Seganabeng�s Josie retails online

Mpho Tlale | Wednesday March 26, 2014 16:08

 

Although the book is online, the writer said that they could not limit the book.  He said that he wants Batswana to be able to get the hard copy version without the hassle of having to access the computer and paying by credit card first.

Seganabeng’s argument is that despite the fact that Batswana are advancing in terms of technology there are still some things that they prefer to do the traditional way, which includes buying of books.

He said that at the moment he and the publishers are sorting out the logistics that will see the release and launch of the book in April if everything goes according to plan.

Furthermore, he expressed that despite the popular belief that Batswana are not a reading nation he differs with the theory.

He said: “I believe Batswana read but they do not read Batswana writers and they don’t read Literature.  They do read other things such as magazines and newspapers though.”

Seganabeng added that the main challenge remains that Batswana do not know Batswana authors because if they did they would be able to buy and appreciate their work.

He said there should be initiatives that include having books at poetry festivals as well posting literary journals online for exposure.

On his book Josie, the writer said that the concept to the book was born about 13 years ago, between 1999 and 2000.  He shared that Josie is a novel that stands to celebrate the unwavering strength of a woman. Josie that is short for Josephine is the story of a woman who returns home to find her three months old baby missing and launches her own investigation into the matter with little help. With Josie’s journey, Seganabeng sets to challenge stereotypes that put a limit to women and their abilities.

Seganabeng is the winner of the 2010 Bessie Head Literature Award in the Short Story category.  In 2012 one of his poems was alongside some other Batswana poets published in a University of Nebraska publication.