21 Aug 2022

Batswana authors who have listed their works with Exclusive Books have commended the organisation for supporting local talent and exposure.

One of the authors, Botho Lejowa said, during Exclusive Book’s Botswana 20^th birthday celebration on Thursday at the store’s Airport Junction Mall outlet the store had made her achieve her dreams as she had already published two books, having registered for membership at a tender age of 13, which inspired her to become an author.

One of Lejowa’s books titled Meetings with death, a fantasy novel, is already on the shelves at the store.

“I feel honoured to see my book at the front shelves of the store.

It makes me proud.

It’s a beautiful thing to find your book at a community book store that has raised you,” she said.

She also thanked Exclusive Books staff for their patience and the love they had displayed by supporting local talent.

For her part, Dr Naledi Kgolo-Lotshwao also said she had published two Setswana books, Ithute Setswana and Ithute Kgomo, which were also on sale at the store.

She commended Exclusive Books staffers for their support,  saying she was intrigued by how they always put local authors’ books at the front. She also expressed admiration for the professionalism of their work as seen in the way they paid authors the moment their books were sold.

Former Gaborone City mayor, Father Maphongo an avid reader, said Exclusive Books helped people to travel without moving.

He also said reading and writing had made him a better person.

The former mayor also said since interacting with Exclusive Books in 2002 they had introduced new applications,  built especially for book lovers and that had grown the book readers community in Botswana.

Maphongo said Exclusive Books had been bringing latest books an information about upcoming events, as such improving local literature

Exclusive Books, he said, had a rich history of a colourful past of peaceful protest as well as fascinating stories. He also said Exclusive Books understood their clientele and staff, as they were always welcoming and helpful.

Exclusive Books general manager from South Africa, Batya Bricker said she was honoured to meet people who made the bookstore what it had become in 20 years.

She also said they had created a powerful book community in Botswana and was thankful for that.

On another point, Bricker also said they were determined to always support local talent and they always had Batswana authors book in stock.

The general manager also encouraged people to read as it made a person more knowledgeable and strengthened one’s writing skills, among others.

She said Exclusive Books had books from different sections such as business, spiritual, motivation, children books, fiction, and many more.

She thanked Exclusive Books staff for their dedication in the past 20 years.

Loyal customers were rewarded with books and vouchers.

Exclusive Books is one of South Africa’s largest book-selling chains with stores throughout South Africa.

Gaborone, Botswana and Windhoek, Namibia also have one store each. ENDS