Press Release

June 14 2009

Cape Town Book Fair       

Stripping the craft of writing bare to talking about language and corruption

Twittering around the hall and cash machines run dry at Book Fair

By the second day of the Cape Town Book Fair there was a growing sound of twittering and tweeting in the air (and online).

Thousands of visitors snaked their way through the exhibition hall, catching up on the latest books, gossip, and listening to some heavy-weight debates. More than 60 talks and debates took place.

The content was varied with Karin Eloff launched her book Stiletto. She is a bright, well-educated, and beautiful young woman who tells her story about working as a sex-worker and now being a single mom. Eloff told the enthralled audience that she now gets her kicks from simple things in life like being with friends at a dinner party. The author said that instead of keeping silent about the things that matter, and standing at opposite ends of the braai women and men should really communicate with each other.

Communication is central to the work of “Citizen of the World” Hansjorg Schertenlieb who led a discussion on language and identity.

Proving that art often imitates life; Dene Smuts interviewed Carel van der Merwe about his fourth novel Shark, about corruption, while Sunday newspapers led their editions with stories of corruption in the private sector and government.

With all the talking going on in the convention centre there was also plenty of buzz in cyberspace. The twittering at the fair had nothing to do with an invasion of birds at the Cape Town Convention Centre, but rather people commenting on the event on the social networking forum Twitter, “Loving the Book SA Twitter coverage of the Cape Town Book Fair. So many voices, makes me feel like I’m there, though I am 1 453km away,” read one of the tweets.

As more and more people poured into the hall cash machines at the CTICC had to be replenished, we might be in a recession but it seems that people are still buying books.

At the Children’s Zone Reviva Schermbrucker launched her book The Red Skedonk the heart-warming tale of her beloved car. Children were delighted when the car was brought into the area and they were able to write messages on it with chalk.

        Fair Director Vanessa Badroodien said that she was delighted with the atmosphere. “People are really enjoying themselves we’re seeing people from all walks of life getting together around a common interest,” she said.

Issued on behalf of the Cape Town Book Fair by HWB Communications

For more information contact:  Vanessa Badroodien, Managing Director, CTBF. Tel: 021 418 5493.

Email: vanessab@capetownbookfair.co.za.

Website: www.capetownbookfair.com

or Jennifer Crocker at HWB

Tel: 021 4620416

Email: Jennifer@hwb.co.za

Cell: 082 924 1095