The Housemaid's Daughter in Johannesburg

I have just returned to Cape Town after a hectic day in Johannesburg promoting The Housemaid's Daughter. The day started with a 4am wake up call (gasp), and I leapt onto a 7am flight.
I was born in Johannesburg and later lived there as an adult for 8 years, but even so I found it utterly changed and so much more vibrant than when I was last there in the early 90s.

At the airport I was met by the charming Dedre, representing my SA distributers. Our first port of call was Novel Books in Bryanston where I spoke to an enthuastic audience which included a long lost cousin and a family friend from those earlier Jhb days! And it was a pleasure to meet so many readers who felt a personal connection with the book and its Karoo setting. My thanks to Helen and Sharon for their warm welcome.

From there we negotiated the traffic to the Radio Today studios, an oasis of calm set in a nursery in the appropriately named suburb of Rosebank. There I met the exuberant Sue Grant Marshall, with whom I spent a lively 45 minutes or so, recording an interview which will later play on Radio Today. Then we swept through the flowery aisles and made our way to the Hyatt Hotel where I had my picture taken for an article that will be appearing in the Business Day newspaper. Once again Sue was my interviewer (see picture above) and we delved a little deeper into the background of The Housemaid's Daughter and the research I did for the book.

Then it was back into the car and along to the Radio 702 Talk Radio studios in Sandowne, where I recorded an extract of the book, to be aired alongside a review by Jenny Crwys-Williams on her Book show.

By this stage it was mid-afternon and we were due at Love Books in Melville for the final event of the day. The indefatigable Dedre tackled the rush hour traffic and we arrived on time for a glass of wine and some snacks before the start. Love Books, like Novel Books earlier in the day, has a loyal group of readers who enjoy attending talks and book launches. Certainly this is a powerful way for independent bookshops to build and retain a following, and make themselves a centre for the enjoyment of reading... Kate and Anna, the owners, welcomed me to what may be the prettiest bookshop in the world, and we were joined by Sue Grant Marshall for a fascinating chat about the book, including the role of music in the story, and the way that Ada finds melody even amidst the hustle and bustle of township life... she calls it Township Bach.
More next time!

The Housemaid's Daughter Launches in Johannesburg

I am delighted to announce that the new paperback edition of The Housemaid's Daughter will be launched in Johannesburg on Tuesday 26th February.
There will be 2 events to mark the occasion - firstly in the morning at Novel Books, Hobart Grove Centre, Bryanston at 10 for 10.30am, and secondly at Love Books, Bamboo Centre, Melville at 5.30 for 6pm. Do join me!

This means that Jo'burg folk will be be first off the blocks (!) with respect to the paperback. I will, of course, be returning to Cape Town on Wed 27th for the already-announced paperback launch at The Book Lounge - please see my previous blog for the details or visit the Book Lounge's website at www.booklounge.co.za

Whether it's in Johannesburg or Cape Town, I look forward to meeting you and hearing your response to the book - plus chatting about my research and revealing a couple of behind-the-scenes snippets that never made it into the final cut...
See you there.

The Housemaid's Daughter Launch in Cape Town

I am delighted to announce that my South African publishers, Jonathan Ball, are hosting a launch of the new paperback edition of The Housemaid's Daughter in Cape Town on Wednesday 27th February.

It will take place at The Book Lounge in central Cape Town. Please go onto the Book Lounge's website to see more details:
www.booklounge.co.za and click on Feb 27th for your Invitation.
I will be speaking - for a short while! - and then we will have the chance to chat over a glass of Leopard's Leap wine - what a pleasure! If you are going to be in Cape Town on the day then do please RSVP and come along. Please bring any of your friends/colleagues who may have read the book, or who are interested in my journey from unknown scribbler to published author.

While I have been in South Africa, I have been kept well informed by reports from various friends back in the UK, who are watching the progress of the new UK paperback on the "charts" at their local bookstores. Thank you, scouts! Since publication of the paperback in early January we have nipped into a position just outside the Top 100. I have received a series of great reviews recently, so hopefully this will propel the book upwards. I am reminded of the Olympics this past summer: higher, faster, stronger! Let's create some momentum of our own! Please keep spreading the word - your recommendations are still my best form of publicity.

I look forward to seeing you at the Cape Town Launch if you're in the vicinity. And keep an eye out for the new paperback in SA stores from about the 15th of February. Post a pic on facebook when you spot one...