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VOLUME 35 THE MAGAZINE ABOUT BOOKS FOR BOOK LOVERS GARDENER’S GUIDE Three botanists with a passion and a dream EASY AIR FRYING Jamie Oliver’s next-level air fryer recipes IN CONVO WITH Me Before You author Jojo Moyes ON MY MIND The greatest adventures are often unplanned THE MAGAZINE ABOUT BOOKS FOR BOOK LOVERS WIN! A BOOK STACK TO THE VALUE OF R1 000! STIRRING UP SOMETHING NEW WITH KAMINI PATHER YOUR FREE COPY!Some of our biggest books of the decade anniversaryWelcome! To another issue filled with stories that captivate, inspire, and challenge the way we see the world. From Esmie in Mary Watson’s The Cleaner, whose quiet resilience unravels hidden truths, to Penny Haw’s historical heroines, these women remind us of the power of presence. Food lovers are in for a treat as Kamini Pather spices up tradition in All Dhal’d Up, blending nostalgia with innovation, while Willie Strauss invites us into his Sinkhuis kitchen for hearty, comforting meals. And if you’re looking to level up your air fryer game, Jamie Oliver is here to prove that next-level cooking can be effortless. For nature enthusiasts, botanists Elsa Pooley, Andrew Hankey, and Geoff Nichols offer a deep dive into the beauty of local flora through their tour de force, South African Indigenous Garden Plants. We’re also thrilled to introduce Enchanted Shelf, a series that takes you behind the scenes of magical storytelling. Up first, we hear from Samantha Sotto Yambao, author of Water Moon, a novel inspired by Japan’s magical landscapes. Also in this issue, Catherine Airey opens up about how aphantasia shapes her storytelling, Jojo Moyes reflects on perseverance in publishing, and Sameer Rawjee finds beauty in life’s little pauses. We hope these stories, recipes, and reflections resonate with you – and maybe even spark a new perspective. Happy reading! contents 02 BOOKSCAPE A milestone birthday, the book topping the charts and five minutes with Mary Watson 06 COVER Kamini Pather on the things and people that shaped her food philosophy 10 FICTION Jojo Moyes, Catherine Airey and Penny Haw on their latest novels, and something new for fans of magic realism 17 ON WRITING Sameer Rawjee on the beauty of imperfect moments 18 INSIDER Milton Schorr reflects on his descent into addiction, and the wake-up call he needed 20 NATURE The authors behind the ultimate gardener’s guide share their journey to creating a masterpiece 25 AFRIKAANS Elizabeth Wasserman vertel van Mevrou Smit en haar stekels 26 WELLBEING Break free from stagnation and inefficiency to spark meaningful progress 28 FOOD Twee resepte uit Willie Strauss se versameling, and Jamie Oliver’s next- level air fryer recipes 32 ON MY MIND The greatest adventures are often unplanned, writes Craig Wing Johannesburg | Growthpoint Business Park, Unit 12A, 162 Tonetti Street, Halfway House Ext 7, Midrand, 1685 | 011 327 3550 Cape Town | Estuaries No 4, Oxbow Crescent, Century Avenue, Century City, 7441 | 021 460 5400 © Copyright Penguin Random House South Africa (Pty) Ltd. The Penguin Post is published by Penguin Random House South Africa. All rights reserved. Reproduction without the written permission of the editor is strictly forbidden. Editor Lauren Mc Diarmid Designer Sean Robertson Sub Editor Frieda Le Roux Contributors Mary Watson, Kamini Pather, Penny Haw, Jojo Moyes, Elizabeth Wasserman, Sameer Rawjee, Elsa Pooley, Geoff Nichols, Andrew Hankey, Craig Wing Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Lauren Mc Diarmid ThePost@penguinrandomhouse.co.zaTHE PENGUIN POST VOLUME 35 2 bookscape news | snippets | what’s new +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DOMINATING THE BESTSELLER LISTS This year marks the 10th anniversary of Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA), formed in 2015 from the merger of Random House Struik and Penguin South Africa. Over the past decade, PRHSA has expanded significantly, acquiring LAPA and Berlut Books, making it the country’s largest English and Afrikaans publisher. Today, local titles account for over 40 percent of its revenue, with its combined lists making up a quarter of the general book market. PRHSA has consistently topped bestseller lists with titles like Truth to Power by André de Ruyter, Gangster State by Pieter-Louis Myburgh, Atomic Habits by James Clear, and the beloved Tippie series for young readers. It has also celebrated major literary accolades, including Damon Galgut’s The Promise winning the Booker Prize and Fanie Naudé’s consecutive Hertzog Prize wins. PRHSA was named Sefika Trade Publisher of the Year three times before the award was discontinued. Innovation has been key to its success, with initiatives like the LUCA imprint and The Penguin Post magazine. Reflecting on the past decade, CEO Steve Connolly highlights PRHSA’s role in fostering independent thought, free expression, and diverse voices. As South Africa navigated droughts, elections, and global challenges, PRHSA remained committed to publishing books that educate, inspire, and connect readers. “We believe that books, with their stories and ideas, have the unique capacity to connect and transform us. In an increasingly polarised world, where those in power often seek to silence dissenting voices, we are committed to ensuring that diverse voices are heard. We look forward to the next 10 years!” Everyone’s talking about … Penguin Random House South Africa Celebrating 10-year Anniversary God’s Pocket by Sven Axelrad “My favourite local read of the year – it’s funny, witty and has the elements needed for a good read: intrigue, suspense, magic, and a little darkness. I didn’t know I liked self-aware novels until I read this one. It makes you look back at the experiences that moulded you into an adult (many of us have snuck into a closed swimming pool with friends) with wistfulness. I’m beginning to think all good books should be about friendships. It was an unexpected, delightful treat in a rough year.” Shubnum Khan, as featured online in Sunday Times Books IT’S FREE! Visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/ penguin-post and sign up to receive each new edition directly to your inbox.VOLUME 35 THE PENGUIN POST 3 UPFRONT Dr. Cisca de Kock is a brainy academic and published researcher. When she is not juggling academia with being a mom, wife and content creator, she’s a crime-solving, book-devouring, undercover agent (in her own head). Academia? Check. Family? Check. Mystery? Solved. Next case! “Gareth Crocker’s Now You Suffer, set in Johannesburg, is a gripping psychological thriller and the first in the Ruben Ellis series. It examines the complexities of human nature and the consequences of our actions. The novel follows a taut narrative, exploring the life of Ruben Ellis as he grapples with intense emotional and psychological turmoil, in order to find the person that kidnapped and murdered his daughter. At the same time he is investigating cases of kidnapped and murdered children. Crocker masterfully builds tension, with the characters, Thing and the kidnapped girl in the basement, and this keeps readers on edge as the story unfolds. At the heart of the book is an exploration of moral ambiguity, where the characters’ motivations are layered and multifaceted. The pacing is relentless, with twists that not only surprise but also provoke deeper reflection on themes of guilt, revenge, and redemption. I appreciated Crocker’s ability to create a sense of claustrophobic suspense that makes the reader feel trapped within the characters’ dilemmas. Crocker’s storytelling prowess ensures that this book lingers long after the final page, leaving readers contemplating its unsettling questions. I cannot wait for his next release.” MUST of the MONTH A hamper of books from this issue valued at R1 000 is up for grabs to one lucky reader. To enter, scan the code using your phone camera, or visit www.penguinrandomhouse.co.za/ competitions. Ts & Cs apply. Entries close 30 April 2025. WIN! WIN! WIN! OUT IN PAPERBACK Voyage of the Damned by Frances White A murder mystery unfolds aboard the emperor’s ship, where heirs with magical Blessings gather – except Ganymedes. When an heir is killed, he must unmask the murderer before he’s next. The Hunter by Tana French In this tense, slow-burn thriller, a former detective must protect a teenager from his estranged father, while navigating a web of revenge, sacrifice, and the cost of loyalty in a small Irish village. 17 093k followers @cisca_dk #bookstagram The Long and Winding Road by Lesley Pearse One of the world’s favourite storytellers shares her journey – from orphanage life to swinging sixties London – revealing the struggles, resilience, and passion behind her rise as a bestselling author. Words are like birds, when you publish books, you are setting caged birds free. They can go wherever they please. They can fly over the highest walls and across vast distances, settling in mansions of gentry, in farmsteads and labourers’ cottages alike. You never know whom those words will reach, whose hearts will succumb to their sweet songs. Elif Shafak, There are Rivers in the SkyTHE PENGUIN POST VOLUME 35 4 UPFRONT Five minutes with … MARY WATSON Esmie is a unique and complex protagonist who uses her role as a cleaner to exact revenge. What inspired you to explore this character, and why choose the cleaning profession as her vehicle for seeking justice? I’m fascinated by what drives people to do bad things. Transgression, which means “to walk across,” suggests a journey – starting in one place and ending in another, crossing a threshold. In The Cleaner, there’s a dark fairy tale within the story about a bride moving through her villain groom’s house. As she crosses each threshold, she comes closer to discovering true villainy. This mirrors Esmie’s journey – moving deeper into the homes she cleans, uncovering their dark secrets. Esmie operates in the shadows. How does this theme of invisibility tie into the broader exploration of privilege In The Cleaner, Mary Watson introduces Esmie, a quietly complex cleaner who uses her role to unravel secrets and confront privilege and power – all while navigating eerie spaces and the shadows of human nature. The Cleaner is out now. and identity in the book? This was central to the story. I made Esmie a cleaner because the role places her on the margins – an outsider temporarily granted access to the intimate spaces of others. It also allows her to cross into wealth and privilege while remaining overlooked. The people she works for don’t see past their assumptions about her as a young, foreign woman, and Esmie exploits this invisibility to her advantage, turning it into power. It’s easy to be drawn to Esmie’s methodical unravelling of secrets. What do you think this tells us about human nature and the darker side of social privilege? Esmie is morally grey – she crosses lines, snooping and manipulating. But she’s clear about her purpose: retaliation. She tells us from the start that Nico was treated poorly and discarded by these people. The book initially sets up a binary – privileged, careless people versus Esmie and Nico. But it complicates this dynamic. No one is entirely good or bad. Everyone has traits that make them sympathetic, likeable, or vulnerable, as well as flaws that make them less so. How do the physical spaces in the story reflect the emotional and moral landscapes of the characters? I started writing this book during the first lockdown and I think there are traces of this in the book. At the time, there was a feeling of your whole world reduced to the walls of your home, and I wanted to tune in to this. Of being held, contained, entrapped by a house. The feeling that houses are witnesses, they see how we’re lonely and lost. I wanted Esmie to be utterly alien to her new environment, but then to triumph, in a way, over this. I also wanted to capture the mood and feeling of the Irish summer with its insanely long days, and the exquisite lushness of it. I find that in all my books there are themes and ideas that endure – for example, the idea of buildings and how they affect us was a big theme of my novel, The Cutting Room. PHOTOGRAPH: Nazreen Essack WRITTEN BY: Lauren Mc DiarmidUP SPICINGVOLUME 35 THE PENGUIN POST 7 COVER Kamini Pather’s All Dhal’d Up is more than just a cookbook – it’s a deeply personal exploration of heritage, evolution, and the joy of home cooking. She shares how family traditions, travel, and modern living shaped her recipes, blending nostalgia with fresh perspectives to create Indian- inspired dishes that are as meaningful as they are delicious. “C ooking has always been more than just a necessity for me; it’s a space where transformation happens. The alchemy of simple ingredients coming together to create something surprising and delicious is an endless source of joy. There’s also mindfulness in cooking for yourself – you know exactly what’s going into your food, and over time, those small, intentional choices add up. That’s why I love using fresh turmeric with a crack of black pepper in my dishes to imbue their anti- inflammatory properties. It might not be a miracle cure, but incorporating it regularly does have a positive effect over time. This connection to food and its deeper impact on wellbeing was a huge part of why I wrote All Dhal’d Up. The book had its origins back in 2020, when I put together an e-book called Eat Glocal after spending lockdown cooking with my mom and grandmother. It was shortlisted for the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, which was more than I had hoped for, for an e-book I created in my own kitchen, with my own camera and wordsmithery. It planted the seed for something bigger. I wanted to bring together my cultural food knowledge with everything I’d learned from traveling and cooking with chefs around the world in my SAFTA-winning food-travel TV show, Girl Eat World. There’s a phrase from MasterChef that’s always stuck with me: ‘Food is personal. Put yourself on the plate.’ This book is as personal as it gets. But the journey wasn’t linear. I had been in conversation with my publisher, Beverley Dodd, since 2020, and we planned to start shooting the book in late 2021. Then my father passed away, and I had nothing left to give. It took me a couple of years to find my way back to the project, but when I moved back to Cape Town in 2023, everything started falling into place. Writing a cookbook, though, is a different beast from just cooking intuitively. I’ve always loved the creative freedom of cooking over the precision of baking, so suddenly having to measure everything precisely felt painstaking. My grandmother, for example, doesn’t believe in teaspoons or scales – she just sprinkles and adjusts as she goes. I had to sit with her, measure things out, and then take those recipes into my own kitchen to refine them, sometimes making small adjustments to modernise them, like swapping deep frying for air frying or using avocado oil instead of vegetable oil. There’s a certain nostalgia in double-carb dishes, which made sense in the past when people had large families to feed, but these days, I wanted to translate those ingredients into something more aligned with the way I eat now. Like my cauliflower rice lamb biryani – a reimagining of a beloved dish that brings in an extra vegetable and makes the process feel less intimidating. Some of the most meaningful moments in putting this book together were the ones spent with my grandmother. There’s a photo of the two of us in the book, and it captures so much of what food has always been for me: a way to connect, to learn, and to be part of something bigger than just a meal. I think so many of us have childhood memories of big family lunches, not necessarily remembering There are a couple of recipes in the book that surprised even me – like my bacon dhal.Next >