WITH South Africa’s literary scene growing exponentially, avid readers are given something to look forward to every year. Various authors together with publishers from across the country and on the international front have got some exciting offerings lined up for the year. Here are a few upcoming 2023 book releases you can expect.

The Dao of Daniel

Lodewyk G du Plessis, Michiel Heyns

NB Publishers

Daan van der Walt, a Latin-quoting, God-fearing former Kalahari farmer, visits his estranged son in China. He soon finds himself on a difficult path (the Dao of the title) to come to terms with his feelings of remorse and guilt. He sets out to write his Historia, or confessions, in the form of letters to his deceased wife and imaginary observations of his beloved dog. An astounding debut by an octogenarian author; the award-winning Afrikaans novel was translated by Michiel Heyns.

I Did Not Die

Tebello Mzamo

NB Publishers

Botho Pere finds work as a miner in South Africa and has to leave his wife, Nthatisi, and their two children in Lesotho. Almost three years go by without news from Botho, and the resourceful Nthatisi is left taking care of their family. But it is ultimately their secrets that threaten to unravel the already delicate thread that has been holding them together.

Some of Botho’s troubles are of his own making while others are rumoured to be caused by witchcraft, especially with the mysterious Mokoto always lurking on the periphery. Then one-day Botho decides to take control of his own fate …

This haunting story explores the harsh realities of a mineworker's fragmented family. Tebello Mzamo is from Bloemfontein and grew up in Gugulethu, Cape Town. She completed her MA in Creative Writing at Rhodes University in 2016 cum laude. Her writing has appeared in journals and anthologies. I Did Not Die is her first novel.

SPARE

Prince Harry

Penguin Random House

Hitting our shores this month is Prince Harry’s SPARE. It was one of the most searing images of the twentieth century: two young boys, two princes, walking behind their mother's coffin as the world watched in sorrow - and horror.

As Diana, Princess of Wales, was laid to rest, billions wondered what the princes must be thinking and feeling - and how their lives would play out from that point on. For Harry, this is that story at last.

With its raw, unflinching honesty, Spare is a landmark publication full of insight, revelation, self-examination, and hard-won wisdom about the eternal power of love over grief.

Someone Else’s Shoes

Jojo Moyes

Penguin Random House

Expected to be released in February is Jojo Moyes’ ‘Someone Else’s Shoes’. Nisha Cantor and Sam Kemp are two very different women. Nisha, 45, lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy until her husband inexplicably cuts her off entirely.

She doesn't even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in. That's because Sam - 47, middle-aged, struggling to keep herself and her family afloat - has accidentally taken Nisha's gym bag. Now Nisha's got nothing. And Sam's walking tall with shoes that catch eyes - and give her career an unexpected boost. Except Nisha wants her life back - and she'll start with her shoes.

I Will Find You

Harlan Coben

Penguin Random House

David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream - married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, and a three-year-old son named Matthew - when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way.

David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own - his son's. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely. Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl's sister arrives - and drops a bombshell.

She's come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar - and even though David realizes it can't be, he knows it is. It's Matthew, and he's still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible - save his son, clear his name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.

Amazing Grace Adams

Fran Littlewood

Penguin Random House

Grace Adams is one bad day away from saving her life. One hot summer day, stuck in traffic on her way to pick up the cake for her daughter's 16th birthday party, Grace Adams snaps.

She doesn't scream or break something or cry or curl into a ball. She simply abandons her car in traffic and walks away. But not from her life - towards it. Towards the daughter who has banned her from the party.

Towards the husband divorcing her. Towards the terrible thing that has blown their family apart. She'll show her daughter that no matter how far we fall, we can always get back up. Because Grace Adams was amazing. The world and her family might have forgotten. But Grace is about to remind them

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