Top authors gather in Knysna for Literary Festival

01 Feb 2016 | Admin Author

Some of the country's top authors will be gathering in Knysna this week for the fifth annual Knysna Literary Festival.
Aimed at fostering a passion for reading and exposing readers to the country's literary talent, the festival - which runs from March 18 to March 23 - also serves as a platform for authors to connect directly to readers.

This year's programme will take on various formats from face-to-face interviews, talks and intimate dinners with authors to discussions on a wide range of topics.
Festival founder Ling Dobson said the topics include anything from politics to environmental issues, cooking and even some "girl talk".
One of the authors attending this year's festival is Casey B Dolan - who will alongside Jassy Mackenzie, who recently wrote two erotic novels Folly and Switch - present a talk "A Lighter Shade of Grey" about what women really want.

The former television and radio personality who wrote An Appetite for Peas said events like the Knysna Literary Festival was paramount to encourage reading and keeping the imagination alive. "To be able to engage with an audience over ideas and about the written word can only be not just entertaining but forwarding a culture," Dolan said.
"Writers spend their lives exposing subjects, topics and stories bravely and boldly. These festivals are, in a way, the reason for all the hard work - a chance to really interact with the hearts and minds of the reading public and grow each other. Not to mention that authors are just a fantastic bunch of people to interact with."
Some of the highlights on this year's programme includes a political panel which will be moderated by Knysna local Ivo Vegter - author of Extreme Environment - and will include former head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Vusi Pikoli, who wrote My Second Initiation - as well as investigative journalist and social commentator Max du Preez, who authored Rumour of Spring.

Reverend Frank Chikane will also present a talk on his books The things that could not be said and Eight days in September, during which he will give a tell-all account from behind the scenes when former president Thabo Mbeki as removed as president in 2008.

South Africa's best selling author and man behind the Spud series, John van de Ruit, will also give a talk on the creation of the books and the movies.
Conservationist and Knysna local Andy Campbell will also interview investigative journalist Julian Rademeyer and discuss the reality of his book Killing for Profit.
The festival takes place at various venues with 12 events and some 18 top authors taking part. For more information, visit www.KnysnaLiteraryFestival.co.za or phone 044 382 5574.