Inaugural Kingsmead and RMB Private Bank Book Fair

Understanding that literacy and education is the cornerstone to leaving a legacy for future leaders, the book fair includes a high-profile line-up of the country's most distinguished local authors and media personalities will share their passion for literature and celebrate literacy by participating in a programme of events aimed at children, teenagers and adults. The event includes author talks and workshops, book signings, interactive sessions and storytelling.

In celebrating literacy and learning, a percentage of the proceeds from the Book Fair will go to the Make a Difference Foundation (MAD), which aims to make a positive impact in the lives of disadvantaged, academically talented young South Africans. Francois Pienaar, MAD's founding chairman, said: "MAD aims to develop high-performance individuals who, in themselves, are role models who inspire others, and who will support each other in the future by giving back to others. The Kingsmead Book Fair is a good platform from which we can highlight the importance that literacy and education plays in building the leaders of tomorrow."

A day of sharing and learning

"It is very rare that you are able to have access to authors of this calibre under one roof. This event, which we hope will become a flagship book event for Joburg, brings together families from across our community for a day of sharing and learning. We are very proud to be partnering MAD in ensuring that the legacy we create today is carried forward to our future leaders," said Lisa Kaplan, headmistress of Kingsmead College.

Visitors to the Kingsmead RMB Private Bank Book Fair will be able to connect and collaborate with other readers, writers and publishers through the very interactive and engaging programme.

The authors and facilitators who will be participating and engaging at the event include:

• Michele Magwood talks crime and thrillers with Jassy Mackenzie (Random Violence) and Andrew Brown (Solace)
  
• Jeremy Gordin (Zuma: A Biography) engages Mandy Wiener (Killing Kebble), RianMalan (My Traitor's Heart) and Heidi Holland (Dinner with Mugabe) on "The rise of non-fiction and the challenges of translating the hurly burly of news and political commentary into books with staying power"
  
• Judge Edwin Cameron (Witness to AIDS) talks about and brings to life the constitution, giving a personal account of how it has assisted people living with HIV/AIDS and comparing the law under our constitutional democracy with the law as it was applied during the apartheid era
  
• Michele Magwood asks Jenny Hobbs (The Miracle of Crocodile Flats), Mike Nicol (Revenge Trilogy) and Edyth Bulbring (Melly, Fatty and Me) "What are the secrets of a good novel?" J
  
• Jenny Crwys-Williams in conversation with Piet Byleveld on his latest book Dossier Of A Serial Sleuth
  
• James Hendry (A Year In The Wild) on "Ranging, writing and other things I wasn't supposed to do when I grew up ... "
  
• Sue Grant-Marshall squares up to the "troublemakers" David Bullard (Out to Lunch), Jeremy Gordin (Zuma: A Biography), and Denis Beckett (Radical Middle)
  
• Garden Talk with Keith Kirsten (Gardening with Keith Kirsten) and Jane Griffiths (Jane's Delicious Garden)
  
• Michele Magwood asks Steven Boykey Sidley (Entanglement), Craig Higginson (The Landscape Painter) and Cynthia Jele (Happiness Is A Four Letter Word) to consider whether reading novels impacts the world and influences our worldview
  
• David O'Sullivan discusses with James Motlatsi and Bobby Godsell (Do It) "What citizens can do to transform our country"
  
• Chris van Wyk (Eggs to Lay, Chickens to Hatch) exchanges childhood memories with McIntosh Polela (My Father, My Monster)
  
• Jenny Crwys-Williams crosses swords with Gareth Cliff
  
• Kate Sidley talks to Annabel Frere (Help! There's A Stove In My Kitchen), Sarah Graham (Bitten) and Tabitha Hume (The X Diet) about cook books and diet
  
• Nikki Bush discusses her book Future-proof Your Child

Please note that this programme is subject to change, so go to www.kingsmead.co.za for more details.

Tickets are available from Computicket and are R80 for adults and R50 for children. Food and refreshments will be on sale at the event.