By special request of the wonderful organisation TEARS, who do heroic work to help animals and humans in crisis in our neighbourhood, Salon Hecate will relaunch STRAY, a charity anthology of animal stories and poems on Monday 3rd July. This beautiful collection features some of South Africa’s top writers — Booker prizewinner Damon Galgut, Sindiwe Magona, Diane Awerbuck, Paige Nick, Gabeba Baderoon, Niq Mhlongo, Ivan Vladislavic, Michiel Heyns, Tom Eaton, Zukiswa Wanner, S. A. Partridge, and many more. Readers on the night will also include Colleen Higgs, Nerine Dorman, Margaret Clough and Colleen Crawford-Cousins. The book is endorsed by Helen Macdonald (author of H is for Hawk). Special appearance by Joey Hi-Fi, internationally awarded artist, who did the incredible cover you see here. (In his incarnation as Dale Halvorsen, he’s about to launch a thriller, Girls of Little Hope.)

We will be selling brand-new copies of STRAY at R200 each — a steal, as thanks to the generosity of publisher Hands-on Books and the contributors, we are able to give the total profit after print costs to TEARS. This is a great opportunity to stock up with gifts for all the animal and book lovers you know.

We know it’s winter, so we’ll have hot soup and rolls, along with warming wine waiting for you. And think of the rosy glow you’ll get from supporting this worthwhile cause. Please join us, and bring your friends. You’ll also be able to admire the gallery’s special exhibition, also mounted as a fundraiser for TEARS. We’ll be selling STRAY all month, to help keep the focus on this magnificent organisation (which has provided some of us with much-loved cats and dogs). We may even show you video clips of our rescues enjoying their forever homes.

When the book first came out, Tracy Gilpin wrote:

“…there is a certain magic that takes places, as each book sold and carried off in exchange for a fistful of rands, turns into a warm blanket to comfort a shivering cat, a meal to fill a dog’s empty stomach, or a small op that will end litter after litter for an exhausted mother whose body and emotions are worn out even though she is little more than a pup or kitten herself. In short, for those of us who love books and adore animals, Stray is a particular thing of beauty.”

So come and help us make a little midwinter magic.

Entrance is free, but please RSVP to info@noordhoekartpoint.co.za for catering purposes.
Date and time: Monday 3rd July, 5.30 for 5.45