Tonsé Short Story Book Club 2024 Selection
An argument in favour of supporting more lit mags and this months Book Club choice.
You didn’t think I’d forgotten about the book club, did you?
Bur first, a confession.
When I started the Tonsé Short Story Book Club, I had some vague notion of how reading short form work would appeal to many simply because, well, it’s short, and everything is getting shorter now. Short videos on Tik Tok and Instagram, opinions short on analysis on Twitter, soundbites for the news and politicians, even film is shorter by virtue of it so often being cut up into 20-minute-long compelling narratives that have you watching for longer without actually noticing. So, it seemed like a no brainer, if we have less time (or more to the point shorter attention spans), then the least we could do was to read something short rather than do away with books altogether. Then I started writing short stories, and submitting them to literary journals, and the need to read short form storytelling became ever more imperative.
You see, the average reader will often know the most commercial books. The ones most likely to pop up on top lists on Amazon and Goodreads, to be lauded by BookTokers, and to encompass elaborate displays in chain stores. But there is a thriving literary community bubbling under all those bestsellers. Emerging and established storytellers whose work is most easily accepted by literary journals that are not beholden to capitalism. And because they are not a part of the establishment, these literary journals offer diversity in both craft and crafters. This means more African writing.
Last year I had two short stories published as well as an essay, while another one was a finalist for a literary prize. This year I have already published one essay, have two more forthcoming and a short story that will be published in the (American) Spring. These stories are deeply rooted in Africa. They document the African experience, and are often sprinkled with African languages, I would probably have a hard time publishing them with mainstream presses.
Literary journals have not only given my stories homes, but have also provided a much-needed training ground at a time when I was desperate to learn.
The literary landscape in Zambia is still growing, and journals are a way to have access to editors and publishers who will help elevate my work so that I can then go on and elevate others.
So, if ever there was a time that we should read more African writing from literary journals it is now. Not just because we should, but because they are worth reading.
With that said, here is this year’s selection for the Book Club. 50% of these stories are Zambian and the other 50% are from the rest of Africa. There is literary fiction, fantasy, Science Fiction, and because of my newfound love for the essay form, there are a couple of pieces of creative non-fiction; not academic writing, but writing that is, as the name suggests, telling true stories creatively.
Our first story of the year is Mbozi Haimbe’s “A Song in D Minor” which was published by Doek! Literary, a Namibian Magazine that has Zambian Mubanga Kalimamukwetu as one of its editors. Read it here.
Here’s how it will (continue) to work:
· I will share a reminder of the story of the month in the first newsletter of each month.
· Every 3rd Thursday of the month I will feature an interview with the author of that month’s story.
· Every 3rd Sunday we will discuss the story. To join in the discussion, will need to have the App and join the chat. You can also comment on the author interview with your views if you are unable to attend the meeting in real time.
I’m averse to getting everyone on Zoom or Google Meets at the moment, but this is a community and if you’d prefer that, please let me know.
Happy reading!
Need to put this in my calender so I dont forget! Have been off Substack for quite some time.