The Centre for the Book’s Community Publishing Project (CPP) has reached the landmark of publishing its 20th book, thanks to grants from various sources.
A pioneering project enabling writers to publish their own work where no other avenues are open to them, the CPP is inviting popular fiction — crime, romance and thrillers in all languages — for future grants.
Most recently the project published two children’s books, Mogopo wa Rakgadi in Sepedi by Mphuhle Annah Mehlape and The Princesses’ Journey in isiXhosa and English by Christina Russell, with illustrations by Zodwa Skeyi. Other recent books are the script of the play Salaam by Ashraf Johaardien and a collection of poems by Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, Taller than Buildings.
It is significant that these titles should be in genres that reflect longstanding difficulties in the local publishing world, where works in African languages are rarely published (exceptions being school set books), and poetry and plays are genres many publishers are wary of.
Among other initiatives to encourage local publishing, The Centre for the Book has produced three works: a rough guide to small-scale and self-publishing, South African Small Publishers’ Catalogue and a series of 10 advice pamphlets on all aspects of writing, editing and publishing for writers. The much-lauded Small Publishers’ Catalogue is now available as a blog (http://thesouthafricansmallpublishersblog.wordpress.com/).
According to Colleen Higgs, manager of the project: “The next step is to build a network of small and independent publishers. They need to be represented on bodies … and they need to be able to exhibit their wares collectively at the Cape Town International Book Fair.”
The CPP was inspired by Hannes van Zyl, then CEO of NB Publishers. He also provided initial funding. Since then the project has received grants from Nasou Via Afrika, MAPPP Seta and the Mpumalanga Provincial Library.
For more information contact Maire Fisher at (021) 423-2669 or [email protected]