Sunday Times Books LIVE

11.03

And that’s a wrap! Final tweets from the sessions:

Mashele: Numsa party will be formed, question is will it do well. Thing is they believe in Marxist ideals #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Couzens talks about Napoleon's son who was killed with an assegai in Zululand. #FLF14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

After more discussion on Napoleon III & what the hell he was doing in SA when he was "meant to be inheriting France" the talk ends. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Greenberg: Sometimes I mix up the details on purpose. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Greenberg: If you want real directions, use a streetmap! #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Couzens: The Voortrekkers captured a Zulu man, who showed them where the "cattle" moved through a gorge. But… #FLF14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Couzens: …BUT…it wasn't cattle! When Voortrekkers attacked, found that it was Zulu warriors with cow hides on their backs. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Couzens: This is a great real trickster figure from history, like trickster figures from literature who deceive those who deserve it. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.59

Prince Mashele does not mince his words:

Mashele: The ANC is rotten to the core. Removing Zuma is not the solution #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: Zuma is an ultimate surivor. He will survive office #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.58

Louis Greenberg is dishing out advice on @projectjennifer’s session:

Greenberg: Fiction is fiction, it's not a documentary. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Greenberg: Sometimes I mix up the details on purpose. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Greenberg: If you want real directions, use a streetmap! #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

And Lauren Beukes chimes in:

Beukes does about 12 drafts per novel. 'I write lean and flesh it out.' #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

10.55

In the words of Lenin, what is to be done? They’re wondering that aloud in @helenayp’s session on the ANC:

We can't sustain the levels of inequality in South Africa, ANCiety #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: BEE – So-called black tycoons are parasites sitting on boards doing nothing #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele wants to see @JJ_UFS as minister of education #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez: The only solution is for the ANC to get rid of Zuma #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez: The sooner we see Dlamini-Zuma replace her ex husband the better #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Badat: Will be surprised if Zuma is still in office post 2016. Cyril won't be president, if you think that you don't understand ANC #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.53

Anyone for an avalanche of ponies?

Beukes: All your ego has to go in your relationship with your editor. All of it. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Beukes and her editor argued for three weeks over a metaphor on her last book. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

The metaphor involved 'an avalanche of ponies.' #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

10.52

Prof Bill Nasson is regaling the audience at the war panel:

Nasson remembers historical research conference when he was younger. Had to present to people who had actually lived that history #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

One man who had battled in India related how Genl Windgate had actually fought starkers! "Was quite bonkers" #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Nasson: None of the biographies on Windgate mentions his nudism! #FLF14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.46

Historian Norman Stone has the mic at @carolynmeads’ session on war:

Norman Stone discusses the battle of Kul al Amara. The mosquitoes were pestering the soldiers. Were saving money by not buying nets. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Stone: Townsend held out to the bitter end. Eating rats, hoping and waiting to be saved. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Stone discusses Charles Doughty-Wiley's role in the battle. #FLF14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Stone: The 1 thing British generals suffer from is terrible politeness "Would you mind terribly…" Vital to find one with a temper! #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.43

@helenayp’s session on the state of SA and the ANC is riveting:

Mashele: Factors of memory do not apply only to blacks, white people also vote on basis of race and memory #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Badat: If ANC is not in anxiety they have lost touch with reality. They will not get WC back. If they lose Gauteng won't getit back #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez: If the EFF gets poorest to go out and get ID books to vote they will pose real threat to ANC, don't think Malema will do it #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: Read the history of Cecil John Rhodes, "black man will work underground unpaid permanently", this is still true #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: Just because we have a black man talking politics with Du Preez doesn't mean it's changed, Rhodes' words still true #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Badat: Zuma needs to sit with SADTU and say "No more! We draw the line" (audience applauds) #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.41

The realities of travel meet speculative fiction in @projectjennifer’s session:

Khumalo: Mali for me was very depressing. Once you get out of the city and see the real Mali, it's very depressing. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

.@jcwLIFE asks @louisgreenberg why he hasn't written an African zombie/vampire mash-up #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

.@louisgreenberg: @charliehuman is the one to ask about that. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Beukes: I hated writing my serial killer so much, I fucked him up at every opportunity. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Beukes: I broke his jaw, I ripped his tendon. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Beukes: But then I had to keep track of his injuries through the time travel narrative. Has his jaw healed yet? I don't know! #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

10.35

In @carolynmeads’ session, James Whyle is recounting an episode from his father’s experience of war:

Dad, also called James, went with Fatty Pringle to joins the 2nd World War. Excited but eventually Disappointed because mostly dug #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

When they finally joined the fighting, they found that they were actually in hell. The best friend Fatty Pringle was killed. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

In one letter, @jameswhyle's dad writes about walking through shooting bullets. "It makes one feel quite exquisitely mad" #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

.@jameswhyle's dad was shot. In letter he wrote bullet went in the front. Later, in a piece for a publication, said went in back… #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

.@jameswhyle heard that his father had actually been shot by an English bullet. Mistake? #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.31

More interesting tweets on SA politics from @helenayp’s session:

Mashele's mother is disgruntled, uneducated, hates Jacob Zuma but still votes ANC bc "power of memory" #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: Voting is not a rational act #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez: There is a peasantification of the ANC constituency (quotes figures in metros and rural areas) #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: We represent the middle class who do not clap for social grants, we see ANC destroy country #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.29

The ANC is still taking a beating – albeit one it can probably withstand – in @helenayp’s session:

Badat, elder on the panel acc to Gevisser, says declaration of who you'd vote for is fascinating #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Badat sat at a table with ANC veterans who you'd assume would vote ANC but voted anyone but (also not DA) #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Gevisser was in NY and got date wrong so could not vote, Du Preez says maybe on purpose #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Badat suggests he would like to see a Non of the Above block on ballots #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: I will not forgive the ANC for what they have done to the black child, "I see the ANC doing what the Nats did…I wept" #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Gevisser asks Mashele why people keep voting ANC back into power. Is ANCiety located to select few? #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez notes people who have been hurt by ANC who will vote them till they die, saying "Who gave us this country?" #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.26

In @projectjennifer’s session, they’re talking photography:

Khumalo has a passion for photographs, but doesn't use them in his book. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Beukes' iPhone snaps have been used on her books covers: I take about 30,000 and 30 end up being usable. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Greenberg took photos of a playground as a setting; had to take pics from under his sleeve to avoid detection … #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Greenberg: It made me embody that creepiness, which was great research – better than the photos … #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

10.25

Here’s some insight on landscape, war and Charles Darwin from Tim Couzens:

Couzens: One of my favourite places in the world is Down House in London, the house of Darwin. Peaceful. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Couzens: In that area there are great ridges & depressions. Found out from headman that these were made by giant earthworms! #FLF14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Couzens: The outcome of that 1818 battle depended on the landscape and that landscape was made my earthworms! #FLF14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Couzens: Darwin's last research was on the importance of earthworms and how they change landscapes over time. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.18

Prince Mashele is not offering encouraging words about the ANC in the New School Hall:

Mashele saw chaos in ANC, people thought he was mad. Polokwane was the beginning – that's where the fall started #flf14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Mashele: The rot in the ANC started under Mandela (arms deal). He says he is not a Mbekian #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.17

I like Sihle Khumalo and envy him his travels, but wouldn’t want to be in his shoes on this trip!

Khumalo talks about a trip from Dakar to Mali that was supposed to take 30 hours. 'I thought I could handle that.' #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

It ended up taking 60 hours … 'We spent most of the time on the side of the road.' #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Khumalo: 'They expected it! There were not one but two mechanics on board.' #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

10.15

Tim Couzens, the great historian, is talking battles in @carolynmeads’ session:

Couzens says most interesting battle he's come across in research took place in 1818 in Eastern Cape between 2 rival Xhosa tribes. #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Couzens: The one group had decoy army that lead the pursuers in a certain direction. As came past, real hidden army sprang on them #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.12

Max du Preez is holding court in the New School Hall:

Gevisser welcomes audience to therapy session with the "very equipped therapists", bottle of wine to someone who comes up with DA pun #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez was shortlisted for the Alan Paton award last night #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Du Preez had massive anxiety in voting booth. Knew he'd vote DA provincial but had no party he felt drawn to nationally #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Ramphele will probably abandon politics soon so Du Preez voted for Holimisa #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

10.09

Over at the Site Inspection panel, we’re talking travel, virtual and otherwise:

Khumalo says he is fascinated by maps. Looking at maps and pondering routes is the only preparation he does for travel. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Khumalo: I wait until I'm back in SA, in my comfort zone, before I add flesh to the skeleton of my story. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Greenberg's new book is set in London. 'Google Maps helps you remember the details, like what the wheelie bins look like.' #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

Beukes on Chicago as a setting, compared to Joburg: You want to find the differences but you also want to find the parallels. #flf14

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

10.06

We have liftoff!

Saleem Badat, @MarkGevisser, Prince Mashele and @MaxduPreez ready to discuss the ANC #FLF14 pic.twitter.com/OIdZs4TIvc

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Finally Norman Stone arrives. Here's Bill Nasson, Norman Stone, @jameswhyle & Tim Couzens talking War Stories #flf14 pic.twitter.com/l8R0eyYYI6

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

10.04

Morning! It’s the final day of the FLF. We’re kicking off as follows:

.@jcwLIFE takes a #selfie ahead of Site Inspection, with @laurenbeukes @louisgreenberg and Sihle Khumalo. #flf14 pic.twitter.com/tziPMIOFsA

— Jennifer Malecówna (@projectjennifer) May 18, 2014

I'm at the New School Hall where @MaxduPreez, Prince Mashele, Saleem Badat and Rhoda Kadalie will be talking to @MarkGevisser #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

The topic is ANCiety attack & panel will be asked: Is the ANC in, or causing, a state of anxiety, assessing the party post elections #FLF14

— Helené Prinsloo (@helenayp) May 18, 2014

Audience members are given the following handout: a Virgil quote and a quote by Peter Heylen #flf14 pic.twitter.com/baUmSlWutM

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

…and Carolyn Meads is at the “War Stories” session:

Here are the panelists minus Noman Stone, who is yet to arrive. Bill Nasson, @jameswhyle and Tim Couzens #flf14

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014

Audience members are given the following handout: a Virgil quote and a quote by Peter Heylen #flf14 pic.twitter.com/baUmSlWutM

— Carolyn Meads (@carolynmeads) May 18, 2014