Limpopo BookFair 23-26April2007

I have just stepped out of the Limpopo Book Fair on Indigenous Languages, where I was honoured as a local author, even though my work is written in the English language. Having met a stream of interesting people, the likes of Professor Neville ALexander of UCT and Joan De Beer of the National Library, among others, the week turned out more than mundane eventfulness! Seminars, workshops and features in the foyer of the building that houses Polokwanes Main Library and the Museum of Art, made for a memorable artsie few days most delectable to the creative artiste's tastebuds. The festival turned out an excellent platform for speaking about my own experiences during the publishing and regarding distribution of Daughters are Diamonds, and allowed for invaluable feedback. Present were various organisations such as Biblionef, NB Publishers (Tafelberg, Pharos, Kwela, etc), MacMillan, Maskew-Miller, Schuster, and numerous others offering their support and advice on freeing the written word. Of particular interest was the book launch by Bibionef regards a childrens book that has been translated into all the official languages, called: "Brenda has a dragon in her blood", based on the true story of a three year old little HIV/Aids orphan who faced the stigma in her playgroup and pre-school. It hopes to foster understanding of the love and care needs of children who are HIV +v and break the stigma attached to their status. Brenda is now thirteen and lives with her foster parents in the Netherlands. The book was originally written in Dutch by her foster mom.
And. I have my own cherished copy of the book!
:)