Modjaji Books

Men will invade their own country before releasing the Epstein Files.

Artwork featuring a woman holding her strong arms over the heads of three young children in protection

"Seed Corn Must Not Be Ground" final lithograph of Käthe Kollwitz, 1942. The death of her son in battle in 1914 profoundly affected the artist, who expressed her grief by creating many prints on the theme of mothers protecting their children from the horrors of war #WomensArt

We have a title on the Canex Award for Publishing in Africa longlist! Andries du Toit's A Blow to the Head: A history of violence. We're delighted and proud, and hope now more people will read this book.

When I was little, the U.S. military came to our home at gunpoint and took me and my family away. We were imprisoned for years in barbed wire camps simply because we were Japanese American. I have spent my life telling that story, hoping it would never be repeated.

The ones that changed my life came a bit later. But reading voraciously, all the books I could lay my hands on was my childhood obsession. Public library in Maseru.

Pope Leo has called for humanitarian aid to be sent into Gaza to ease the hunger crisis caused by Israel’s blockade. The Pope is the latest world leader to criticise Israel’s weaponisation of food aid, after the UK, France and Canada threatened to impose sanctions.

Help keep the lights on at Modjaji Books here's how you can be part of it

We've been blown away by the response to our desperate call for help to keep the lights on. We've had calls and support from other SA publishers, so many books bought. #TheBookery will receive books from donors out of SA. open.substack.com/pub/modjajib...
Thank you to everyone for your backing!

Will you be posting about the books you're reading around the world here or do you have another space where you write longer posts?

Help keep the lights on at Modjaji Books here's how you can be part of it

For 18 years, we've been the heartbeat of independent publishing of southern African women writers, bringing vital voices to readers. We've made big changes this year, and strained our cash flow.

We need to raise ZAR120,000 by 30June to bridge this gap & ensure we can continue our vital work.

If you are in Makhanda on the 14th May, do join us for the launch of Jeannie McKeown's new collection of poetry, Ornithology. It's at the Amazwi Museum, 5.30 pm for 6. No RSVPs needed.
#southafricanliterature
#southafricanpoetry
#modjajibooks

Autistic 4th Grader Goes Viral For Powerful Rebuke To RFK Jr.: 'I'm Not Broken' Beautifully stated, young man!

Bravo, young man! www.comicsands.com/autistic-boy...

Cornflowers, Nigella & sweetness in shades of blue & purple with my illustrations of them on the opposite page of a sketchbook

My illustrations of a blackcap, song thrush, coal tit, long tailed tit and wren

Spring nature finds and my illustrations alongside them along with a watercolour palette & paintbrush

An autumnal collection/small museum of nature finds including pebbles, shells, feathers, seagrass and small good things that fell off trees

Thankyou SO much for your help RTing my workshops
I have 3 you can sign up for atm:
🌿botanical illustration
🪶bird illustration &
🐚small museums
In all 3 I teach you how creative activity's a neuroscientific hack for anxiety & you'll get a discounts on stationery & my Etsy:
workshops.emmamitchell.uk

Brown background with white and orange text that reads: ‘What excites me about the Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize is the prospect of discovering new voices: new writers and their current concerns. Given the world we're living in, how are new writers responding? I can't tell you what would be outstanding — because that's what I want to learn from you. I want to discover the writing we need to read.’ Romesh Gunesekera Chair 2025

Chair of the 2025 Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize, Romesh Gunesekera, shares what he’s looking for in entries.

Get your poetry, fiction, and life writing ready, then submit: buff.ly/1ykIwFT

#writingprize #writingcompetition #literaryprize #emergingwriters

11/
It would take another whole book to document all of the madness. Even starting Modjaji Books has been a form of madness. I thought I could do something that wasn’t really possible: to make a life as an independent feminist publisher, to earn my living publishing books by southern African women.

Press release: Modjaji Books and Catalyst Press announce international publishing partnership - LitNet This arrangement promises to bring increased global visibility to Modjaji authors while maintaining Modjaji’s distinctive editorial vision and established local presence.

This arrangement promises to bring increased global visibility to Modjaji authors while maintaining Modjaji’s distinctive editorial vision and established local presence.
www.litnet.co.za/press-releas...

For 18 years, we've been amplifying Southern African women’s voices. Subscribe & invest in the future of SA lit & so we can continue finding & publishing bold new voices, nurturing new writers, and ensuring that important stories by women reach readers.

modjajibooks.co.za/modjaji-subs...

5/
So, I guess I wanted to make it visible – not just my work, but this kind of work of taking care of elderly parents, of a child. And, at the same time, I was starting and running Modjaji Books and keeping that going.

Thank you for following WA!

'Wing Span' by artist
Sarah Haskell
#WomensArt

Press release: Modjaji Books and Catalyst Press announce international publishing partnership - LitNet This arrangement promises to bring increased global visibility to Modjaji authors while maintaining Modjaji’s distinctive editorial vision and established local presence.

This has been brewing behind the scenes for months, and now we can make the announcement.

www.litnet.co.za/press-releas...
#africanpublishing #southafricanliterature

Colleen Higgs 2023 © Kate Olivier

Cover Art: Carla Kreuser

"Inter-review with Colleen Higgs about her memoir, 'my mother, my madness"' by Janet van Eeden for 'LitNet', 2020

For the full interview with Colleen Higgs, see her 'Interviews and Articles' tab/section on the Deep South website:
🔑: deepsouth.co.za/product/my-m...

16/
And, especially in a context like ours, where debut novels, for example, sell only 300 to 600 in 10 years in most cases, there is much room for disappointment. I think it is easy for writers to blame their publishers for all the things that have disappointed them about having a book published.

17/17
And vice versa.

Press release: Modjaji Books and Catalyst Press announce international publishing partnership - LitNet This arrangement promises to bring increased global visibility to Modjaji authors while maintaining Modjaji’s distinctive editorial vision and established local presence.

This has been brewing behind the scenes for months, and now we can make the announcement.

www.litnet.co.za/press-releas...
#africanpublishing #southafricanliterature

War hero schools a chickenhawk.

Elisabeth was one of the important inspirations for me starting Modjaji Books.

Don't forget to RSVP if you plan to come to this event. Two independent publishers in conversation about this fascinating book and about behind the scenes in publishing.
Tomorrow night at 17h30 for 18h00 at Exclusive Books, Cavendish.

Don't forget to RSVP, Cape Town friends. Happening on Wednesday evening. Behind the scenes of independent publishing.

Shari Daya's collection is 👌❤️🔥

Congratulations!!!

New book out from @modjajibooks.bsky.social still one of the highlights of publishing. Jeannie Mckeown's second collection, Ornithology. Helen Moffett at lunch yesterday with her copy, hot off the press. 😊💐🐦