Kwela Book Chat: Mermaid Fillet by Mia Arderne

NB Publishers

Mermaid Fillet by Mia Arderne was one of the hottest debut novels to hit the South African literary scene in 2020. Stevlyn Vermeulen, editor at Kwela Books, sat down with her to hear more about her journey towards being a published writer, the things that inspired the book and her writing process. More about Mermaid Fillet: In an alternative Cape Town the only person ever to be born wearing Nike Jordans, is tasked with finding a dead Tamagotchi. The device was last seen in the clutches of eight-year-old Kaylin Arendse, when she and her family were murdered in a gang-related hit. Now our Jordan-wearer must track down the device for the new head of a crime family – or face an untimely ending. Mermaid Fillet is an enthralling afro-surrealist novel about the fringes of Cape Town society and the people who govern that world. Dark and fantastical experiences are intricately woven into this network of wannabe gangsters and the trade of highly coveted mermaid tails for R 4 000/kg. A Cape Town you know, and you don’t know; where women are trying to redefine their space in society; where a storm rages red when female bodies are abused. This is a noir crime caper. “Mermaid Fillet is a must-read – it is funny, it is haunting, and it celebrates the complexity of women, especially those living in Cape Town.” – Daily Maverick You can find this novel wherever good books are sold. Follow @mermaidfillet on Instagram and Facebook for rich content. Music: "Hip Hop Music Instrumental 1" by Ketsa (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/Emotive_Music_Film_and_Radio/Hip_Hop_Instrumental_1)