Maxine Case
Maxine Case will be launching her debut novel, All We Have Left Unsaid at the 2007 Wordfest.
Maxine Case
About Maxine Case
I was born in Cape Town into a family of readers and writers. My mother is the well-known children’s author, Dianne Case and my sister Bonita also writes. So even though I love reading and have been reading from a young age, I never wanted to be a writer. I felt that that it was almost expected of me and part of me even thought that my school teachers only thought that I could write well, because of my mother.
After school, I studied advertising and then completed an IMM diploma. After a brief stint in the corporate world, my nature won out and I followed my passion for books; cutting my teeth in the publishing industry by “doing everything” for Kwagga Publishers. I later freelanced as a project manager for authors both locally and abroad ghosting several books as diverse as children’s books, religious tracts and the inevitable self-help books. I found myself increasing doing more and more rewriting and less and less editing, so inspired by this, I started to write my own work. I was the deputy editor of Indulge, a woman’s magazine published in Nigeria. Just under a year ago, I joined NB Publishers as the marketing and promotions co-ordinator.
My first published work, a short story called “Homing Pigeons” was included in African Compass New writing from southern Africa 2005, a collection published by New Africa Books. All we have left unsaid is my debut novel.
All We Have Left Unsaid
Maxine Case - All we have left
RESPONSES FROM THE MEDIA:
“Love and loss are juxtaposed in this tender and moving exploration of the mother-daughter relationship” – O, the Oprah Magazine
“First-time author Case has delivered a poignant, compelling tale that reads simply and effortlessly, yet packs in a world of detail that is instantly recognisable. Beautifully edited, it is a novel that marks the emergence of an exciting new talent.” – The Witness
See separate clippings for more media exposure.
DESCRIPTION:
Danika believes she can cope with anything. Now, as she keeps vigil at her mother’s hospital bed, watching her life slip away, she feels compelled to answer the questions that linger from her childhood in the eighties. What was the state of emergency about? Why did her father leave, and what happened the night no one ever talks about?
Only now, with her mother beyond hearing, can Danika break the silence of those difficult years. Now she can speak the words that were always left unsaid.
This beautifully crafted novel is a moving exploration of love and bereavement; of the ties that bind mothers, daughters and sisters, and the silences that keep them apart.
Danika het nog altyd geglo sy kan enige krisis hanteer. Maar nou, terwyl sy hulpeloos langs haar ma se sterfbed wag op die onafwendbare, begin Danika vir die eerste keer in jare terugdink aan haar kinderdae in die tagtigs, en aan al die dinge wat nooit gesê is nie.
‘n Noodtoestand is aangekondig: jong soldate wat gewapen op en neer in die strate rondloop, ook in Danika se eie buurt. Niemand steur hulle egter aan die sesjarige se vrae nie, en selfs haar ouer sussie, Lili, het geen antwoorde vir Danika nie. Boonop het haar gesin ‘n noodtoestand van sy eie.
All we have left unsaid is ‘n uitsonderlike debuutroman wat die wedervaringe van ‘n Kaapse gesin gedurende die Noodtoestand in die mid-tagtigerjare vertel deur die oë van ‘n sesjarige. Ontroerend en skreiend eerlik.
