By Frederick Philander WINDHOEK The Afrikaans version of a novel, Reconciliation, that was last year published exclusively in English as a serial in New Era, has been short-listed in the category for debut-writers for the annual Sanlam/Tafelberg literature novel competition in Cape Town. Die Kierieklapper Aan- spraak, as the novel is known in Afrikaans, will compete with seven other entries next Tuesday at a gala evening in Cape Town, it was announced in a press release by Tafelberg. The judges of the literature competition were well-known South African master novelist AndrÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚© P. Brink, academic Jakes Gerwel, and Louise Viljoen. Reconciliation, written by Valerie Goliath, the oldest sister of this reporter, was serialized in 44 episodes in Art/Life in 2006 and proved to be very popular with New Era readers. In short, the story deals with the family tree of the Philander clan under the effect of the repressive apartheid laws for Coloureds at Beaufort West in the Karoo in South Africa. “I feel very proud that the novel dealing with my family has reached the short list, and I hope it does well next Tuesday. Also a great thank you for Art/Life that has seen merit in the story to publish it as a first-time effort,” said Goliath telephonically from her home in Beaufort West this week. The six other entries competing for the N$40ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 prize money and the opportunity for the winning works to be published by Tafelberg Publishers, are: ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚· AdÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚³ni (Piet Steyn) ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚· Die brommervoerders (Ben Viljoen) ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚· Die jakkalssomer (Dirk Jordaan) ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚· Kokkedore (Pieter Pretorius) ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚· Lag vir die waarheid (Annemari Coetser) ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚· Suiderkruis: ‘n Vrystaat-novelle (MornÃÆ’Æ‘Æ‘ÃÆ”šÃ‚© Malan). Art/Life has been offering writing opportunities for debut short-story- and novel-writers in Namibia and South Africa since its inception more than three years ago, and will continue to do so.