I’ve written a novel. (Or at least my fiction writing alter ego, Xander Beattie, has.) It’s a punchy political thriller called The President.

Fingers crossed the U.S. immigration authorities won’t mistakenly think it’s about Trump… I’m not particularly keen on an all-expenses-paid stay in an El Salvadoran concentration camp.

HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE A PRESIDENT PORNED…

A brief introduction

When a salacious fictional story about the nation’s president is published, the ruling party and its supporters are enraged. As pressure grows for the story to be erased, its young author flees into hiding, carrying with him an explosive secret — and plans for revenge.

Deftly plotted and gorgeously told, The President is a nail-biting exploration of bigoted backlash against provocative art. While set in South Africa in 2012, the novel is painfully relevant to our contemporary moment, where — in too many places around the world — powerful demagogues scapegoat the marginalised, imperil human rights and brutally suppress artistic expression.

LIMITED EDITION

A book and an art print.

Only 150 copies of the first edition of The President are available for purchase. They’re being printed and hand-bound by Pulp Paperworks in Johannesburg. The book was designed by my Tongues collaborator — Catarina Pereira of Voodoo Voodoo studio in Berlin.

Each copy of The President comes with a fine art print by the acclaimed (infamous?!) South African artist Brett Murray entitled All Dressed Up and Nowhere to Go. It’s a beaut.

A MATTER OF PRIDE

Beautiful, provocative — and for a darn good cause.

Proceeds from the sale of the book and art print (which will jointly be on sale for R650 in South Africa) are going to the Pride Shelter Trust. Based in Cape Town, the Pride Shelter is the first formal haven in Africa providing short-term accommodation to LGBTQI+ folks during crisis periods.

GET YOUR HANDS ON THE PRESIDENT!

Pick your Ruling Party…

The book and art print will initially be available for purchase at our South African launches. You’re invited — kom kuier!

CAPE TOWN

Wednesday, 30 April 2025 | 18.00-19.30

Come meet the author, the artist and stick around for cupcakes, a short reading and Q&A chaired by Sinazo Chiya.

Everard Read Cape Town
3 Portswood Road
V&A Waterfront

JOHANNESBURG

Monday, 5 May 2025 | 15.00-16.15

There’ll be tapas! And a short reading. And possibly a brief Q&A.

Pulp Paperworks
Victoria Yards
Unit 8G1, 16 Viljoen Street
Lorentzville

THE DEPT. OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

A globetrotting President

Following the South African launches, the book and print will be available for purchase online in South Africa from our friends at PULP Paperworks.

Assuming WWIII doesn’t break out between now and mid-May, they’ll also be sold in Europe and the United States in due course. More on that soon 😎