amaBooks

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… »Hatchings« by John Eppel is now out on Kindle!
click here to buy it from amazon
»amaBooks are diverse and contemporary in their range. Publishing a wide variety of novels, short stories, poetry, local history and culture titles, they provide encouragement and support for many of Zimbabwe's established and budding writers.«
Diana Rodrigues, The Financial Gazette
Brian Jones and Jane Morris

The directors of amaBooks:
Brian Jones and Jane Morris

Welcome to our website,


amaBooks is a small independent publishing house based in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo. We are passionate about good creative writing and strive to give a voice to the Zimbabwe story. We publish novels, short stories and poetry, with a few local history and culture titles.

 

Since our inception we have been able to give a platform to many emerging writers, as well as publishing more established authors. Several of our titles have achieved recognition both nationally and internationally.

 

We also offer publishing services, including editing, proof-reading and origination, and run workshops on publishing issues.

 

In order to make books that have relevance to Zimbabwe available in the country, we distribute selected books by other publishers.

 

We, Brian Jones and Jane Morris, are the two directors of amaBooks.

 

This September Sun tops UK online sales:

 

Bryony Rheam's novel This September Sun, as an e-book, became the best selling title on Amazon in the United Kngdom in early June 2013. The book was first published by 'amaBooks in Zimbabwe in 2009, being launched by Owen Sheers at the Bulawayo Club.

Please click on the image above  if you would like to obtain a copy of the e-book from amazon.co.uk

Comments by those who have recently bought the book on Amazon include the following:

"This is not my usual type of read and I had no prior knowledge of Bulawayo but from the first chapter I was hooked. I could visualise Ellie and Evelyn, Miles and Wally in my mind so easily and Bryony wrote so eloquently it made me feel all the emotions these people experienced. I would recommend this book as a truly enjoyable read. So look forward to her next book." - Ann

"I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. Having spent some time in Zimbabwe in my youth, I thought the book mirrored the lifestyle and culture of Zimbabwe. I highly recommend reading this, especially if you are looking to read something a little different. I look forward to Bryony Rheam's next book!" - Terence Pikul

"A hugely enjoyable book, very well written and I enjoyed it immensely. Combining colonial interests and people's personal history. Recommended reading." - R J Allen

"A must read for all who have lived in the ever changing African continent. Well written with a fast moving story and many surprises to keep it moving." - Zimbabwe

 

 

 

Hard copies of Where to Now? Short Stories from Zimbabwe and This September Sun are still both available in the UK, published by Parthian Books, and in the rest of the world, through the African Books Collective.

Click on the cover images on the left to order a copy from the African Books Collective, on the right to order from Parthian.

September Sun

 

 

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»That day you will also learn, without being told, that women come from their fathers’ houses to live in their husbands’ houses. They claim nothing, just like the sun that daily descends to warm and caress and enliven, only to go back to its mother as naked as it came, with not even a token of thank you.«

NoViolet Bulawayo, from Snapshots in Where to Now?

»Two things happened to create a myth about Uncle’s piri piri. His wife gave birth to a second set of twin sons. And he almost killed the first set for straying into the piri piri garden, after their plastic ball had fallen among the plants. The myth was that uncle’s testicular strength must surely come from the piri piri. Why else should he almost kill to protect the plants?«

Mapfumo Clement Chihota from A Beast and a Jete in Where to Now?

»Before he died, my grandfather always said you can never really know a place until you have 1) fallen in love with its music 2) fallen in love with its women and 3) tried the mbanje that grows out of its soil.«

Brian Chikwava from The Jazz Goblin and His Rhythm in Short Writings from Bulawayo III

»My country is like
an empty but attractive
plastic packet
marked in bold blue letters
fresh creamy milk

being blown by the wind
along the road

that leads to a rubbish dump
by the cemetery«

Julius Chingono from My Country in Long Time Coming

»Dressed in green overalls, he lands nimbly on the other side, and races past the house, headed for the back, the soles of his sneakers flashing orange behind him. As on most afternoons, a steely sky tightly lids the township, as if it would suddenly lift, let out a puff of steam and the stink of decaying dreams into the beyond, then a shovel prod in to flip this life over into a fresh and purposeful side.«

Christopher Mlalazi from Dancing with Life in Dancing with Life

»When it comes to accessories, the Very High Ranking Soldier’s wife is fussy about hats and handbags, but not about shoes. Her role model, when it comes to hats, is the First Lady, who wears hats that can become converted to ocean-going yachts – should that need ever arise.«

John Eppel from The Very High Ranking Soldier’s Wife in The Caruso of Colleen Bawn

»The first rains. A cleansing. Business and banking. We have lost count of the false starts, failed operations, sunrises turned to sunsets. The economy breeds more hunger, more queues, more corruption. A cleansing that has spawned millionaire beggars and a billionaire middle class. Paper money with more zeros than can fit on a cheque.«

Judy Maposa from First Rain in Long Time Coming

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