Lucy Lurie is deeply sunk in PTSD following a gang rape at her father’s farmhouse in the Western Cape. She soon becomes obsessed with the author John Coetzee, who has made a name for himself by writing Disgrace, a celebrated novel that revolves around the attack on her.

Lucy lives the life of a celibate hermit, making periodic forays into the outside world in her attempts to find and confront Coetzee. The Lucy of Coetzee’s fictional imaginings is a passive, peaceful creature, almost entirely lacking in agency. She is the lacuna in Coetzee’s novel – the missing piece of the puzzle.

But Lucy Lurie is no one’s lacuna. Her attempts to claw back her life, her voice and her agency may be messy and misguided, but she won’t be silenced. Her rape is not a metaphor. This is her story.

Temperature is the result of the Karavan Stories Workshop & Anthology project, now in its second year.

The theme – temperature – was inspired by global and intimate, personal developments. Climate change continues to dominate our weather and news cycles. Heated international debates require cool and collected thinking for the sake of all our futures around the world. It has been an exceptionally difficult year for many – what allows us to survive, and thrive, is the warmth and kindness of our connections. Temperature is a testimony to this simple truth.

The stories which emerged interpret ‘temperature’ in the most innovative ways, but they have one thing in common: hot off the press, they inspire reflections on interdependence – between individuals, communities and continents, as well as between humanity and our environment.

Contributing authors include: Sue Brown, Christine Coates, Gail Gilbride, Kerry Hammerton, Karen Horn, Karen Lijnes, Ciaran R. Maidwell, Firdose Moonda, Consuelo Roland, Anne Schlebusch, Joëlle Searle, Philisiwe Twijnstra, Alexandra Wood.

When The Village Sleeps is a visionary novel about what the loss of identity and dignity can do to people afflicted by decades of brokenness.

Told through the lives and spirits of four generations of amaTolo women, including The Old, who speak wisdom with ever-increasing urgency, it moves between the bustling township setting of Kwanele and the different rhythms of rural village life. It recalls the sweeping sagas of the great A.C. Jordan and the Dhlomo brothers and invokes the poetry of S.E.K. Mqhayi, while boldly exploring urgent and contemporary issues.

An ode to the complex strengths of South African women, When The Village Sleeps is also a powerful call to respect the earth that nurtures human life, and to live in self-sufficiency and harmony with the environment and each other.

Nandi Nxumalo and Femi Adewoye are in love. But although the ladies at Nandi’s favourite hair salon drool over her tall, dark and super handsome boyfriend who has his own auto repair shop, there are others in her community who are less pleased that she, a Zulu woman, has fallen for a ‘foreigner’.

Nandi has to hide her relationship with her Nigerian boyfriend from her xenophobic father who would never allow them to date. But Femi is serious about her and wants to meet her parents. She is afraid of what her father might do when she introduces them. On the other hand, she doesn’t want to lose Femi. His ex-girlfriend Chichi is already trying to come between them.

When xenophobic attacks break out all over the country, Nandi and Femi do not escape unaffected. Nandi feels she has to do something – she can no longer be silent.

Shelley Jacobsen is in her 40s and feels trapped. The coffee and décor shop that she opened with her bestie is proving to be a gilded cage. Meanwhile, her husband is consumed with Jewish guilt since having their twins, which reminds Shelley that she will always be a Shiksa to his family. Then she hires Wayde Smith, a sexy 22-year-old surfer who smells like a Pina Colada Coconut Vanilla Dessert, as a barista. He makes her feel young and Shelley just wants some fun. But will it stay harmless?

Left with a huge debt by her runaway ex-husband, Lexi Taylor is out of money and out of luck. In search of a new beginning and determined to be on her own, she returns home to sleepy Graaff-Reinet and becomes the manager of the inn at Apricot Farm. Free of the burdens of her old life, Lexi finally feels she’s getting back on track – until American Carter O’Brien arrives in town.

South Africa is a long way from his home in Texas, but it’s the fresh start Carter needs – and his last chance. A former musician and the wayward son of an oil industry tycoon, he has been sent to the Karoo Basin in search of shale gas, and is expected to succeed. Harbouring serious mistakes in his private and professional past, he can’t afford any distractions, no matter how alluring.

Carter was prepared for potential problems – angry farmers, anti-fracking protests, tricky negotiations – but fighting his attraction to Lexi wasn’t one of them. As Lexi is drawn into Carter’s work and his complicated life, the pair must confront danger from an unexpected enemy in the Karoo … and from their own hearts.

Nelia Baker’s life gets turned into one of her fantasy writing pieces, when the handsome tv series producer Jake Anderson wants to work with her. Life in the fantasy world is more complicated than she anticipated as it starts to confuse her reality.

Recovering from her Mother’s death, Nelia focuses most of her energy into escaping in one of her writing realms, where she is most at home these days. Her Father, Nate tries his best to be her support system, but things get a bit complicated along the way when Nelia’s college boyfriend proposes to her and simultaneously she receives a job opportunity in Italy to be a screenwriter. Which world will she prefer, the written fantasy or her reality?

With her fiancé Lucas waiting for her back home to become his trophy wife, Nelia gets spun into a love triangle whilst in Italy. Things get really complicated when one of her love interests happens to be Jake Anderson, her soon to be boss. All the chaos affects Nelia negatively, as she tries to hide her skin flare ups whilst trying to spin herself out on the straight and narrow. Everything gets a bit much and she decides to flee back home. How will the insecure Nelia choose which life is best for her and also which guy?

All this whilst trying to find herself in this crazy world she has written about.

Ná jare van ontbering vind Mina Afrika geluk in Whitewing Lodge, ’n gastehuis op die rotse naby Visbaai. In die moderne kombuis leef sy haar ten volle uit as sjef; sy raak al hoe meer betrokke by die interessantste mense. Dan verander 'n doodgewone aankondiging oor bykomende gaste vir middagete alles.

Skielik word dit weer nag vir Mina. En vir die mense naaste aan haar.

A pianist falls grandly, helplessly in love in this elegant new novella from the twice-Booker Prize winner.

The Pole tells the story of Witold Walczykiewicz, a vigorous, white-haired pianist who becomes infatuated with Beatriz, a stylish patron of the arts, after she helps organize his Barcelona concert.

Although Beatriz, who is married, is initially unimpressed by Wittold, she soon finds herself pursued and ineluctably swept into his world. As he sends her letters, extends countless invitations to travel, and even visits her husband's summer home in Mallorca, their unlikely relationship blossoms, though only on her terms.

As the power struggle between them intensifies -- Is it Beatriz who limits their passion by controlling her emotions? Or is it Witold, trying to force into life his dream of love?

The SMS said, ‘don’t look for me’. I died right there. MaZwane, please no matter what happens, we can fight until we mutilate each other but do not leave me. Anelisa, I hope you have spoken to her seriously. We are married, we don’t leave each other. We stay for better or for worse, through thick and thin. The three of us do not part ways no matter what caused the misunderstanding. They both look at me attentively, I can’t be more serious than this.

Duma is at a cross roads in life. Living in an informal settlement in Soweto with his father and young sister, Duma is expected to make a contribution to the household since he does not work. The easy way has been to steal electricity cables. But when his friend gets caught, Duma decides to try a new way of life. The road to a new beginning does not come easy as he goes back to the canoe club at Power Park and he quickly learns that paddling a canoe is not as easy as he remembered. He finds himself drawn to the water and is inspired by Steve an experienced paddler who is determined and pushes himself but lately the gold has been out of reach. Duma goes out on a limb and asks Steve if they can train together for the Dusi. Will Duma and Steve's partnership in the water work out? This is an inspirational story of two men from different backgrounds, coming together to tell their story.

The Polygamist weaves a tale of four women whose lives become intertwined when they all fall for wealthy banking magnate Jonasi.

Seemingly indomitable, and oozing money, power and sex appeal, Jonasi is about to complicate all their lives forever.

Tikkop is 'n roman oor verraad, maar ook oor vriendskap en die liefde vir 'n taal en 'n land. Die Nederlander, Mulder, en die Suid-Afrikaner, Donald, hernu hulle weer hul vriendskap en verken weer hulle gevoelens van weleer: daar is 'n gedeelde liefde, vriende wat verraai is en ideale wat verloen is. Mulder, wat in Parys woon, besluit om in die Kaap te kom bly, terwyl Donald sy stryd voortsit in 'n verstikkende klein vissersdorpie. Die plaaslike bevolking voel verraai: hulle visregte is opgeskort deur korrupte leiers, daar is geen werk nie en hul kinders ontvlug deur TIK te gebruik. Die twee manne ontferm hulle dan oor 'n talentvolle verslaafde seun aan wie hulle 'n nuwe toekoms wil bied - mits die knaap die TIK kan oorwin.

Meet Tannie Maria: the loveable writer of recipes in her local paper, the Klein Karoo Gazette.

One Sunday morning, as Maria stirs apricot jam, she hears her editor Harriet on the stoep. What Maria doesn't realise is that Harriet is about to deliver a whole basketful of challenges and the first ingredient in two new recipes - recipes for love and murder.

A delicious blend of intrigue, milk tart and friendship, join Tannie Maria in her first investigation. Consider your appetite whetted for a whole new series of mysteries . . .

Whiplash is a gut wrenching story of a Muizenberg Sex worker, Tess who Pops painkillers by the handful and sells her body to strangers. When a condom breaks, Tess's life swings one eighty degrees. She gives up her drugs until she can get to an abortion clinic. Her cold turkey opens up a window in her mind, whipping Tess into a shattering understanding of how she got here. Tess's quirky humour, raw honesty and deep love of beauty lead her to find redemption in astonishing places. This book has a huge heart, like Tess, revealing that there is something in everyone that cannot be touched. Not by human hands. Not ever.

Hoe dans jy as die lied in jou hart stil geraak het?

Bekende musiekster, Zander Breedt, se muses het hom verlaat. Die helder ligte van die verhoog het hul glans verloor, en dit klink asof die suiwer melodieë in sy kop vervang is met ’n droewige klaaglied.

Boonop is daar sy nuwe skoonsus, Anine Vos, ’n joernalis, ’n spesie waarvoor hy nie baie ooghare het nie. Hy moet haar gedoog, al maak sy dit duidelik dat sy nie tyd het vir ’n popster soos hy nie. Tog, om een of ander rede begin die note weer helder deur Zander se
gedagtes klink wanneer sy naby is.

Anine kan nie verstaan hoekom juis sý die opdrag moes kry om ’n in diepte-artikel oor Zander te skryf nie. Sy het mos niks verloor by hierdie mislike musikant nie. Om deur sy lewe te krap is die laaste ding wat sy wil doen terwyl haar eie hart nog gebreek is.

Magdaleen Verster probeer die stukke van haar lewe optel na die dood van haar tweelingsuster, Misha. Wanneer sy ’n onwaarskynlike vriendskap smee met haar eksentrieke buurman, die wetenskaplike Darius Achenbach, bevind sy haar in die opwindende maar omstrede wêreld van stamselnavorsing.

Asof Misha haar aksies vanuit die dood rig, vind gematigde Magdaleen dat sy skielik bereid is om groot risiko’s te neem. Sy kan haar suster nie terugbring nie, tog kan sy moontlik ’n verskil aan ander se lewens maak. Wat begin as ’n onbaatsugtige projek, vang haar gou vas in geheime bedrywighede waarvan sy min verstaan. Wie is so angstig om Darius se navorsing te ontspoor? Of wil hulle dit dalk vir hulself toeëien?

Alles kom teen ’n prys. En soms is die prys van een mens se lewe ’n ander mens se dood.

Thirteen year old James Clarke is always being picked on in school. He hates sports, and he particularly hates Stingers, a schoolyard game in which children throw tennis balls at each other. The other kids always seem to throw the ball harder, when it's at him.

His physical education teacher, Mr Evans, has no sympathy for the boy, believing he just needs to toughen up a bit. When James returns home from school after a rough game of Stingers, his mother is mortified when she sees the bruises on his arm and chest. She phones the school to try and put a stop to the cruel bullying of her son. But her phone call only makes things worse, as the bullying escalates to levels that nobody imagined possible.

Twee plaasdramas oor grense, tradisies, grond en bloed.

Melk & Vleis

Dis 1996. Suid-Afrika het verander, maar sekere huishoudings nog nie. ’n Suksesvolle aktuaris los haar werk in die stad nadat sy verlief raak op ’n sjarmante jong boer. Sy probeer haar bes om in te pas by die kleindorpse gemeenskap, haarself in haar huwelik te laat geld, en die familieplaas van ondergang te red. Nadat ’n erfgenaam gebore word, begin dinge egter op die plaas uitrafel ...

Bloed & Bodem

Jana besoek haar pa en oom op die familieplaas. Die plaas gaan agteruit en haar pa sit meer op die kroegstoel as die kerkbank. Een nag los hy in sy dronkenskap die hek oop en dit word ‘n aand wat niemand sal vergeet nie... ’n Verhaal oor plaasaanvalle en die desperate nalatenskap van Afrikanermans wat nooit kon heel nadat hulle aan die “verkeerde” kant van die apartheidstryd geveg het nie.

Die nuwe Afrikaanse prosaboek is ’n viering van verskeidenheid. Dit bied ’n verruimende, vars blik op die Afrikaanse kortverhaal met sowel klassieke verhale deur welbekende skrywers asook voorheen ongepubliseerde verhale deur nuwe stemme. Jan Rabie, wat in die laat-1950’s die kontoere van die literêre landskap verlê het met sy soms absurde, soms filosofiese, soms politieke “prosas”, dien as inspirasie. 

Kaapstadse sielkundige Chris se rustige lewe word bedreig. ’n Trigger-happy vrou uit sy verlede probeer hom afpers, sy pasiënte se koppe haak een vir een uit, en sy dirty little secret begin hom kriewelrig maak.

Boonop irriteer sy gay eksvrou hom met haar verhoudingsprobleme, amper net soveel soos sy skoolvriend se skynbaar sorgelose lewe. Op Bella, sy jong Portugese vrou met haar voorliefde vir lawwe YouTube-videos, kan hy darem werklik staatmaak – of hoe?

Hierdie genuanseerde, ironiese blik op seks, intieme verhoudings en eksistensiële krisisse word uit die oogpunt van verskeie karakters vertel, en elkeen het ’n kinkel-einde. Besluit self wie s’n is gelukkig en wie s’n nie . . .

Dora en Whashiela patsy graag op lit aande in die holte van Hoerikwaggo se skaduwee. Die girls is nie op hul bek geval nie. Maar albei weet ook die veilige hawe van sisterhood kan hulle nie beskerm teen die geweld wat snags op donker sypaadjies sluimer nie.

Een oggend op Bellville-stasie gebeur iets wat hul lewe onherroeplik verander.

Dianne Du Toit Albertze se debuutroman is ’n aangrypende ondersoek na identiteit, na huis en behoort. Opreg, vlymskerp én hartverskeurend.