Received for Review: Amelia's Inheritance - Sarudzai Mubvakure

Sarudzai Mubvakure - Amelia's Inheritance

Received for Review: Black Diamond - Zakes Mda

Zakes Mda - Black Diamond

Nick Wood looks at South African SF

Nick Wood, author of "The Stone Chameleon", takes a comprehensive look at South Africa's Speculative Fiction in ongoing series called SF in Sth Africa. Though mostly focused on South Africa, he does mention a few writers from other African countries, including yours truly in part 10. His articles are well worth a read and give much insight into this emerging but oft overlooked genre in Africa.

New book Cover - Amelias Inheritance by Sarudzai Mubvakure

Just finished a new book cover design - Amelias Inheritance by Sarudzai Mubvakure - to be published soon by The Lion Press.

Intwasa Arts Festival KoBulawayo 2009

It was my privilege to be invited to participate in the literary section of this years Intwasa Arts Festival in KoBulawayo.

The theme for this, the 5th year of the festival, was "Uni5ying" coined by my friend, author and organiser of the lit section Chris Mlalazi. Running from the 23rd-26th of September the fest was jam packed with events encompassing Literary, Film, Theatre, Dance, Music and Visual Arts, and brought in such names as Ignatius Mabasa, Zukiswa Wanner, Daysahead, Phefumula Arts, Kwabatsha Dance Co. Babmbelela Arts Ensemble, Black Umfolosi and Jahunda Arts Ensamble, to name a few.

For my part I held two workshops focusing on The Online World/Online Publishing and how it affects today's African writer. Both were well received and sparked much interest from the attendee's and covered several areas including:

It’s all about International Exposure, Once you work is online its kiss it goodbye, International Publishers are looking for Online Active Writers, How Search works and Why it’s so important, What Online Social Platforms are worth the effort, Consistency Rules all Online Popularity Growth, and lastly, Why Digital Books are the Future (not present).

All in all Intwasa Arts Festival Ko Bulawayo 2009 was an amazing experience, my profound thanks go to Nicholas Moyo and Chris Mlalazi for inviting me and making the fest a roaring success with their consummate planning and organisation. And also to my literary partner in crime at the fest, Zukiswa Wanner, who showed this first-timer how it's done.

Inside the Caves of Rotten Teeth - A Review by Ivor W. Hartmann at AfricanWriter.com

...There is a wonderful quality to Barrett’s style of writing evident in From Caves of Rotten Teeth, from vivid descriptions and dialogue, to heart wrenching circumstance and fiendish plots. It is I feel written with a bold and noble spirit, one that shines to illuminate the good, bad, beautiful, grotesque, brave, cowardly, happy and insane. In this Barrett almost leaves no stone unturned, no matter what may crawl out into the light... Full Review at African Writer

Zimbabwe calling me home

Just booked my tickets, Zim here I come in Sept :) Will be in Harare and then Bulawayo as I have been invited to attend and give a talk at the 2009 INTWASA Arts Festival. Will also be organising a StoryTime Authors meeting for those in Harare, and then Bulawayo too during the festival with the help of Chris Mlalazi.

The Last Wave featured at Quasar Dragon

The Last Wave featured at QuasarDragon, (which is) Finding great free, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, other cool items, with occasional comments and reviews by your semi-humble webmaster (Dave Tackett).

Thanks Dave!

Paulo Coelho publishes Chrome Rain extract on his Blog

A short while back Mr. Paulo Coelho started a new section in his blog called Your Story in my Blog. He invited anyone to submit a story as long as it had a max 250 word count. At the time (and still) I was working on a new story called Chrome Rain. The debut scene of one of my main characters struck me as perhaps eligible (in word count and content). So I made a few tweaks and sent it in.

Today, I received a congratulatory email from Paula Braconnot, who works with Mr. Coelho on his blog and "...He really liked your story and therefore we shall be publishing it in his blog today." And so it has come to pass that an extract of Chrome Rain has been published at Mr. Coelho's Blog. (read it here: Your Story in my Blog : Chrome Rain by Ivor W. Hartmann) I am so very honoured that a writer I admire and respect as much as Mr. Coelho, has taken me into his virtual home and let me leave a presence. Thank You Mr. Coelho!

I just previous to this also started releasing a bit of Chrome Rain at my Facebook Fan page, so if you would like to read more, I'll see you there.

Mr. Goop well recieved

Well, so far Mr. Goop seems to have been well received in general, and even sparked some blog-ranging discussions:


A post by Lauri Kubuitsile (one of my fellow Baobab Prize winners) at Thoughts From Botswana about African Fiction and Mr. Goop. Thanks Lauri!

Zimbabwean Science Fiction

I am one of the people who shouts the most about the heavy burden African writers have had to carry. They are only expected to put pen to paper if the result is literary, political and serious. So African Sue Townsends had to move on and become accountants or garbage collectors. African Barbara Cartlands became doctors or house maids. Popular fiction just wasn't for Africa- they said. Writers here needed to address African conditions and to the international world Africans don't laugh... Full Post

A post by Emmanuel Sigauke at Wealth of Ideas, which starts where Lauri Kubuitsile left off (in a way) about African Genre Fiction. I say bring on the Horror Emmanuel :) and thanks for the mention.

What's My Slice of African Genre Fiction?

In July, 2008, I blogged about the importance of genre expansion in African Fiction, branching off into sci-fi/fantasy, romance, horror, and other neglected genres. Around the same time I discovered there were African writers doing this already,from the detective fiction guru Alexander McCall Smith of the now popularised The Number 1 Lady Detective series on HBO... Full Post

Also had my first Official press release as a writer from The Zimbabwean, which is a great article by Beaven Tapureta, despite the title, about The Baoabab Prize, Mr. Goop and I. Thanks Beaven!

The Zimbabwean

Like many other Zimbabwean writers living abroad, economically exiled despite the love of their home country, Ivor W. Hartmann made Zimbabwe proud when he won the prestigious, inaugural 2008 Baobab Prize. In his acceptance letter, writer Hartmann said, “It is with profound sense of great honour that I accept The Baobab Prize and my proud privilege as a Zimbabwean writer to have entered and participated in this much needed stimulus to African writing.”... Full Post

The Award winning Mr. Goop Published in African Writing #7

I am happy to announce that Mr. Goop, which won The Baobaob Prize in March 2009, has been published in the prestigious literary magazine, African Writing, issue seven. It is now available to read for the first time at the AW Magazine Online home... Full Story

Mr. Goop Awarded The Baobab Prize!

I am ecstatic to announce that my entry Mr. Goop, into The Baobab Prize in category B (works written for children aged 12-15) has won the award!

It was with profound sense of great honour that I accepted The Baobab Prize, and my proud privilege as a Zimbabwean writer to have entered and participated, in this much needed stimulus to African writing. It has long been a dream of mine to see African fiction in all genres become much more readily available. So when I came across TBP I saw friends who shared a similar dream for teenage fiction.

Mr. Goop is a speculative science-fiction teenage tale of the future. Set in Harare, Zimbabwe, it tells the story of a young boy called Tamuka Zimudzi living in an apocalyptic post-climate change world. A world that has lost a significant portion of its land mass to rising sea levels, where laboratory created humanoid life-forms are now slaves to humans, where people live in enormous sealed arcologies by necessity. Yet in this hard new world Tamuka lives with the same hopes, fears and dreams of any twelve year-old boy, and takes his first steps towards becoming an adult.

My esteemed thanks go out to all those involved in The Baobab Prize, from Deborah Ahenkorah the founder of the prize, to the judges and all those who submitted an entry. Awards like this specifically for African writers are few and far between, and do provide an extra and needed impetus towards seeing more published African authors in all genres.

I will do what I can to see that everyone gets to read Mr. Goop as soon as possible, hopefully offline and on.

Here is the complete list:


WINNERS THE BAOBAB PRIZE 2008

The Baobab Prize for a work of fiction aimed at readers aged 8-11 years : Lauri Kubuitsile, Botswana. Story: Lorato and her Wire Car

Shortlist for Stories for readers aged 8-11 years:

- Good in the World by Marion Drew, South Africa
- The Story of my Life by Fiona Moolla, South Africa
- Abena and the Corn Seed by Vivian Amanor, Ghana
- Live and Let Live by Jenny Robson, South Africa


The Baobab Prize for a work of fiction aimed at readers aged 12-15 years: Ivor W. Hartmann, Zimbabwe. Story: Mr. Goop.

Shortlist for Stories for readers aged 12-15 years:
- Birthday Wishes by Lauri Kubuitsile, Botswana
- This Ubuntu Thing by Jayne Bauling, South Africa
- Courage like a Lion by Jenny Robson, South Africa
- Whips, Tears and Blood by Mercy Adhiambo, Kenya


The Baobab Prize for a rising writer aged 18 years or younger: Aisha Kibwana, Kenya. Story: Strange Visitors that took her life away.

Shortlist for Rising writer Prize:
- Tortoise and the Thief by Michael Anim, Ghana.

Earth Rise nominated for UMA Award!

I am happy to announce that Earth Rise has been nominated for The UMA Award in the Best Short Fiction category.

More formally known as the Annual Anthropomorphic Literature and Arts Award, the Ursa Major Award is presented annually for excellence in the furry arts. It is intended as Anthropomorphic Fandom's equivalent of the Hugo Award ® presented by the World Science Fiction Society, mystery fandom's Anthony Award, horror fandom's Bram Stoker Award, and so forth. Anyone may nominate and vote for candidates for the Awards. The UMA is a global public award and decided by the fans, not by a committee. You can Cast your Vote here.

Wish me luck for the finals :).

Interview at CwW about StoryTime

Ivor W. Hartmann is a Zimbabwean writer, visual artist and literary activist. He is also editor-in-chief of StoryTime, an ezine that seeks to showcase new African writing. In this email interview, Hartmann talks about the ezine and about how it is being received by emerging African writers. What is StoryTime all about? To quote the StoryTime About page mission statement if I may, since I put the effort into re-writing it recently: "The StoryTime African New Fiction FreEzine is all about new African fiction reading and writing. For our readers we provide a free weekly ezine showcasing the works of some of the hottest new African fiction writers. For our writers we endeavour to find them, and then encourage free online fiction publication at ST, as a multi-purpose means to improve writing ability and their exposure."... Full Article