A new short story anthology jointly published by ’amaBooks and Parthian Books of Wales, will be introduced to the public during this year’s edition of the Zimbabwe International Book Fair (ZIBF) which roared into life yesterday.
The anthology, Where to Now? Short Stories from Zimbabwe, showcases the creative expertise of 16 Zimbabwean writers, including this year’s winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing, NoViolet Bulawayo.
The other writers featured in this collection are Raisedon Baya, Diana Charsley, Mapfumo Clement Chihota, Murenga Joseph Chikowero, John Eppel, Fungai Rufaro Machirori, Barbara Mhangami-Ruwende, Christopher Mlalazi, Mzana Mthimkhulu, Blessing Musariri, Nyevero Muza, Thabisani Ndlovu, Bryony Rheam, Novuyo Rosa Tshuma and Sandisile Tshuma.
The stories collected here are as diverse as the writers, but with a familiar thread running through them as they are primarily set against the backdrop of the country’s political and socio-economic upheavals of the last decade — including rampant inflation, violence, economic collapse and Zimbabweans’ “dispersion” into the Diaspora.
Brian Jones of ’amaBooks said this was the fifth book of their award-winning Short Writing series. The most recent was the late Olley Maruma’s Long Time Coming: Short Writings from Zimbabwe, chosen by New Internationalist as one of their two “Best Books of 2009”.
“The short story and poetry collection, Together, by John Eppel and the late Julius Chingono, was launched in Bulawayo in June, and this book will also be featured on the ’amaBooks stand at ZIBF 2011,” Jones said.
The book will be available in the UK in March 2012. Parthian will launch the book together with Bryony Rheam’s debut novel This September Sun, published by ’amaBooks in 2009.
“2011 is the first time that ’amaBooks have had a stand at the Zimbabwe International Book Fair in Harare and they look forward to meeting the readers and writers of the capital,” added Jones.
