My list of Overberg authors tallies 38 local writers. For a relatively small area of 1708km2 I recon that’s a lot of pen power. It must say something about the creative inspiration of our naturally irresistible region?

Nielsen Bookscan SA made their 2020 list of popular Afrikaans books available and there it is again… A Stanfordian, Chanette Paul, with no less than 4 books on the Top 100 list. Chanette’s Vywersvrou: Corali is number 5 on the list with a sale of 2 729 books and an income of R880 964. Well done Chanette for flying the literary flag for the Overberg! The Cape Whale Coast and especially Stanford is very proud of your achievement.

Not an Overberg resident but an author who uses the Overberg, mostly Hermanus, in the setting of his stories, is number one on the NBS-SA list, Deon Meyer with Donkerdrif. I read Donkerdrif in December after waiting patiently to borrow the book from my neighbour Nakkie who bought and circulated the top seller to all the avid readers in close proximity. Now I have to acquire my first Chanette Paul in support of my hood’s talent.

There are more local literary winners. Kalahari Short Story Prize 2020 winner Hermanus resident Christine Coates were honoured in December 2020 for her poetry collection The Summer We Didn’t Die.