29/05/2025
📙STANFORD'S SCRIBES: 3 Female Authors, 3 Books Fresh off the Presses, 1 Overberg Village 📙
Stanford is celebrating the publication of a trio of books by local villagers this Autumn. Merle Levin published her memoir, 'The World According to Merle'(Melinda Ferguson Books) in April, Bonnie Espie published 'Making a Killing' in May (Kwela Books), and Vanessa Govender's 'Village Indian' (Jacana) has just been released! They've had a busy month of launches and book festivals, but we managed to sit down with two of the authors to find out more about their stories. Grab a cup of ☕or your favourite Stanford 🍷 and read on:
The Village Indian is Vanessa’s second memoir - her first, Beaten But Not Broken, launched just 48-hours before she bundled her family into a car to move from KZN to the Western Cape. Making a Killing is Bonnie’s first novel, a dark twist on the cosy crime genre and cleverly positioned to be part of a series featuring her two protagonists, Winifred and Sylvie. Both books are very much inspired by the village and although their genres differ, they have some delicious overlaps and shared themes.
For one, their books both feature a character called ‘Bob’ which they find hilarious. “Mine’s a handyman” says one. “So is mine!” says the other. You have to wonder how thin the veil is about writing what you’re inspired by, and the real people walking their dogs past your kitchen window? A note at the start of Vanessa’s book attempts to answer the question - “Some names have been changed to protect the identities of the fictitious characters in this book. Any incidents, anecdotes or gossip contained herein are also definitely, completely and mostly made up. Except of course, for all the parts that are definitely true.” So let’s go with, characters inspired by villagers, but not THE villagers ;)
Another commonality both share is the theme of heritage foods. Bonnie’s protagonist, Sylvie, cooks up plates of Kaapse-inspired kos for the locals in the fictitious town of Riviersvalleij where she’s partnered with Type-A Winifred from JHB to start an eatery-bookshop. The women differ in cultural backgrounds, upbringings and have different takes on life (and Syvlie has a very different idea of what makes up a reasonable serving of Brandy). The two end up in business together with some hilarious, dark and deadly consequences. It’s whip smart and entertaining and as Bonnie says in her dedication, “we hope these pages bring a smile, a laugh or at least an enjoyable distraction.”
The Village Indian is a love letter to Indian cooking and language. If you don’t feel like a roti (properly round please, not oval) and a curry after reading it, you’re just not reading it right! There are also some wonderful Tamil phrases peppered throughout the book, and some South Africans of Indian origin lingo that may just make you homesick if you’re a KZNer.
And on the topic of language - Sylvie’s Afrikaans and general vocab feels like a warm hug, an element Bonnie put a lot of research into in distinguishing the two voices of her characters. Winifred is all business and uptight until she isn’t. The characters are endearing in their own ways and will stay with you long after winter ends in Riviersvalleij.
While Winifred and Sylvie contemplate their dilemmas from their respective lenses, Vanessa’s mixed race family find themselves doing the same, raising interesting questions around otherness, togetherness and the idea of a home worth fighting for. Deep and meaningful conversations are had on their stoep - such a village thing- overlooking a picturesque country garden. There’s a lot to unpack in her story on race, loyalty (and disloyalty) and the dynamics of small town life - and it’s those very dynamics that will have readers hooked in both books. You’ll spot your own local ‘Bob’, or busybody ‘Getrude’ from Riviersvalleij or helpful and kind ‘Charlie’. You’ll also recognise some iconic village scenes in both books because how can you leave out the mountains or the river or the historic Village green?
Both Vanessa and Bonnie are also very clear on why they love village life - the sense of community. When Bonnie shattered her wrist after a fall, she had neighbours she hardly knew dropping off food for her. Vanessa has cracked the code on the village’s informal trading system - some eggs here for some tomatoes there. A konfyt for a pickle. It takes her back to her childhood of her mother and aunties swapping curries and rotis and sweet meats over their fences. Vanessa is also the PRO for the local Community Policing Forum, a position that allows her to experience the true meaning of ‘it takes a village’ with the various initiatives the forum spearheads.
If you’re looking for your next winter read, you can find The Village Indian, Making a Killing and The World According to Merle at bookshops across the country. You can follow them on Instagram:
Jacana Media NB-Uitgewers/Publishers Local Life Cape Whale Coast
