Kader Asmal was born in Stanger in KwaZulu Natal, near the home of Albert Luthuli who was a great influence in his life.  He became a teacher, and then went to London to study law.  After his marriage prevented him from returning home, he lectured  at Trinity College Dublin.  He was active on civil liberty issues, and chaired the Irish Anti-Apartheid Movement. He was involved in drafting the Bill of Rights in our constitution.  Finally able to return to South Africa, he became a Minister, first of Water Affairs and then of Education. In retirement he is actively involved in human rights issues and is still a member of the ANC.

Karin Schimke is a journalist , columnist, writer and poet, and is widely published in all genres. She is also a writing mentor and tutor, a book reviewer, and host of the Monday night Off-The-Wall poetry gig in Obz. She lives in Cape Town with her two children.

Karabo Kgoleng hosts a literature programme on the national radio station SAfm and also presents the weekday Afternoon Talk show, where she engages audiences with unique passion and energy. She tries to write sometimes but would rather leave it to the professionals, whose ways with the word inspire her to spread the message to the rest of the world. She’s a Francophile who serves as Secretary General on the board of Alliance Francaise, Johannesburg, a French language and culture institution. Karabo is in the Mail & Guardian Book of South African Women for her role in promoting the arts through media. This will be her 3rd time as host at FLF, one of her favourite events on the books calendar!

Louise Grantham began her publishing career in 1989 with Southern Book Publishers, where she held a number of positions from editorial assistant to general manager. When she left after 11 years she founded the-e-junction, a consulting business focused on electronic strategies and projects for information-rich companies, and consulting and training in publishing. She ran the Publishing Studies Honours Degree course at Wits University and lectured in Publishing Environment and Publishing Management. She joined Penguin Books in January 2008 as their publisher responsible for the growth of the local list and the strategic direction of their local publishing division. In 2010 Louise joined forces with Basil van Rooyen to establish Bookstorm, a new trade publishing company in South Africa. She is married with 3 children and lives in Johannesburg.

Lynda Gilfillan:  My entire professional life has been focused in some way or other on reading, teaching and evaluating literature. After lecturing in English at the University of Pretoria, I zig-zagged southwards via a farm in the Karoo to Cape Town, where I have lived for the past eight years. Reflecting my special interest in the construction of identity, my doctoral thesis is on black South African autobiographical writing. I have authored, co-authored and co-edited various books, and also dabbled in journalism. Then in 1996 I embarked on a career change that continues to challenge and delight me – for anyone who loves words, editing is a wonderful form of work. The real bonus is collaborating in a very intimate way with creative minds, and I have been especially privileged to work with some of South Africa’s most talented authors.