John van de Ruit: On Writing
Archive - 2012
August 17th
August 15th
Rosemund Handler on Novel-writing
Your first two novels, Madlands and Katy’s Kid have a strong focus on characters, whereas your third, Tsamma Season, is predominantly a novel about place. Could you elaborate on your previous titles and your approach to novel-writing in general?
August 8th
John van de Ruit Tweets to Spud Fans
To celebrate the release of the fourth and final Spud book, Spud – Exit, Pursued by a Bear, John van de Ruit conducted a live Twitter chat on 7 August. Fans followed #Spud4, the official hashtag for the book, and tweeted their questions to John at @johnvanderuit.
Here are a few highlights:
@johnvanderuit: Welcome to the twitter chat. Remember to use #Spud4 to join. Coffee up, scrape the snow off your boots & fire away
August 2nd
Golf: All the facts. All the stats. All the stories.
The Extraordinary Book of South African Golf is a must read for any golf fanatic. Drawing from years of experience as a sports and golf journalist, Michael Vlismas has put together a fascinating collection of trivia, quotes,amazing scores, hilarious anecdotes and behind-the scenes tales from South African golf.
This extraordinary book of South African golf trivia contains captivating stories such as:
July 22nd
Pearson to acquire Author Solutions, Inc for $116m
Pearson, the world’s leading learning company, is today announcing the acquisition of Author Solutions, Inc (ASI) from Bertram Capital for $116 million in cash.
Formed in 2007, ASI is now the world’s leading provider of professional self-publishing services. It has enabled 150,000 authors to publish, market and distribute more than 190,000 books in print and electronic formats and benefits from several powerful growth trends including user-generated content, eBooks and digital publishing and marketing technologies.
June 19th
Kerry Dawkins talks to us about careers, fulfilment and dried fruit
We spoke to Kerry and asked her some questions about careers, South Africa and her worst job ever:
1. Why do you think that the majority of people in this world dislike their jobs and are unfulfilled?
This is for a number of reasons but some of the main ones are:
• Insufficient thought or attention
May 29th
Win a Eucerin goodie pack!
Books keep your mind in shape but what about your skin? Winter can take its toll on our skin which is why we're happy we can give away 10 of these Eucerin packs, containing 1 x DermatoCLEAN eye make-up remover and 1 x Hyaluron filler.
The Hyaluron filler contains SPF15 to protect you from the South African sun, while it supports the skin against premature ageing and the deepening of wrinkles. The make-up remover will remove all the gunk and chemicals and let's your skin BREATHE...
May 24th
Bubbles
Our publicist Jean Fryer tell us what she thinks:
Rahla Xenopoulos’ debut novel is a beautifully written fictional account of what might have been the life and death of Bubbles Schroeder - the good-time girl with stars in her eyes who met her tragic end in 1949 at the tender age of 18.
May 22nd
Kelly reviews Below Luck Level
I first read an early draft of Below Luck Level at the beginning of 2011. I distinctly remember, at certain points, stifling my chuckles (so as not to bother anyone in our open plan office) and at other points, swiftly wiping away a tear (before I worried anybody terribly).