Penguin Random House South Africa (PRHSA) has signed award-winning author Jackie Phamotse.
PRH will publish The Tea Merchant - the first book in a two-book series, in August 2024. The Tea Merchant, a romantic thriller and the first in the series, will be unpacked in stores across South Africa on Thursday August 8 in celebration of Women’s Day the next day.
Phamotse has self-published several bestsellers and it is an exciting new prospect for PRHSA to join her on her future journey of success. The author commented: “This new partnership is a testament to my unwavering dedication to writing and my loyal readers. It marks a milestone in publishing history, as I prepare to release my 11th book, The Tea Merchant. This latest work is a masterful blend of history and memorable characters, celebrating the rich heritage of the indigenous Khoisan people and their beloved Rooibos tea.”
The official book launch will be at Exclusive Books Mall of Africa, Johannesburg on August 31 at 12:30 for 13:00. A series of book-signing events will be hosted in several cities.
Phamotse is a writer, businesswoman, social activist and philanthropist. Her debut novel, BARE I: The Blesser’s Game, was published in 2017 and was awarded the African Icon Literary Award in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2018. Her second book, I Tweet What I Like, was inspired by the late struggle icon Steve Biko’s book, I Write What I Like. Jackie won the 2020 SA Book Awards for Best Fiction for her novel BARE II: The Cradle of The Hockey Club. She was also nominated for a bestselling award by Nielsen BookScan and SAPnet in 2023 for her book Bare IV: Mercy.
Google listed Jackie as one of the most searched personalities in South Africa in 2020. She won an award for her Social Activism at the Women of Wonder Awards ceremony in 2020, the same year the Generational Wealth Foundation listed her as one of the most influential educators. Jackie’s main objective is to create awareness around and find long-term solutions to eradicate social ills. She currently lives in Sandton.
Fans of Phamotse’s writing will not be disappointed with The Tea Merchant’s plot. It is 2005, a time of silent anticipation and hidden possibilities in the rugged Cederberg mountains. Cameron Coal is embroiled in a desperate fight to save his family’s rooibos farm, which is a hair’s breadth from bankruptcy, while wrestling overwhelming grief after his wife’s death and trying to build a relationship with his blind daughter. His father, John, might be the family’s last hope to save their farm from an enemy lurking in plain sight. But in the shadows, Cameron’s brother, Sole, harbours a secret that could shatter their world. Amid the chaos of a veld fire, Cameron’s gaze falls upon an enigmatic nurse, Luna Parks, who is new to their town. As Luna and Cameron grow closer, her mysterious past and closely guarded secrets could shatter the very foundation of their relationship.
In the meantime, several questions must be answered: Who wanted Cameron’s wife dead? How far will Cameron go to keep his enemies at bay? Will Luna ever tell him the truth about her past? Who really owns South Africa’s indigenous plant, the illustrious rooibos? And will Cameron’s decisions cost another life?
