Weve organized the list in an easily searchable table so you can quickly find the publishers that publish the type of book youre looking to get published. A boutique literary agency, van aggelen african literary agency only receive queries via email. With a mission to publish stories that are yet to be told and expanding the extent of literature coming out of south africa, its authors have gone onto become internationally published ones. Fiction publishers directory of south africa list of fiction. The south african publishing industry employs about 3,000 people fulltime, as well as many freelance workers. Morris says you should take a look at the kinds of books publishers deal with. You can find more such publishers from south africa here. Jonathan ball publishers also act as agents for british and american publishers, marketing and distributing books on their behalf in southern africa. South african works of non fiction published by pan macmillan south africa.
Oxford university press has offices in several african countries, which publish childrens books in english and the indigenous languages. Kwela books, another imprint of nb publishers, is a small publishing house set up in 1994 that specializes in both fiction and non fiction african writing. The book, how to get your book published in 30 relatively easy steps by basil van rooyen penguin books south africa is also a valuable source for south african authors. We offer various publishing, corporate and creative services to the public. According to the industry survey released by the publishers association of south africa pasa in 2006, the south african book sector records a staggering r5 billion netturnover. The south african novelist gives us an unvarnished view of the writers life, and explains how literature told the story of apartheid and why comedy is the easiest way to talk about race.
Please select a country afghanistan albania algeria american samoa andorra angola anguilla antarctica antigua and barbuda argentina armenia aruba australia austria azerbaijan. How to get published in south africa the reading list. Real african publishers independent publishers group. Our focus is currently on non fiction books for adult readers. Electronic versions of your full manuscript should be in one file and not separate chapters. Of the total number of books published in south africa between the year 2000 and 2015, 40% were in english, 24% in afrikaans. T he history of modern african fiction is essentially 100 years of branding disaster. Founded in 2011, kwarts publishers has come a long way and today we have published books for more than 140 authors, many of whom have come back to publish a second and third book. The publishers and distributors listed on this page are publishers and distributors in africa and around the world that either focus exclusively on africarelated books or publish a significant number of books on africa each year. Publishing literature in southern africa publishers weekly. Possibilities for fiction publishing on the continent have opened up beyond south africa, to kenya, nigeria, zimbabwe and uganda. Borealis book was founded in 1972 to encourage and publish new canadian writers who demonstrate talent and potential for signifi.
In august 2008 random house south africa and struik publishers announced their merger to create a significant new player in the african book publishing industry. Over a long and distinguished career, david philip published some of the great luminaries of african and south african literature, including nobel prize laureates nadine gordimer and wole soyinka, guy butler and mongane wally serote, becoming what the former. South africa has a rich and vibrant history of producing excellent literature. Kwarts publishers recently had the privilege of helping the year old tshiamo to self publish her first book, the adventures of malawi bizzaro alliance. About 16, 528 authors earn an estimated r308 million worth of royalties. In the second part of the made in africa series, i am talking to a few publishers and platforms that promote african publishing in the above countries. Collected poems by gabriel okara nebraska university press along with publishing a first book by an emerging new african poet each year, the africa book fund has also committed to publishing a collected edition of a major living african poet each year, and this year it is gabriel okara, the only person who could ever be called both the elder statesman of nigerian literature. The latter is published through its imprint face2face books. With close to a century of combined publishing experience, the founders have vast knowledge of the complete publishing process, including market research, commissioning, content and product development, production, printing, marketing, sales and distribution. Bookstorm is a boutique publishing company in south africa search books search authors search site. Publish a book with penguin penguin books south africa. Philip published some of the great luminaries of african and south african literature.
My name is elrich martin, publisher name is revival waves of glory books and publishing and my book titles are. The best books on south african fiction recommended by imraan coovadia. Publishers look for about 60 000 words for a novel but this changes from genre to genre and publisher to publisher. Jun 19, 2018 the first nonfiction book was heavy reading. Im a published author and have currently written three books,via an american publisher. The indigenous languages publishing programme ilpp is a sectorial priority implemented by the south african book development council sabdc. The best books on south african fiction five books.
This south african directory of publishers and publishing service providers displays book publishers of south africa, e book publishers of south africa, magazine publishers of south africa, and more full list of media types here. For more than twenty years, soho crime has been publishing atmospheric crime fiction set all over the world. The publishers and distributors listed on this page are publishers and distributors in africa and around the world that either focus exclusively on africa related books or publish a significant number of books on africa each year. They are looking for a wide range of subjects, including art, theater, childrens nonfiction, calendars, memoirs, pop culture, politics, history in short, if it isnt fiction, they want it. Fiction sales in south africa are very tough, its very small and youre up against every other book in the world. The new company, known as random house struik pty ltd, brought together two of the countrys most prominent book publishers under the. Nb publishers is listed in the directory of publishers of south africa. We specialise in south african history, politics and current affairs. Quickfox publishing is a leading custom publishing company in south africa. Through this programme the sabdc aims to stimulate growth and development in the book sector, increase indigenous languages publishing and to support the ongoing production of south african authored. Ste stood for science, technology and education, as its main focus was a newspaper called the educators voice, the south african yearbook and pocket guide for the gcis, and a variety of other contract publishing contracts.
The english language publishers closest to everyones heart in south africa are david and marie philip, who began david philip publishers in 1971 during the darkest days of censorship. Dec 26, 2019 the south african book publishing industry is well mature, dating back to the early 20th century. African fiction and nonfiction books and high quality cook books. The project is a direct response to the lack of suitable, accessible and affordable reading material. Some of sohos most popular stories will whisk you away to france, china, england, laos, northern ireland, thailand, australia, japan, germany, south africa, italy. Nb publishers, cape town, south africa is just one of over 20,000 publishing company profiles in our database. Imagnary house is a publisher and bookstore of creative childrens and youngadult fiction in south africa.
African fiction and non fiction books and high quality cook books. List of book publishers in south africa south africa lists. In fact, one of the publishers on this list was established in 1978 and has continued an unbroken spell of business ever since. Jan 16, 2019 pan macmillan south africa is a trading division of macmillan publishers international limited, specialising in english fiction, non fiction and childrens books. Its a pyrotechnical marvel with a plot rooted in the philippineamerican war, which spools out over decades and across the globe as the book asks questions about class, conquest, and who gets to tell history. In addition, it is estimated that the south african publishing industry employs about 9,000 authors full and parttime, who together earn an estimated r 150 million in royalties annually. If you have any additional queries about publishing a book with penguin that are. As a specialist in customer care training and consulting, reach publishing is definitely the right publisher to be with. The south african branch has published a number of local books for young readers for many years.
Verity publishers is a publishing company located in south africa, we publish books of all kinds, including childrens books, academic books, fiction and non fiction. We specialise in south african history, politics and. The spiral house, won the 2014sunday times barry ronge fiction prize and a south african literary award, and was shortlisted for the university of johannesburg debut prize. In a powerful video clip promoting international mother language day, nalibali reported on the recent statistics founded by sapnet the south african publications network about literary translations in south africa. In marketing african fiction, the conventional practice among publishers both in africa. How not to talk about african fiction books the guardian. We have recently started publishing south african fiction, in both english and afrikaans, to great success with our second novel, coldsleep lullaby, receiving the sunday times fiction prize 2006. Our rainbird division offers professional publishing services to individuals and organisations who need help publishing. Get your book published in 30 relatively easy steps. They require you to send in a short synopsis maximum 2 pages and three chapters recommend the first three, though the first and any other two are acceptable. Greg hamerton on writing finding a publisher for fiction. We publish books for the general reading public in south africa books that will have a market in south african bookshops.
The south african literary journal the south african literary journal is the oldest surviving literary magazine in south africa. Heres our list of reputable book publishing companies you might consider working with. A lot of time and effort goes into developing and building longterm relationships with our authors. You can contact the publishers association of south africa pasa on 021 4252721 who will be able to answer most questions on publishing and publishers in the country. Penguin random house south africa comprises the imprints penguin books south. Penguin nonfiction and zebra press are nonfiction imprints of penguin random house south africa. New africa books history starts with david philip publishers, which was founded in 1971 by marie philip and her late husband david. The jacana literary foundation jlf is a notforprofit organisation which seeks to promote and foster excellent writing from south and southern africa through a number of initiatives. Book publishers specializing in canadian literature, poetry, fiction, non fiction, native, aboriginal and critical texts. Our cover author this year is gina apostol, author of the novel insurrecto. Robertson has two other novels, the magistrate of gower, shortlisted for the 2016sunday times fiction prize, and under glass currently longlisted for the 2019 sunday times. The history of publishing in south africa is enmeshed with the culture of resistance that flourished under apartheid. Books and publishing department of sports, arts and culture. Blackowned publishers you need to know about book riot.
Quickfox publishing is your professional book publishing. Promote and protect the rights and responsibilities of the publishing sector in south africa. Literary agents for african writers african literary. Real african publishers evolved out of a company called ste publishers that started back in 1994.
Jacana media book publishing company in south africa. Before that, no publishers knew exactly what their counterparts were really doing elsewhere in africa, including neighbouring countries. Higgs, also wrote a rough guide to smallscale and self publishing 2005, centre for the book and the south african small publishers catalogue edited with maire fisher, 2006, centre for the book has consistently championed smallscale, self and independent publishing in south africa. I didnt bother with any south african publishers at first, i planned to use them. We are a young creative team of passionate publishers, journalists and graphic designers who focus on creating quality, proudly south african publications. Our strength lies in our strong base of south african authors, the stories. Meetse a bophelo the water of life is a social entrepreneurship imprint of bk publishing that aims to foster a love for books and reading, as well as build literacy levels and empower currently disadvantaged communities in south africa. It is the journal to find new writing and be read if you are a writer. Morris says nonfiction is easier to publish in south africa, as the authors will. There are a lot of guides to getting published, like this one, written by basil van rooyen specifically for the south african market. Publishersglobal is a free online information service for publishers and publishing service providers.
The publishers association of south africa aims to. Reach publishers are professional and get the job done first time correctly. In between school, writing and all her other activities, she made some time to answer a few questions about herself and her writing. Imbali academic publishers was founded by a trio of publishing professionals, liesbet van wyk, ute spath and glendor crouch.
Manuscript submissions verity publishers south africa. The adventures of malawi, a debut novel by young author tshiamo noko. To sell enough books to exceed the cost of the print run and marketing spend is. Pasa is the largest publishing industry body in south africa, and is committed to creativity, literacy, the free flow of ideas and encouraging a culture of reading. Verity publishers is currently developing juvenile fiction and nonfiction titles with special preference for works written in line with south african dept of basic educations caps guidelines for foundation and intermediate phase. We publish a variety of south african non fiction titles, celebrating our local authors and experiences. African publishers network apnet was founded by thinktank african publishers from 9 countries at a conference in harare, zimbabwe in 1992. Publishing rights for the raft, fred strydoms highly anticipated debut novel, have just been sold to skyhorse publishing in north america.
We offer a professional onestop book publishing service, as well as standalone editorial, graphic design, typesetting, production, printing, ebook and distribution services for authors and companies who seek professional input, highquality production, and a team who is willing to go the extra mile. Childrens books activity books baby and toddler childrens fiction childrens nonfiction picture books south african. Youth literature is the only fiction that oup publishes. Imbali academic publishers a first of its kind in south africa. Apr 06, 2016 t he history of modern african fiction is essentially 100 years of branding disaster. Morris says non fiction is easier to publish in south africa, as the authors will generally already have a profile or established platform, being a journalist or well.
Through generous project funding, the jlf is able to publish literature that otherwise would not be published due to its commercial viability. We publish quality books and other publications with a focus on cultural and political history, biography and autobiography, art, photography and education. Jonathan ball publishers is the leading publishers and distributors of english general books in south africa. The novel was published by umuzi in south africa at the beginning of april, and was the subject of a multiparty auction, with skyhorse securing the rights just ahead of the london book fair. New africa books history starts with david philip publishers, which was. Im a south african and my books are on the exclusive books website but how does one get it in store. Publishers of literature, general nonfiction, cookery, arts and craft books, and childrens books in afrikaans and english. Ste publishers is an independent south african publisher founded in 1996. A boutique publisher with a special focus on local kids books and ya literature about fantasy, science fiction, imagination, and creativity, as we have a heart for. In marketing african fiction, the conventional practice among publishers both in africa and the west has been. Fiction publishing companies of south africa publishersglobals list of south african publishing houses that publish fiction books, ebooks, magazines. Publishers international board on books for young people.