Comments for Penguin Books Blog

Comment on Author of the Month Rosemund Handler author of Tsamma Season by admin

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:31:39 +0000

Hi Alexa

You can order the book from the list of Online retailers which you find on the Penguin Books website if you follow this link

http://www.penguinbooks.co.za/book/9780143025849/

Regards,

Comment on Author of the Month Rosemund Handler author of Tsamma Season by Alexa Robbins

Alexa Robbins — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:34:54 +0000

This novel was recommended to me by a friend overseas. I live in the U.S. and cannot seem to obtain a copy. I would love to read this book! Any ideas on how I might find it here or purchase it online would be appreciated.

Thank You!

Alexa

Comment on John van de Ruit – Journal Entry – April 1 by sam

sam — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:10:31 +0000

im glad that spud 3 is out but will their be a fourth and please put madog back in he is the best charactor.

Comment on Penguin Prize for African Writing Update! by Susan

Susan — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:24:53 +0000

Great idea to have a new prize available to writers. Thank you! The rules under each section state that ‘Entrants may submit only ONE submission.’ Does this mean we must choose between submitting either a non-fiction work or a fiction work, or are we allowed to submit one work in each of the two categories?

Comment on Penguin Books Green Tips with Simon Gear by Christiane Thiessen

Christiane Thiessen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:33:03 +0000

Dear Simon
I am a Namibian cattle farmer. I did enjoy your book tremendously. Although I have to comment on EAT LESS MEAT on page 247 – not for what you might expect, namely that I have to defend my profession, but let me try to awake some interest in you to get to know more about the following:
Of course, we do fully agree with you on your argument regarding feedlot cattle! Not all cattle are fed in feedlots. In Namibia most, if not all, cattle are free range that means grass fed not grain fed. We are farming according to the Holistic Management Principles, and we strongly believe in these principles, which are not commonly known and practised by stock farmers. We believe that animals are essential for the natural pastures and are, therefore, not primarily a product of which the financial output needs to be maximised, but rather a tool , which is essential to maintain natural pastures sustainably healthy. Animals do fertilize the savanas with their dung, which is a converted form of the plant resource. Also, animals break the surface, so that water can enter the soil. Like in the little house garden the ground has to be worked and fertilized and that is exactly what animals are doing in our savanas. All this is true for the most parts in Africa where we live in brittle environments with seasonal rains and animals are doing the job of getting the manure and old grass and water into the ground, and this is what large herds of animals can do for us. However, the big problem is, that most range lands nowadays, especially commercial farms, are overgrazed with devestating effects on our natural pastures.
This principle is not so essential in non brittle environments, where we have perinnial rainfalls and the decomposing process is taking place naturally because of the constant humidity. That is one reason why animals in those areas do not appear in large herds, because they do not have a function as such. Africa’s nature, however, is provided with huge animal herds that migrate (Serrenghetti) and most of its original stock herders are nommadic. That means animals are moving, without staying on one patch for too long, and consequetly overgraze. Modern management tools and land use practices are, of course, a big problem to apply these principles, but it is possible, as Holistic Management does proof to us!

So my Motto would be: Yes eat meat, but look for Free Range meat. Namiban Free Range meat is sold at Woolworth.

Kind Regards and thanks again for your wonderful book
Christiane Thiessen

Comment on Call for Penguin African Writers Series Book Cover Submissions! by admin

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:46:52 +0000

Hi Nomfusi

To find out how to publish with Penguin Books SA please click on the below link for more information.

http://www.penguinbooks.co.za/publishing/publishing.php

Regards,
Admin

Comment on John van de Ruit – Journal Entry – April 1 by Steve McCurrach

Steve McCurrach — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:18:36 +0000

Greetings John,
As ‘a local’ resident of the location for your marvellous KZN based literary works, I have been able to relate and I think that I have therefore derived extra enjoyment from yuo work.
Thank you for some brilliant entertainment and well done.

I figured to share with you some aerial photos I did of Michaelhouse. Whilst reading ‘Spud’, I would often open the one aerial image and leave it, like a screen saver on my PC and doing this provided a feeling of being part of – a more tangible experience, as I looked at the school grounds and wondered/imagined where each of the places were. See: http://www.airserv.co.za/tc.php?pk=wip#pmb

Please give me a call/email if any of these images (or even some new images) can be of use to you/Penguin, in illustrating any web sites, book launches or whatever.

Thanks and all the best. Cheers,
Steve

Comment on Call for Penguin African Writers Series Book Cover Submissions! by Nomfusi Xinindlu

Nomfusi Xinindlu — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:55:34 +0000

I would like to know how to get published (poetry)- about 30 poems with a biography; after I have finished posting them all on my blog and completed the biography?

http://nomfusix.blogspot.com/

Comment on Justin Bonello – COOKED IN AFRICA Launch Invitation by admin

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:25:50 +0000

Hi Hugo

Penguin Books will be launching Justin Bonello’s book Cooked in Africa on Thursday the 22nd October at Exclusive Book Morningside as well as on Thursday the 29th October at Exclusive Books V& A Waterfront. If you come to any one of these launches you should be able to get your book signed by Justin.

For any other enquiries please email info@cookedinafrica.co.za

Regards,
Admin

Comment on Justin Bonello – COOKED IN AFRICA Launch Invitation by Hugo & Bonnie

Hugo & Bonnie — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:52:43 +0000

Hi Justin,

I have contacted your website before when you where busy filming in Mozambique, about a DVD of your TV series and was told that it would be out after the series is aired, this has now happened and I don’t see anything in the shops.

My wife and myself are regular visit to the cooking section in all stores, my wife has a collection of over 600 books.

If we get your book how will we be able to get you to sign it? And why are you not at the “Good Food And Wine Shows”

The signing is important to us as we try to get all our books singed and have a photo taken.

Hope to hear from you soon.