Durban author wins Booksellers' Choice Award 2009

In A Different Time author, Peter Harris.

The award is judged by South African booksellers, who are given the opportunity to vote for the books that they most enjoyed reading, selling or promoting during the previous year.

Harris fought off stiff competition from fellow shortlisted authors: Dana Snyman for On the Back Roads (Tafelberg Publishers); Jeremy Gordin for Zuma: a Biography (Jonathan Ball Publishers); Zapiro's Pirates of Polokwane (Jacana Media); Max du Preez for Of Tricksters, Tyrants and Turncoats (Zebra Press); and Steve Hofmeyr's Mense Van My Asem (Zebra Press).

To death row

In A Different Time tells the story of four young South Africans who embark on a mission that will ultimately take them to death row. They are highly trained and experienced assassins and the narrative details their infiltration into the country, their operations, arrest and subsequent trial. The story is set in a South Africa gripped by unrest and political tension, when the ANC was in exile and repression at its height. The characters are linked by bizarre coincidence and tragedy in a true account narrated by their attorney.

Awards were also presented for Independent Bookseller and Independent Publisher, each recipient received R5000. This year's winners are: The Book Lounge: Independent Bookseller Award and Berlut Books cc: Independent Publisher Award.