Cape Town, South Africa – April 3, 2025 – Acclaimed South African author Sally Partridge is set to captivate young adult readers once again with the release of her latest novel, “Slaying in Sedgefield,” on… More
Witches of Hogsback longlisted for a SALA
My murder mystery novel, The Witches of Hogsback, has been longlisted for the 204 South African Literary Award for Best Youth Novel.
It’s a bumper longlist this year, featuring 31 incredible youth novels–including some of my favourites!
Congratulations to all the nominees!
New in 2024: Apocalypse at the end of the street
Happy New Year!
I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than to share some good news.
A new year means new stories to enjoy! And this year I am excited to have a short story included in a new anthology for kids – Apocalypse at the end of the street, out this February from Lapa.
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Reviews for The Witches of Hogsback
It’s been a good few months since The Witches of Hogsback was published, so I decided to do a little Googling to see what readers have had to say about it.
Here are a couple of reviews I found online, Goodreads and Instagram.
Leo Jantjies makes the Hombru list!
Exciting news. My kids book, Leo Jantjies and the Esports World Championship, has made it onto the Exclusive Books Homebru list.
Continue reading “Leo Jantjies makes the Hombru list!”
Join me for the launch of my first children’s book
My first children’s book for ages ten and up, Leo Jantjies and the Esports Championship, is coming out in August 2023 from Human & Rousseau and features amazing illustrations by Johann Strauss.
Leo Jantjies loves playing Theatre of Gods and Heroes (TOGAH). He’d play all day and night if he could – if it weren’t for nuisances like school and chores. The game has quickly become part of the professional esports scene where teams from around the world compete for millions of dollars in prize money. When a clip of Leo playing TOGAH goes viral, he doesn’t expect to be branded the best King Shaka player in the world. And he certainly doesn’t expect to get a call from a pro team to recruit him for the Esports World Championship in Paris! But soon Leo, his best friend Fiks, and his sister Lauren jet off to Europe for an adventure none of them thought was possible.
The launch is happening on Saturday 5 August 2023 at 12:00 Exclusive Books V&A Waterfront. ACGL will have gaming setups available for kids to play games like FIFA, Brawlhalla, Rocket League and Minecraft, plus there will be plenty of snacks to keep everyone energised. It’s going to be a blast.
RSVP to events@exclusivebooks.co.za
The Witches of Hogsback Murder Mystery Game
To celebrate the publication of my eighth novel, The Witches of Hogsback, I created a murder mystery game based on the book. I’ve been running the game at a few Exclusive Books stores and they’ve gone so well I’ve decided to offer it as a free download for anyone who wants to play it at home.
Continue reading “The Witches of Hogsback Murder Mystery Game”
Upcoming July events
The Witches of Hogsback is officially haunting bookshop shelves and online stores nationwide. The book transports readers to the atmospheric mountain town of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. And while I’m all for immersive storytelling, I really wanted to bring the pages to life. So, I wrote a murder mystery game based on the book.
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Cover reveal! Leo Jantjies & the Esports Championship
This might come as a surprise to many of you, but I have written a children’s book for readers aged ten and above.
Continue reading “Cover reveal! Leo Jantjies & the Esports Championship”
Roundup of recent events
It’s been a fun few weeks promoting my eighth novel, The Witches of Hogsback. I recently returned from a whirlwind trip to Johannesburg to attend the Kingsmead Book Fair. I was originally going to talk about how to write a crime novel, but my final topic was much more delicious – The Midnight Hour, covering our ongoing fascination with all things dark and spooky. I was joined by one of the college’s English teachers, Louisa, suitably attired in crescent moon earrings and a snake ring, and together we covered a range of subjects including the origins of Wicca, Hermione Granger’s suitability as a witch, the bad PR witches got from the Romans, the Brothers Grimm, and Disney, as well what makes small towns like Hogsback perfect for spooky crime stories.
The Witches of Hogsback is a whodunnit set among the mountains and forests of Hogsback in the Eastern Cape. The location has such a spooky, magical atmosphere, especially in autumn when all the trees turn red and the forest seems to swallow everything. Its easy to imagine witches and ghosts in those forests, especially at night when the samango monkeys bark unseen from the trees.
In my version of Hogsback, everyone has a secret, and the witches who inhabit the forest make the perfect scapegoats for when things go wrong.
I also drove out to Franschhoek for Bridge House School’s Book Week, which coincided with the Franschhoek Literary Festival. I had a great chat with grades 4-6 about the stories they like to read and then all the seniors at the school assembly. Not scary at all.
Thankfully, some of the students had just completed a hiking trip of their own (like the kids in The Witches of Hogsback) so I could riff off of that to lighten the mood.
I always take heaps of books with me to give away, and always stick around for a while to chat to anyone who has questions. For me, that’s always where the value of these visits lie. Everyone has a story inside them, and sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement to tell it.
Thank you to both Kingsmead College and Bridge House for having me.
Next up, I have a few Exclusive Books events which promise to be fun. Watch this space for an update, which I will post as soon as I know more.
Sea Star Summer awarded the Percy Fitzpatrick Prize
My sixth novel for young adults, Sea Star Summer, has been named as the joint recipient of the Percy Fitzpatrick Prize for youth literature awarded by the English Academy of South Africa.
My co-winner (twinner?) is Penny Lorimer for Luntu Masiza Tells the Truth.
This is what the judges had to say:
“There were two novels that stood out. Both are not only well-written and – crafted, but also explore current issues as part of the lived experience of the protagonists and are very distinctly youth-centered. Both are engrossing and embody hope.”
Published in 2020, Sea Star Summer follows sixteen-year-old Naomi’s journey of self-discovery while on holiday in the Eastern Cape town of Jeffrey’s Bay.
You Magazine wrote:
“A story about young love and self-discovery which cements Partridge’s status as one of SA’s best young adult authors.”
The award ceremony will be taking place in July.
Sally Partridge 