There’s a great new online exhibit of African comic art. “Afropolitan Comics: From South Africa to the Continent, Images in Conversation” features “tales from across Africa as the artists and writers construct new narratives in one of the oldest forms of expression.” We’re so proud that one of the featured artists is Luke W. Molver, the author/illustrator for our series of graphic novels on the life of legendary Zulu leader, Shaka (Shaka Rising, King Shaka).
South African author Elsa Joubert died recently, another in the long list of those lost to the coronavirus. Joubert is best-known for her apartheid-era novel The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena, which as the New York Times reports in their obituary, “opened the eyes of many white South Africans to the harsh treatment that the black majority had been enduring largely out of their sight.”
There was criticism over the lack of diversity among the winners of the Media24 Book Awards (South Africa). As the Johannesburg Review of Books reports, the outcry was a reaction to “the fact that all the winners of the awards, as well as the majority of the shortlisted authors and judging panels, are white.” Media24 has issued a statement acknowledging the issue, which you can read here.
We began the first in what we hope is a long-running series of conversations with Catalyst authors, friends, and partners this week. Our first installment in our “Conversations with…” series features our office manager SarahBelle Selig in conversation with Small Mercies author Bridget Krone.
Even as states begin the long process of reopening, the need to connect online still seems as relevant as ever. One way to do that is by starting a virtual book club. Jessica Pryde at BookRiot offers some tips for starting your own through your public library.
Andy Fitch from the LA Review of Books recently spoke with Rep. Ilhan Omar, the first Somali-American legislator in the United States, to discuss her recently released memoir, Somalia, her politics, and why she’s put her faith “in seeing what American democracy looks like when elected officials actually engage the people.”
Outside the Lines, our recent release by Ameera Patel, has been earning praise all over: Publishers Weekly (starred review), Shelf Awareness, Ms. Magazine, CrimeReads, and others. We chatted with Ameera about her work, her book, her writing process, and more. Read our Q&A with her here. You can also read an excerpt from the book at CrimeReads. And since you’re already gearing up to visit CrimeReads, make sure to also check out the excerpt from another of our recent releases, Bitter Pill by Peter Church, which has also earned its fair share of praise from Publishers Weekly, NY Review of Books, Cosmo, and others. We’re also offering the e-books of Peter’s Dark Web Trilogy for a special price all summer long. Check it out here.
“I think those of us who acknowledge the humanity of young people, those of us who acknowledge the complexity and the beauty and the sophistication of childhood know that when you’re writing it, all of those elements have to be present.” Author Jason Reynolds (All American Boys, Long Way Down) chats with Krista Tippett of On Being about children’s literature and the power of books to heal.
And finally, we are pleased to take part in the PEN World Voices Festival’s Indie Lit Fair. The Fair, hosted by the Festival and the Community of Literary Magazine and Presses (CLMP), “showcases the breadth of independent magazines and presses our country has to offer.” There are so many amazing indie publishers featured— from book publishers to magazines to literary journals— each offering special pricing on several of their items. We’re presenting three award-winning books: Love Interrupted by Reneilwe Malatji, We Kiss Them with Rain by Futhi Ntshingila, and Bom Boy by Yewande Omotoso, at a special price when you buy all three. Visit the Indie Lit Fair here.
In Catalyst Press news, we released