Livermore-based, Catalyst Press, Launches ‘Reading Africa Week'

Noted historian and author Jessica L Powers has used her recently established publishing company, Catalyst Press, as a platform to launch “Reading Africa Week”.

Jessica has a deep-seated love for the African continent and is also passionate about books. Speaking from her home in Livermore, California her connection to the South African Zulu culture and her fascination with African history is mesmerizing.

Catalyst Press (established by Jessica this year) and its imprint Storypressafrica (co-publishing with Jive Media Africa), has launched the first annual #ReadingAfrica week across all social media platforms from December 3 – 9 and the initiative is steadily gaining ground. With sufficient traction, there are plans to make Reading Africa Week an annual event.

Readers are invited to join in the event on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media platform and use the hashtag #ReadingAfrica, when posting pictures or comments about any book featuring an African author or location.

It could be a book you are currently reading but also one you've read in the past, or that you plan to read in the future.

“We are hoping to engage across publishing companies and across literary genres to celebrate the breadth and diversity of all that Africa has to offer the world, literarily speaking,” says Jessica.

A Texan by birth to parents who were geologists connected to the work of fossil-hunters Louis and Mary Leakey, this unassuming writer describes her experiences of living in Africa and immersing herself in the culture and practices that have fueled her passion to spread the joy of engaging with African literature.

Her latest book is a collaboration with her brother, M. A. Powers called “Broken Circle” that uses the interpretation of the grim reaper in various cultures as a backdrop.

“Books can change individuals and they therefore have the power to change the world,” says Jessica.

The first two books released by Catalyst Press are the thriller “Sacrificed” by Chanette Paul and a crime novel “Dark Traces” by Martin Steyn. Works by two other South African authors expected to be released for sale in early 2018 are “We Kiss Them With Rain” by Futhi Ntshingila and an original nonfiction graphic novel “Shaka Rising” by Luke Molver about a charismatic young warrior prince.

The lives, backgrounds and experiences of the authors are as fascinating as the stories they tell.

Her enthusiasm for Reading Africa Week is contagious and Jessica is encouraging all book lovers to participate - “from classics to crime novels, from young adult novel to comic book, from trashy romance to the best sci-fi, from academic tome to children's picture book, I hope you'll be #ReadingAfrica this week and joining us in the celebration!”

Photo Credit: J L Powers