Arts Ensemble, Black Umfolosi and Jahunda Arts Ensamble, to name a few.

For my part I held two workshops focusing on The Online World/Online Publishing and how it affects today's African writer. Both were well received and sparked much interest from the attendee's and covered several areas including:

It’s all about International Exposure, Once you work is online its kiss it goodbye, International Publishers are looking for Online Active Writers, How Search works and Why it’s so important, What Online Social Platforms are worth the effort, Consistency Rules all Online Popularity Growth, and lastly, Why Digital Books are the Future (not present).

All in all Intwasa Arts Festival Ko Bulawayo 2009 was an amazing experience, my profound thanks go to Nicholas Moyo and Chris Mlalazi for inviting me and making the fest a roaring success with their consummate planning and organisation. And also to my literary partner in crime at the fest, Zukiswa Wanner, who showed this first-timer how it's done.

Inside the Caves of Rotten Teeth - A Review by Ivor W. Hartmann at AfricanWriter.com

...There is a wonderful quality to Barrett’s style of writing evident in From Caves of Rotten Teeth, from vivid descriptions and dialogue, to heart wrenching circumstance and fiendish plots. It is I feel written with a bold and noble spirit, one that shines to illuminate the good, bad, beautiful, grotesque, brave, cowardly, happy and insane. In this Barrett almost leaves no stone unturned, no matter what may crawl out into the light... Full Review at African Writer

Zimbabwe calling me home

Just booked my tickets, Zim here I come in Sept :) Will be in Harare and then Bulawayo as I have been invited to attend and give a talk at the 2009 INTWASA Arts Festival. Will also be organising a StoryTime Authors meeting for those in Harare, and then Bulawayo too during the festival with the help of Chris Mlalazi.