‘Enter’ saw the light of day almost a year earlier but when the Book Lounge declined to include the book in their launch programme the books remained in their boxes under the bench in the lounge for close on a year.

What finally prodded me into action was the realisation that unless I held the launch before the imminent permanent departure from Cape Town of my eldest son (Matthew our first-born) and his family I would have difficulty ever finding another opportunity to launch the book. But where?

Fortunately Joshua (our second-born) and Rowena Quinan (his spouse) came to the rescue and offered their beautiful home in Camps Bay, with an almost 360 degree view of the 12 apostles and the Atlantic ocean.

Frantic

Sasha (Matt’s spouse) took on the task of managing the whole process in my absence – as I live in Suurbraak, and my good friend Malcolm Doyle-Davidson (Club African Day wines) arranged a generous sponsorship of some excellent reds and whites courtesy of Eugene Kinghorn of Saxenburg wine estate. The presenters (see below) all agreed to help launch the book, the invitations went out and those who accepted arrived.

Launch

Lia met and registered the guests at the door. Josh and Rowena’s house started filling up. Josh gathered everyone around for the inputs which Oscar O’Ryan, when approached at the very last moment, kindly agreed to video:

• Penny Busetto read an introduction to the book: ‘Entering the Void’, written by Paul Ashton who couldn’t attend
• Ken Barris offered a crit of the book
• Josh tended the apologies of Louis de Villiers, who had been a reader during the editing phase, and who couldn’t attend
• Joshua Mentz, a reader during the editing phase, gave his take on the book
• Matthew Mentz, a reader during the editing phase, gave his take on the book
• Llewellyn Alberts, quoted in chapter eight of the book, played four of his compositions

Oscar’s footage has been edited and the Afrikaans translated into English and uploaded to YouTube. Additionally each speech was transcribed and summarised. To access the videos, transcriptions and summaries please click here.

Below are pics of their presentations (to view the full-sized image click on any image and use the arrow keys left or right. To escape click ‘x’ top left or hit your ‘Esc’ key):

Penny reading from Paul Ashton’s introduction to the book: “Many of us live in a state of disconnection from our whole selves ” | photo credit: Ken Barris

Ken Barris: “… so Hennie I think you also have to look into the heart of lightness as well as the heart of darkness.” | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

Joshua Mentz: ” …there’s a narrative in the book of where we as a society are in association with our psyches” | photo credit: Ken Barris

Matthew Mentz: “The book demands you enter.” | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

“Jesus kom weer … ” (‘Jesus is coming again’) – Lucky Lew (also known as Llewellyn Alberts) playing one of his songs at the launch of ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Ken Barris

Each presentation built on its predecessor. In the audience: a sense of solemnity and of care and love were apparent see below (to view the full-sized image click on any image and use the arrow keys left or right. To escape click ‘x’ top left or hit your ‘Esc’ key):

Oscar O’Ryan being photographed for a change. To his left is Jaywant Parbhoo and to his: Riaan Eyssen (partly obscured) and Inez Wales

Alan Schmidt and Charl de Villers (partly obscured in the background) in pensive moods during one of the presentations | photo credit: Ken Barris

A strikingly sad photo of Norval Geldenhuys looking at the camera. Also in the photo are Carel Trichardt, Petru Wessels, Malcolm Doyle-Davidson and Carin Geldehuys

John van der Hoeven and Desiree Bick, each in his or her own space during one of the presentations | photo credit: Ken Barris

Sasha Mentz-Lagrange capturing moments during one of the presentations | photo credit: Ken Barris

Rapt attention during one of the presentations: Carel Trichardt (partly obscured), Petru Wessels, Malcolm Doyle-Davidson, Norval Geldenhuys, Carol Smith (slightly obscured) and Doret Ferreira (slightly obscured)

Hendrik Mentz enjoying a seraphic moment during the launch of his book, ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Ken Barris

Rapt attention during one of the presentations: Tony Carr, Johan van Papendorp and Jennifer van Papendorp | photo credit: Ken Barris

Rapt attention during one of the presentations: Ighsaan Francis | photo credit: Ken Barris

Redewan Larney captures one of the presentations| photo credit Ken Barris

Captured at the end of a presentation are Ingrid Alberts and Louise Cokayne | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Rapt attention during one of the presentations: Paddy Attwell, Mark Mentz and Gregor Leigh | photo credit: Ken Barris

Rapt attention during one of the presentations: Judith Whiteing | photo credit: Ken Barris

Rapt attention during oine of the presentations: Joshua Mentz, Cheryl Hewson, Ken Barris, Anri Barris, Carel Trichardt, Petru Wessels and in the foreground Ighsaan Francis (out of focus)

After the presentations Malcolm plied everyone (our Muslim brethren, Ighsaan and Redewan, and our teetotallers excluded!!!) with wine, Rowena passed around the snacks and helped Sasha invoice copies of the book. I signed.

Below are pics of some of those present  (to view the full-sized image click on any image and use the arrow keys left or right. To escape click ‘x’ top left or hit your ‘Esc’ key):

Joshua Mentz, “Thanks for the awesome sideshows” (Eva Mentz) | photo credit: Ken Barris

The book’s editor, Stefanie Swanepoel talking to Janice Mentz. Matthew Metnz is looking on | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

Joshua Mentz, “Thanks for the awesome sideshows” (Enzo Mentz) | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Ingrid Alberts at the launch of ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Hendrik Mentz signing a copy of ‘Enter’ purchased by Louise Coetzer and Oscar O’Ryan | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Lucky Lew (AKA Llewellyn Alberts) at the launch of ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Ken Barris, Jo-Anne Duggan and Sean Duggan | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

The men enjoying themselves: Joshua Mentz, Gregor Leigh and Ken Barris, while the women work: Lia Mentz ‘manning’ the registration table | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

Good times: Lungi Ngondo, Ama Ngondo and Wally Ngondo at the launch of ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Joshua Mentz, “Thanks for the awesome sideshows” (Eva Mentz) | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Herschel Raysman showing Laura Raysman and Janice Mentz how his phone works | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

Hendrik signing a copy of ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Hendrik Mentz signing a copy of his indie-published book, ‘Enter’ | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Joshua Mentz, “Thanks for the awesome sideshows” (Eva Mentz) | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Perhaps an example of what Ken Barris in his talk referred to as ‘transgenerational something’: Iñaki Mentz with his grandma: Janice Mentz | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

Old friends meet again: Anri Barris, Laura Raysman, Janice Mentz and Herschel Raysman | photo credit: Ken Barris

Rowena Quinan, Ms Precision IT Consulting, and the mommy of the house | photo credit: Ken Barris

Book signing: Louise Coetzer, Jaywant Parbhoo and Redewan Larney | photo credit: Oscar O’Ryan

Helping Hennie launch his book, ‘Enter’: Jenny van Papendorp, Ighsaan Francis, Redewan Larney and Jaywant Parbhoo | photo credit: Tony Carr shooting with film (non-digital)

Reflections

The book was very much a team effort. I have already introduced the readers above (Fred, Josh, Louis, Matt) who were merciless during the editing stage (you can find Matt’s contact details below) . Who also worked hard during this phase was Stefanie Swanepoel (you can find her contact details below) who served as editor and proofreader. Its professional feel are all thanks to Doret Ferreira (contact details below), while Dustan Franks helped create the supporting website (details below).

I’ve already mentioned how the evening would not have been as huge a success that it was without such a beautiful venue (Rowena and Joshua), launch manager (Sasha), reception (Lia), Oscar agreeing at the very last moment to capture video footage of the proceedings (find his contact details below), a warm yet crisp and firm anchor man (Josh), a strong team of presenters (Penny, Ken, Josh, Matt and Llewellyn), something I would never have thought of: a sound system (Llewellyn – find his contact details below), volunteer photographers (Oscar, Ken, and Tony Carr who went all retro, non-digital, shooting with film), a wine part-sponsorship organised by Malcolm (to order wine see his contact details below) to bring down costs.

‘Enter’ has now officially been launched thus confirming that I am blessed to be related to and friends of what must be the some of the most interesting, generous, warm, loving and kindest people in this world, each of whom I thank humbly for kindness and support in what for me was an extremely difficult birth.

Stop press

Enter has gone on to win a South African Independent Publishing Award in the philosophy category. My thanks to Ken who alerted me to the award by putting me in contact with Darryl Earl David of UKN (University of KwaZulu-Natal) who manages the awards. Darryl’s contact details are below if you want to be put on his festival mailing list or have an indie-book in the wings.

Supporting one another

I believe we should support one another in the same way I was supported and so below I’ve listed the contact details of those who helped me – in case you ever need a related service:

• Anything requiring handwork, skill and/or creativity (metalwork, woodwork, electronics, roofing): Llewellyn Alberts | Salsa Sound, salsasound@gmail.com or 076 848 9560
• Boutique website design: Rowena Quinan | Precision IT consulting
• Dance and the creative arts: Louise Coetzer and Oscar O’Ryan | Darkroom Contemporary, louise@darkroomcontemporary.com & oscar@darkroomcontemporary.com
• Dance and the creative arts (performance and creative arts as tools for healing and transformation): Jennifer van Papendorp | Indoni Dance, Arts and Leadership Academy – papendorp@telkomsa.net, 083 55 66 054
• Editing and proofreading: Stefanie Swanepoel | stefanieswanepoel@yahoo.co.uk
• Fine wines (large carefully selected range, reasonably priced and delivered to your door): Malcolm Doyle-Davidson | African Day Wine Club, malcolm@clubafricanday.com or 082 363 9361
• Graphic design (illustrator and publication design, including brand identity and information graphics): Doret Ferreira | dotted line design
• Music: Llewellyn Alberts | salsasound@gmail.com or 076 848 9560
• Photography: Oscar O’Ryan | Oscar O’Ryan or Darkroom Contemporary  – oscar@darkroomcontemporary.com
• Research (sustainable development & food systems) & Programme Evaluation: Sasha Lagrange-Mentz | sasha.lagrange@gmail.com
• Sound: Llewellyn Alberts | Salsa Sound – salsasound@gmail.com or 076 848 9560
• South African Independent Publishing Awards and literary festivals: Darryl Earl David: | davidd@ukzn.ac.za
• Sustainable livelihoods (agroecology as in autonomous and ecological household and farming systems): Matthew Mentz NicheUnity
• Translation English-French and French-English: Sasha Lagrange-Mentz | sasha.lagrange@gmail.com
• Videography: Oscar O’Ryan | Oscar O’Ryan or oscar@darkroomcontemporary.com
• WordPress/website design (freelance developer with more than 10 years experience in web development & online marketing. Focuses on high quality web development solutions and specialises in front end development, WordPress development and performance optimisation): Dustan Franks | WordPress Ninja