Modjaji Books is a South African small-scale independent publisher. Started in 2007 by Colleen Higgs, it is an independent press that publishes the writings of Southern African women. Many Modjaji titles have gone on to be nominated for and to win prestigious literary awards both in South Africa and internationally. Modjaji Books is based in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second larges ...

, publishing books written exclusively by Southern African women. Currently, the company publishes

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest ...

, memoir,

novels A novel is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, typically written in prose and published as a book. The present English word for a long work of prose fiction derives from the for "new", "news", or "short story of something new", itsel ...

poetry Poetry (derived from the Greek '' poiesis'', "making"), also called verse, is a form of literature that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language − such as phonaesthetics, sound symbolism, and metre − to evoke meanings ...

, and creative non-fiction. Modjaji Books aims to fill a gap by providing an independent outlet for serious writing by women: "From poetry to biography to fiction, there will be an outlet for writing by women that takes itself – and its readers – seriously." The Modjaji Books blog is frequently updated and features reviews, news, articles and insights on South African publishing. The blog is available on ''Books LIVE''.

Selected publications

* ''A Saving Bannister'' by Wendy Woodward * ''Accident'' by

Dawn Garisc Dawn is the time that marks the beginning of twilight before sunrise. It is recognized by the appearance of indirect sunlight being scattered in Earth's atmosphere, when the centre of the Sun's disc has reached 18° below the observer's hori ...

h * ''Absent Tongues'' by Kelwyn Sole * ''A lioness at my heels'' by Robin Winckel-Mellish * ''At Least the Duck Survived'' by

Margaret Clough Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning "pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular througho ...

* ''The Attribute of Poetry'' by Elisa Galgut * ''An A to Z of Amazing South African Women'' by Ambre Nicolson * ''The Bed Book of Short Stories'' by Joanne Hichens * ''Balthasar's Gift'' by Charlotte Otter * Bare & Breaking by Karin Schimke * ''Bom Boy'' by Yewande Omotoso * ''Beyond Touch'' by

Arja Salafranca Arja Salafranca (born 1971, Málaga) is a South African writer and poet. Salafranca was born in Spain to a Spanish father and a South African mother and has lived in South Africa since 1976. She has had fiction, poetry and essays published in a ...

* ''Burnt Offering'' by Joan Metelerkamp * ''Bearings'' by Isobel Dixon * ''Conduit'' by

Sarah Frost Sarah Frost is an English television director, animation director, composer, and storyboard artist in America. Frost is most known for directing '' The Fairly OddParents'' and episodes of the animated series ''Family Guy''. She has also worked ...

* ''The Chameleon House'' by

Melissa de Villiers Melissa is a female given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (''mélissa''), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (''meli''), "honey". In Hittite, ''melit'' signifies "honey". ''Melissa'' also refers to the plant '' ...

* ''The Cry of the Hangkaka'' by

Anne Woodborne Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

* ''Do Not Go Gentle'' by Futhi Ntshingila * ''Difficult to Explain'' by Finuala Dowling * ''The Everyday Wife'' by

Phillippa Yaa de Villiers Phillippa Yaa de Villiers (born 17 February 1966)Phillippa Yaa de Vill ...

* ''Fourth Child'' by Megan Hall (Winner of the Ingrid Jonker prize) * ''Flame and Song: a memoir'' by Phillippa Kabali-Kagwa * ''Grace'' by Barbara Boswell * ''Go Tell the Sun'' by Wame Molefhe * ''Homegrown'' by Christine Coates * ''How to open the door'' by Marike Beyers * ''Hemispheres'' by Karen Lazar * ''Hester's Book of Bread'' by Hester van der Walt * ''Hester se Brood'' by Hester van der Walt * ''I'm the Girl Who Was Raped'' by Michelle Hattingh * ''Invisible Earthquake'' by Malika Ndlovu * ''Ice cream headache in my bone'' by Phillippa Yaa de Villiers * ''Jabulani Means Rejoice'' by Phumzile Simelane Kalumba * ''Karkloof Blue'' by Charlotte Otter * ''Life in Translation'' by

Azila Talit Reisenberger Dr. Azila Talit Reisenberger is ''Le Professeur Distinqué''; and a distinguished author, the Head of the Hebrew Department at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, a champion of Women's Rights and Gender Equality, and an acting Rabba. Biogra ...

* ''The Last to Leave'' by Margaret Clough * ''The Love Sheet'' by Jacques Coetzee and Barbara Fairhead * ''Love Interrupted'' by Reneilwe Malatji * ''My First Time'' by Jen Thorpe * ''Messages from the Bees'' by Robin Winckel-Mellish * ''Namaste Life'' by Ishara Maharaj * ''Now Following You'' by Fiona Snyckers * ''Now I See You'' by Priscilla Holmes * ''Now the World Takes these Breaths'' by Joan Metelerkamp * ''Nomme 20 Delphi Straat'' by Shirmoney Rhode * ''Oleander'' by Fiona Zerbst * ''Outside the Lines'' by Ameera Patel * ''Please, Take Photographs'' by Sindiwe Magona * ''Piece Work'' by Ingrid Andersen * ''Running & other stories'' by Makhosazana Xaba * ''Riding the Samoosa Express'' by Zaheera Jina and Hasina Asvat * ''Remnants, Restante, Reste'' by Annette Snyckers * ''Strange Fruit'' by Helen Moffett * ''Serurunbele'' by Katleho Kano Shoro * ''Signs for an exhibition'' by Eliza Kentridge * ''The Suitable Girl'' by Michelle McGrane * ''Shooting Snakes'' by Maren Bodenstein * ''Snake'' by Tracey Farren * ''Swimming with Cobras'' by Rosemary Smith * ''STRAY'' by Helen Moffett and Diane Awerbuck (editors) * ''Sê my, is julle twee susters?'' by Hester van der Walt * ''Secret Keeper'' by Kerry Hammerton * ''Team Trinity'' by Fiona Snyckers * ''The Turtle Dove Told Me'' by Thandi Sliepen * ''These are the lies I told you'' by Kerry Hammerton * ''Tess'' by Tracey Farren * ''The Thin Line'' by Arja Salafranca * ''This Day'' by Tiah Beautement * ''This Place I Call Home'' by Meg Vandermerwe * ''Tjieng Tjang Tjerries and other stories'' by Jolyn Phillips * ''To the Black Women We All Knew'' by Kholofelo Maenetsha * ''Unlikely'' by Colleen Crawford Cousins * ''UnSettled and other stories'' by Sandra Hill * ''Whiplash'' by Tracey Farren (shortlisted for the 2009 ''Sunday Times'' Fiction prize) * ''Witch Girl'' by Tanvi Bush

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Book publishing companies of South Africa Mass media in Cape Town Companies based in Cape Town