OYSTERHOOD is reclusiveness or solitude, or an overwhelming desire to stay at home.

— @HaggardHawks

As he is based in Edinburgh nowadays, it is wonderful to welcome Nick Mulgrew back on South African soil. He will be visiting family towards the end of the month and will launch his beautiful debut novel, A Hibiscus Coast, in Johannesburg on 28 October. He will be in conversation with Maneo Mohale. Not to be missed, if you are in Joburg!

Cape Town, no need for FOMO – Nick will be with us early next year and we will definitely celebrate him and his book during his visit.

I am in the process of planning a few more exciting literary events this year. Watch this space!

Today, I met with another author visiting from overseas. We have never met before, but I felt that we had an instant connection, and I sincerely hope that we will be working on a project together early next year.

So, another busy day. The to do list is getting shorter, but this will be a partly working weekend.

I had dinner with my love at his place tonight and we watched an episode of our series. Saw a terrible car accident on the way home. The weather might have played a role. It feels good to be safely home under a dry (still) roof.

My brother and I used to arrange cinema outings across continents: we would go to our respective cinemas (he in Taipei, or Salzburg, or wherever else he would be in the world) and I in Cape Town at the same time and watch the same movie. Tonight, we are attempting to watch an episode of Star Trek together online … let’s see whether it will work … :)

Be kind. Wear a mask. Support local. Get vaccinated, please.

“Physical distancing remains one of the key strategies to curb this pandemic.”

— NICD