The people who make the magazine - critics, photographers, poets and editors writing from across South Africa.
Rebecca Jackman-Derman is a writer, Bookstagrammer and all-round book nerd. She has worked in journalism and public relations, writing about anything and everything. She is now attempting to immerse herself further into the world of fiction by writing her own novels. When she isn’t reading or writing, she’s cuddling her kids, or a cat, travelling, or dreaming of travel, cooking or baking.
First of all, it's Jesca, not Jessica. Second of all, that’s the easiest part to grasp. She is deeply misunderstood, packs enough emotional baggage to leave you gagged for days, and is currently seeking damages from Disney for failing to prepare her for the horrors of adulthood! Cinderella never had to deal with this! But hey, Jesca’s got the coping mechanisms and the ultimate will to be better. Every trauma is just character development, and Jesca is busy writing her own redemption arc.
Zain Omarjee was born on a Thursday in Johannesburg, a city of gold and grief. At nine, a doorway cracked him open. He has been tending that crack ever since. He teaches because teaching is standing beside. He writes to carry what he has seen. His debut novel, 'When the Cherished Is Home', is not just a memoir; it is a key.... a key that reminds us, home is not a place. It is a person. It is the work of showing up and returning. He is still building. The key is still in the hand. The door is still open...
Jennifer Grace Morris a mixture of alles en more. She is known to dive between poetry and various literature devices that reflect the dialogue of life. Studying at UCT with English Literature and Sociology as majors, she learned to dig beneath the surface of society. Her love of literature is also extended to theatre, proclaiming her self as, "Die Drama queen", where she uses dramatic arts as a medium to express all that words can’t say. And if you don’t hear her speak, her eyes will say a thousand words. If it’s not through writing or performing, she uses unique sneakers, preferably Nike, and maximalist streetwear to explore her mixed plus-size identity.
Shaheena Links comes from a long line of storytellers. From a young age, she used to count her Oumie's teeth, and hung onto every syllable. And with a degree in Communication Science, she's gotten pretty darn good at communicating! She is a published author of the short story 'Woodstock Wonderwall', a poetry collection, 'Lost and Found (Again)', and a holiday novella, 'Mistletoe and Mayhem'. She regularly genre-hops between romance, science fiction, dystopia, speculative fiction, fantasy, mystery and poetry. When not writing, Shaheena can be found taking long afternoon naps or talking about life and love on her podcast, 'The Skinne Bekke'.
Just like when Queens needed a neighbourhood friendly Spiderman in Peter Parker, Cape Town found itself a neighbourhood friendly wallflower in Khazimla Louw. Always on the hunt for a great book and great coffee, she is constantly (though not so subtlety) chasing after what she believes is the next "book of her life." As a new literary blogger finding her way and standing in Cape Town's burgeoning literary landscape, she is determined to be the spark that leads many eyes and minds to South Africa's new pantheon of literary greats. When she's not snuggled up with a book and wine, Khazimla can be found either sneaking off to her nearest libraries, whisking and baking up a storm in the kitchen, or being overly passionate about sports.
Dr Ebrahim Samodien's career has taken him through molecular biology, biomedical research, marketing, communications, television production, and the many worlds that intersect with science. Yet scientific discovery is only one chapter of his story. He is also a published author across genres, non-fiction, sci-fi, romance to drama, philosophical fiction and poetry. Often crafting stories, exploring ideas, or jotting down words before sunrise, writing is his way of making sense of the world. This self-confessed dreamer, daydreamer, and enthusiastic collector of experiences is pretty much his natural habitat when coffee, a croissant, a pencil and a notebook nearby.
Zizi is an emerging performance artist, theatre maker and technician from Cape Town. She can be found at the theatre doing any and everything; honing her craft, learning and exploring. Her practice right now is about remaining curious, observant and cultivating rituals that’ll aid her craft. Her eventual aim is to create overwhelming sensory experiences as live art, theatre and storytelling.
Sumaya Adams is a Cape Town-based book reviewer, literary contributor, and enthusiastic collector of fictional trauma. She spends an unreasonable amount of time reading – sometimes with six books on the go, at once, because apparently one story at a time is far too sensible. She can demolish eight episodes of her favourite series in one sitting and has a particular appreciation for blood, betrayal, monsters, morally questionable characters, and spectacularly bad decisions. When she's not reading or disappearing down one of her many hobby rabbit holes, she's probably got 90s R&B playing somewhere in the background and is emotionally attached to a book that is most certainly going to ruin her life. And somewhere in all of this chaos is, a novel that she's been writing for the past three years, is on its way, one day, but she will need to stop reading, long enough, to actually finish it. Probably.
Riley Herbert-Henry is a writer, editor and book reviewer from Cape Town, South Africa. His debut publication, 'White Space', earned him the title of Brittle Paper’s “Writer of the Month” in March 2025. His reviews have appeared in multiple publications, and he can be found online @reimaginelit on Instagram and Tiktok, where he shares additional literary musings. He is the cohost of 'The Reading Chatroom' and his newest publication, 'Rite of Death', is out now with Mirari Press.
Fatima Bheekoo-Shah is proof that one woman can wear a ridiculous number of creative hats and still somehow find time for a decent cup of tea. She's the founder of 'The Book Doula', where she ghostwrites, coaches, and midwifes other people's manuscripts into the world. Under the pen name BF Queen, she writes award-winning romance that has readers reaching for the tissues (or the fan, depending on the chapter). She's currently working on launching Write & Sip, her women's writing workshop for women who’ve always been interested in creative writing, but when she's not doing that, Fatima can be found colouring in like it's a competitive sport, deep-diving into true crime rabbit holes, or experimenting in the kitchen with whatever's left in the fridge. Contemporary romance is her home turf, but really, she just loves a good story, especially if it ends with a happily ever after.
Ralton Morrison is a book reviewer, writer, and content creator based in Johannesburg, South Africa. A Learning Experience Designer by day, he is also the creator of the Sir Ralton publication on Substack where he writes poetry and prose. He shares book reviews on BookTok and Bookstagram, and explores visual storytelling through comic books and anime on his YouTube channel.
Rushdiyah Narker has moved from making up stories in her head to writing them down. She uses the skills she learnt while getting her Masters in Social Anthropology to write stories about the culture she grew up in. 'Some Unspoken Thing' is her debut young adult novel enjoyed by kids 13 to 60 years of age. For funsies, she reads a book a day and loves to go to the theatre, galleries, and movies to experience different forms of storytelling.
Creative Director & Editor-in-Chief
Zubayr Charles isn't your average Creative Director and Editor-in-Chief. By putting his UCT Master's in Creative Writing degree to good use, he has built traction as a local theatre maker with hit productions such as The Battered Housewives' Club, Please, don't call me moffie, and this bra's a psycho. As a multi-disciplinary writer and creative being, he is a published author of the novel, Haram, and the poetry collection, the sad boy's starter pack and other poems. Beyond the page and stage, Zubayr can be found chillin' at Saunders Rocks, writing poetry, redditing true crime series, or jamming hard to his Indie Rock, SA House, or Yaadt music playlists.
Junior Editor
Mia Winter is our resident editor-in-training. Raised between the mountains and the coast of the Western Cape, she brings sharp instinct and serious heart to everything she writes, reads and edits. After spending a year abroad, Mia returned to Cape Town with a widened worldview and a fascination with the many ways people turn lived experience into language, art, and meaning. As part of UCT's class of 2027, majoring in English Literature and Linguistics, she is building towards a career in teaching, guided by her core belief in learning for life. Impressively, she plays one of her six instruments, composing music, collecting awards, reading, writing her own, or finding new ways to advocate for human, animal, and world rights.
Graphics Designer
Brick Mbekwa is a freelance photographer and self-taught graphic designer who lives life in full technicolor. Raised in Johannesburg, Brick draws from the richness of multiculturalism to create visuals rooted in community and lived experience. Currently a third-year UCT student, when he's not behind the lens (or a desk), they are out with friends, drinking copious amounts of matcha, or deep in an anime binge. (He/She/They)
Software Developer
Zoë Petersen is our software developer and tech enthusiast. Born and bred in Bonteheuwel, she is driven by curiosity, creativity, and a determination to turn her dreams into reality. Passionate about using storytelling and the sharing of our lived experiences here in South Africa, she believes in creating digital spaces that uplift communities and amplify voices that deserve to be heard. Goal-driven and always eager to learn, Zoë is the kind of person who will never stop asking "why?" before accepting "what." When she's not building websites or exploring new technologies, you'll find her dancing to TikTok trends, chasing her next big idea, and finding inspiration in the stories that connect us all.
