Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi has signed with U.S publisher Transit Books.
Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbiwas introduced to the African literary scene in what could only be described as a blaze of glory. In one year she won the Kwani Manuscript Prize for her novel Kintu, and winning the Commonwealth Prize at both the African regional level and international level for her story Let’s Tell This Story Properly.
She even made the longlist for the Etisalat Prize for Literature in its inaugural although our Noviolet Bulawayo was not to be denied at the end. She also did an amazing turn at the Writivism festival last year where she gave a keynote address to a very enthusiastic audience at the Makerere University.
It has emerged that the popular Ugandan has recently been working on her second novel and a collection of short stories, Travel is to See, Return is to Tell. The best thing about that is that she will now have a US publisher for her fans who want to get their mitts on her books. The company with Adam Z. Levy and Ashley Nelson Lev as publishers represents writers like Andrés Barba. Barba first became known in 2001 when his novel La hermana de Katia, shortlisted for the Herralde Prize, was published to considerable public and critical acclaim.
Also on the Transit roster is Carol Bensimon who was selected by Granta as one of the Best Young Brazilian Novelists in 2012. Then there is Peruvian Carlos Yushimito who was chosen as Granta as one of the Best Young Spanish Language Novelists in 2010. He was also picked as one of the best young writers in Latin America by Casa de las Americas and the Centro Onelio Cardoso de Cuba in 2008.
With such a diverse group of talents we would hope that our favourite Ugandan writer will be able to conquer the biggest English market for books there is today. Good luck to you Jennifer.
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