Reading Matters (week 012) 18 March 2025

I expect you’ll recall Louis Leakey, and the Olduvai Gorge, but does Leakey’s wife Mary ring a bell? She carved her own path to become one of the world’s most distinguished paleoanthropologists.

SA author Penny Haw has brought the gutsy, determined British archaeologist to life in her historical novel, Follow Me to Africa (Sourcebooks landmark / PRH). In her compelling book, Haw has captured Africa, betrayal, heat, a cheetah and a vulnerable, lost young woman. It’s rich in detail, drama and passion. You’ll enjoy it as much as I did.

A book about food to create happy, healthy children, that makes as much appealing sense to adults, Mindful Meals (Quivertree Publications) is by a paediatric dietician, Kath Megaw and clinical psychologist, Dr Jenny Rose.

Their book brims with practical and effective food advice on glossy, information-packed pages with gorgeous photographs and mouthwatering recipes.

I chatted too about how to get your book polished and published by the Jacana Literary Foundation – and Exclusive Books’ Homebru Pitch to Publication.

Reading Matters with Sue Grant-Marshall