On the 9th and 10th of March 2013, companies from 52 countries around the world received recognition for the quality and excellence of their work at an awards ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland. Theresa Papenfus, author of Pik Botha en sy tyd (translated by Sarah Mills as Pik Botha and his times), received the International Quality Crown Convention Award for Litera Publications. Theresa shared her speech at the event with LitNet.
Photo: Jose Prieto, President of Business Initiative Directions, Theresa Papenfus, Norman Ingle, President of the Quality Mix programme
Dear Messrs José Prieto, Julio Montero, distinguished delegates
Thank you for the great honour of having been invited to this prestigious awards function. It is also an exceptional opportunity for a South African enterprise to meet with global business leaders across a broad spectrum of industries.
Litera Publications, of which I am the owner, was founded a little more than a decade ago to publish books for the general market, focusing mainly on biographies, autobiographies, history and some selected fiction. The launch function for Litera Publications was held in a Pretoria bookshop and at the time, as the mother of boys, I was reminded of a christening party for a new arrival.
And with a name like Litera, this one was clearly a girl, demanding much quality time and attention.
Present at the function were some of the most outstanding people in South Africa in the world of publishing and book production: writers, editors, proofreaders, design artists, printers and others.
What did her mother wish for Litera on that exciting night of 23 May 2001? I quote:
"That she might grow up healthy and decent; that she might earn a good reputation and name. That she might make her unique, modest contribution in the environment where she finds herself. That she might work with love and joy. And that she might add value, and make a difference – even if only for the work of a single writer."
Twelve years later Litera finds herself on this international platform “in recognition of achievements in the realm of quality culture”. The “mother” is touched and grateful – especially to all those who assisted her from the beginning and continue to do so. Because “quality culture” can be about nothing other than the quality of the people one works with. And right from the beginning the input and support from my own family members has been of primary importance.
From the start Litera has operated from a small core, assisted by a network of highly talented, resourceful and dedicated experts on many levels: entrepreneurs and others who deliver work of exceptional quality in a business environment that is anything but comfortable. They do this despite the odds and without any fuss. Among them are the very people who were present at that “christening party” many years ago. Without their contributions, and without that of my own family, Litera would never have been here today.
The people who have made the difference are not present today, but they are represented. Their work has been noticed. They know who they are, and it is my pleasure to share this honour with all of them, for whatever contribution they have made – be it as authors, translators, editors, proofreaders, designers, critics, printers and others. Our books bear their names – on the covers, the imprint pages, the title pages. They have left their mark on our products, and their influence can be read between the lines. They help to make it happen. They help to make the difference.
This Crown Quality Award therefore belongs to all of them. It belongs to all of us. Thank you!
