This is part of a co-production arrangement with actor and director André Stolz, known for his roles in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Stander.
Roets, the celebrated director of, among others, the Afrikaans classic Koöperasiestories, and Stolz intend to shoot the films back to back. Roets will direct ’n Huis vir Ester and act as director of photography on Karretjiemense. Stolz will in turn direct Karretjiemense, and act as production manager on ’n Huis vir Ester.
Both directors are celebrated for being ‘hands on’ and very passionate about their projects, and will be adapting the novels for screen themselves.
Carol Campbell rose to prominence with her bestselling debut novel Karretjiemense, a novel about the nomadic donkey-cart people of the Karoo. She is known for crafting moving stories which are simultaneously poignant and hopeful. Campbell is a journalist who has worked for the Argus, the Cape Times and the Mercury. She currently works as news editor for The Daily News in Durban, where she lives with her family.
Contracts were negotiated by Aoife Lennon-Ritchie of the Lennon-Ritchie Agency.
Karretjiemense and ’n Huis vir Ester are also available in English as My Children Have Faces and Esther’s House respectively.
For more information, visit the Ransom House Struik website. Alternatively, connect with Penguin Random House via Facebook and Twitter.