Karin Schimke is a widely published journalist and columnist, and the Cape Times books editor. She also works as a writing tutor and mentor, an author of non-fiction � including the best-selling Fabulously Forty and Beyond, co-written with Margie Orford - of children�s books and of short stories. She edited Open, an anthology of erotic short stories written by some of South Africa�s best known women writers. Her poetry has appeared in South Africa Writing, New Contrast, New Coin and Carapace magazines. Bare and Breaking is her first collection of poems.