iReason Publishers launch Debut Authors’ Prize
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday April 30, 2023 06:00
Through this prize, the award-winning writer says he wants to help young authors who are being "ignored or passed on" by major publishing outlets. Keitsemang explained that he knew a lot of talented writers whose works he feel deserves to be seen, but do not have the opportunity to get published. Therefore, the iReason Debut Authors’ Prize was created to represent the soul of what they do, publishing untamed voices from nontraditional corners and providing a literary home for new talent.
“The goal is to promote stories that are not being heard. Stories by the ‘misfits’; the children, the queer, the skeptics, the women, those living with disabilities and everyone else who is ever been told that what marks them out as different means they do not matter. From these stories, we hope to find the writer within which the new generation can find an ambassador,” he explained.
Keitsemang further pointed out that entries were invited from unpublished writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry aged between 14 and 35. He added that that was the beginning of operation save and revive literature in Botswana. He explained that they intended to continue being a home for bold voices that were inclusive and intersectional.
The winner of the Debut Authors’ Prize will get a publishing contract with iReason Publishers. Keitsemang said all shortlisted writers would also be invited to a Writers’ Festival, where they will be able to participate in writing workshops, panel discussions, editorial one-to-ones, and meet the iReason Publishers team. “Even if one doesn’t win the publishing contract, they are still going to leave with so much information that will help their development as a writer,” he said. Even though he knows that publishing is a business and they should be talking about how it diversifies the economy, he said he felt the duty to make the art of writing the centre of this discussion adding that art must come first.
He said writers faced crippling lack of support from their publishers. He added that there was also lack of interest from the reading public. He pointed out that most Batswana would buy books as long as Batswana do not write them. He said they would give one at least 10 names of international writers they knew, but fail to give at least five names of Batswana writers. “Then, with the state of our economy, buying books just isn’t a priority for a lot of people. However, it’s not impossible to become a writer in Botswana and make a living off it. One just has to be willing to put in the hard work, develop their craft and write books that are relatable and affordable,” he noted.
Additionally, he stated that iReason Publishers was created with the goal to empower a new generation of voices and writers who can create their place in the world through art. Keitsemang said he was confident that his company would continue expanding the scope of literary culture. He emphasised that iReason Publishers was the only independent publishing company in Botswana that gave its writers a publishing advance. He said although the company’s identity was still in the formative years, the only prerequisite was that writers were from underrepresented groups, which include writers of ethnic minorities, writers living with disabilities, queer writers and others. “I’m excited about what we are becoming.
I’m excited about the stories we have published, the books we have lined up and the books we are yet to discover. Stories that I believe will really make a paradigm shift,” he said. At the age of 22 years, which is two years ago, he said he was awarded an honorary PhD in recognition of his body of work. He added that his award-winning novel, The Life I Buried, which chronicles the events of the fictitious Wiseman Molateng’s life, was being adapted into a film starring himself as Wiseman Molateng.
He also wrote the screenplay. His Setswana novel, Tlhakantshuke, which continues to do well even beyond the borders of the country, was being translated into English and set to be published by iReason Publishers. Keitsemang's career as a writer also earned him an appointment as the accredited Caves Academy’s founding Lecturer of Creative Writing Studies.