The Virtual Institute for Afrikaans (VivA)’s brand new publishing house, VivA-Uitgewers, officially opened its digital doors on 12 April with the launch of not just one, but two short story collections.
Marlie Coetzee, CEO of VivA, introduced the launch, which took place online, with the words: “It was hard work, but as you know, VivA does not shy away from hard work. VivA is also not afraid to think creatively and out of the box.”
The first volume entitled, Online, was compiled in collaboration with Trisa Hugo and Analize Viljoen, the founders of Boekemakranka. Writers could interpret this theme at will and tell their own stories, written in any genre.
The 12 short stories included here come from the pens of several well-known authors. This includes Francois Bloemhof, Annerle Barnard, Zelda Bezuidenhout, Daniël Lotter and Dibi Breytenbach.
Online 2 follows the first volume with the same theme and in this, readers can look forward to short stories by, among others, Sidney Gilroy, Christelle van Rooyen-Wessels, Erla-Mari Diedericks and Connie Luyt. Readers will have to wait until this volume is offered for sale.
Rhewal reported earlier that a new publishing house under VivA’s banner be started. This follows after this organization has closely watched the publishing industry over the past year, listened to authors’ concerns and readers’ challenges, scratched their heads and devised plans.
According to Marlie, the new publishing house is a secure digital platform where authors’ stories can be read offline. “We are going to focus on digitally publishing stories from established authors, but at the same time also give a platform for new authors. We are excited to identify and hone new voices.
“The next great Afrikaans writer is waiting to be exploited, and we want to help with that. Somewhere there is a story that will make a child fall in love with reading, somewhere there is a story that will perfectly articulate the emotions of a reader, and somewhere there is a digital home for Afrikaans content at VivA-Uitgewers .”
Online cost R220 (price subject to change). Click here to download the e-book VivA Publishers website to acquire.
