Lauri Kubuitsile
is Motswana writer living in the village of Mahalapye in Botswana. Unlike many
of her contemporaries, she writes across numerous genres with books published
for early readers, children, teens and adults.
She writes genre fiction
(romance and detective, primarily) as well as literary fiction. Her short
stories and essays have been published around the world and have appeared in,
among others:Mslexia, Wasafari, New
Internationalist,Drum Magazine, Jungle Jim and The Australian School Magazine. She has also co-written two
television series for Botswana Television: Morwalela and Re BinaMmogo (second
season).
Kubuitsile is
the first Motswana (to date the only) to
have been shortlisted for the Caine Prizewith her story In the Spirit of McPhineasLata(now included in the short story
collection In the Spirit of McPhineasLata and Other Stories, all stories
set in Botswana). Among her many writing prizes, she has twice won the Pan
African prize for children’s writing, The Golden Baobab Prize, and the Botswerere
Prize for Creative Writing awarded by Botswana’s Ministry of Youth, Sport and
Culture. Her books are read in schools in Botswana and South Africa.
In Toni Stuart’s
review of In the Spirit of McPhineasLata and Other Stories appearing in
the Cape Times in February 2013, she
says about Kubuitsile’s writing:
“These
are tales of tragic and triumphant circumstances woven into the landscape; and
they sit easily between folklore and urban legend. Her storytelling is rich in its simplicity
and reminiscent of the telling that is engaged in folk tales. Kubuitsile’s
strength lies in her ability to highlight ordinary human moments. She zooms in
on them with care and humour, turning the seemingly ordinary inside out to
reveal the magic that lies within.”
Kubuitsile’s
next book, a historical novel about the genocide of the Herero people, will be
coming out in May 2016. It is titled The Scattering and is published by
Umuzi (Penguin Random House South Africa).
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PUBLISHED BOOKS
The Fatal Payout (2005, Macmillan) detective
fiction, Kate Gomolemo Mystery Series
Murder For Profit (2008, Pentagon), detective
fiction, Kate Gomolemo Mystery Series
Mmele and the Magic Bones( 2009, Pentagon) children's
fiction
Three Collections of Short Stories for Kids: NoOne is
Alone, The Ram, and He Brings a Message(2009, Pentagon) co-written
with Wame Molefhe and
BontekanyeBotumile
Lorato and the
Wire Car(2009,
Vivlia), children’s fiction
Birthday Wishes
and other Stories(2009,
Vivlia) children’sshort stories
Kwaito Love (2010, Kwela/Sapphire)
romance novella
Can He Be the One? (2010, Kwela/Sapphire)
romance novella
The Curse of the Gold Coins (2010, Vivlia) children’s historical/fantasyfiction
Anything for Money (2010, Vivlia) detective
novella, Kate Gomolemo Mystery Series
Signed, Hopelessly in Love (2011, Tafelberg) young
adult fiction
Mr Not Quite Good Enough (2011, Kwela/Sapphire)
romance novella
In the Spirit of McPhineasLata and Other Stories(2011, HopeRoad
London/Hands-on Books) short story collection
Love in the
Shadows(2012, Kwela/Sapphire)
romance novella
Elephants- (2012, Macmillan UK) early
reader
The Second Worst Thing- (2012, Oxford University
Press) children’s fiction
Signed, The Secret Keeper- (2013, Diamond Educational
Publishers), young adult fiction
Thato Lekoko: Superhero- (2015 (Dec), Oxford University Press) children’s
fiction,
For Today, For Tomorrow; Oh Bella!;Tefo and the Lucky
Football Boots; The Night Sky Above, Animal Homes- (2016,Cambridge University
Press) early readers (five books)
The Scattering(May 2016, Umuzi/Penguin
Random House South Africa) historical fiction,
