The fifth annual Cape Town Book Fair (CTBF) is preparing to serve up a smorgasbord of literary treats when it opens to the public on 31 July 2010.

This year Professor Wole Soyinka will be at the CTBF he will be speaking about his new memoir "You Must Set Forth at Dawn" published by Ayebia. This giant of African literature will be in conversation with his publisher Nana Ayebia Clarke on Saturday 31 July at 10am in the Dalro Forum.

CTBF Director Claudia Kaiser said, "We are very proud that Professor Soyinka will be at this year's fair. This year's fair is positioning itself as an African affair and we have publishers from 12 countries attending the fair thanks to a programme being run by the Goethe-Institut."

International bestselling author Jodi Picoult will be at the CTBF to launch her new novel "House Rules" at the Dalro Forum on Sunday 1 August at 2pm. Picoult has delighted millions of readers with her books and is a captivating speaker.

Where would we be without our mothers? Marion Keim will discuss her book "Umama - Mothers of Leaders" with Diane Ferris in the Dalro Forum on Saturday 31 July at 11am.

The Kwela Hour offers an opportunity to meet new South African authors who are making waves with their books join well-known writer Mike Nicol when he talks to four debut novelists at the Kwela Coffee Hour. Cynthia Jele author of "Happiness is a Four Letter Word", Odette Schoeman author of "Swartskaap", Sally Anne Murray author of "Small Moving Parts", and Maya Fowler author of "The Elephant in the Room" will discuss the concept of landscape and memory.

If you're a fan of memoirs you'll want to hear Chris van Wyk who captivated readers with "Shirley Goodness and Mercy" will talk about his new book "Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch" in the Dalro Forum on Saturday 31 July at 4pm.

The Fifa World Cup 2010 gave South Africans a sense of optimism and pride, but how do we respond to complex social and political issues. Join Ingo Schulze and Fred Kumalo on Writing after Apartheid and the Berlin Wall, this talk is presented by the Goethe-Institut on Sunday 1 August at 2pm and will be chaired by author and former political editor Zubeida Jaffer.

For more details on the CTBF which runs from 30 July to 2 August (with the first day being a trade day and closed to the public) go to http://www.capetownbookfair.co.za/.

Issued on behalf of the Cape Town Book Fair by HWB Communications

For queries contact:

Claudia Kaiser

Director Cape Town Book Fair

Email: claudia@capetownbookfair.co.za

Jennifer Crocker

HWB Communications