Keeping Secrets by Kiru Taye

First off,

KA-POW!

Is that not a smoking hot cover?

Yup. Yes. Affirmative.

Well then, let me tell you, Kiru Taye did justice to this smoking hot cover, 'cos the book was also *cough cough* smoking hot.

Oh boy! She did not pull her punches, and just in case you think it's all about...hotness and hot people doing hot things to each other, it's not. It's about Ebony and Felix who have just gotten married, but not for love, nope, for business. He needs to get the board of his family's financial empire off his back, and she needs to get past the scandal and shame of a broken engagement. Unfortunately, Felix gets into a car accident ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT, after a big fight with his bride and when he wakes up from his coma, six months later, he doesn't remember her, he doesn't remember being married but he likes what he sees and wants to have a real marriage with his wife.

Ghen Ghen!

What does his wife have to say about this? Read the book and find out. For now, say hello to Kiru Taye.

Who is Kiru Taye?
Thank you for having me on your blog, Timendu. So who am I?
Well, I'm an author of multicultural romances, entrepreneur of a small run-from-home business, wife to a generous man, mother to 3 wonderful kids, sister to 4 sometimes hilarious siblings, daughter to 2 patient parents and hopefully friend to a few beautiful souls. Okay, I ran out of labels. LOL

Why do you write?I write because there are characters in my head whose stories need to be told. If I don't write their stories they'll drive me mad. It's a compulsion. LOL.
 
When did you start writing?
I have to confess I'm new to writing. I wrote my first full-length story in 2010. In contrast, I've been reading all my life, so I guess I've been preparing to be a writer all my life. J

Why romance?
The simple answer is because I love romance novels. It's a love affair that started when I was a teenager and read my first Mills and Boon. J　

Why steamy romance?
I'm an adult. I write for adults. I enjoy steamy stories. So I write steamy stories. J Sex is a part of everyday adult life. As adults, we should embrace it and not be embarrassed by it. So why not?

When you started this, did you ever think, I'm going to be The Queen of Nigerian Erotica?Hahahaha...Queen of Nigerian Erotica. I love it. But where is my crown, and when was the coronation? LOL. Seriously though, when I started writing I was just hoping Nigerian/African women would learn to embrace their sexuality and enjoy their interactions with their partners. My message was simple—sex can be pleasurable and not just functional with the right, attentive partner. If this makes me the Queen of Nigerian Erotica, then I'll gladly accept the crown. J

Was it always romance or did you start in another genre?
I love reading romance novels but I read other genres too. With writing, for now, I'm only writing romances. One day I will write other genres, perhaps an epic fantasy or thriller, under a different pen name.

Why swing between sub-genres: historical, contemporary, and paranormal?
I think by the time I'm done, I'll probably have a story under every romance sub-category there is. LOL.
I really have no control over which eras the characters belong to. They simple make an appearance in my mind and I start writing their stories. As I said earlier, my writing is a compulsion driven by the characters. The plots unravel as I write them.

So far, you've published 10 books and contributed to 2 anthologies, what's the journey been like?
So far, so good. I've been very privileged to work with some wonderful authors, editors and publishers in my journey so far. I'm grateful to God for giving me the opportunities I've had.
Did you have help along the way - writing coach, mentors?
Yes, I've had great help from members of my writing groups, The Nuthouse Scribblers and also Romance Writers of West Africa.
Also, my editors have been Godsend. They have taught me so much.

What's the best piece of advice you received as a writer?Read widely – If you want to be a great author, you have to learn to read. Personally, I can't understand how anyone can call themselves a writer if they don't read.

What advice would you give to new writers?Don't take criticism to heart. Learn from it. Revise. Revise. Revise.

If you could do it over, what would you do differently?I don't have any regrets. So I won't change anything from my past.

What's your writing ritual?I don't have a writing routine as such. But here is what I do sometimes.
In the mornings, do the school run. Settle the baby. Write for an hour or two. Do some chores. Blog/Social media. Pick kids from school. Evening chores. More social media or writing later at night.

What's your favourite thing about writing?Creating stories people love. Getting feedback from readers who love my books.

What's your least favourite thing about writing?Editing. LOL

What do you do for fun?I love travelling to new places. I also love dancing and hanging out with friends and family.

What's your favourite dish?You know, I love food. A little too much, perhaps. At the moment I have a thing for sushi. But my favourite all time food has to be Giant fresh water snails and Ugba, both Nigerian delicacies.

Image Source: Tupelo&Green

What's your favourite drink?Mojito

What's your favourite snack?Roasted cashew nuts

What's your go-to movie/book to relax?Considering I have over 1000 ebooks on my kindle app, getting time to just relax with any of them would be great. J
These days we watch movies as a family so it has to be something the kids can watch too. But the kids and I love superhero movies. Avengers Assemble is a favourite in our house. Otherwise, it's something from the Nollywood Movies channel.

What kind of music do you listen to?
Depending on my mood, I can listen to anything from classical to rock, from Afrobeats to soul. You name it and I'll probably listen to it, if I'm in the mood for it.

Which would you prefer - a quiet evening with friends or a night out on the town? Why?I could do with a night out on the town. But most of the time, it's a quiet evening with friends.

Of all your books, do you have a favourite? Why?You can't ask me that. I love all my books.
It's like asking me which of my three kids is my favourite. J

What inspired 'Keeping Secrets'?Keeping Secrets is partly inspired by the life of one of my best friends. Unfortunately, she has passed on but the story is dedicated to her.

It's the first book of The Essien Trilogy so when can we expect the other two?The schedule for The Essien Trilogy is as follows
Keeping Secrets – out May 2014
Making Scandal – out Sept 2014
Riding Rebel – out Dec 2014

I can't wait!!!



Keeping Secrets by Kiru Taye
Contemporary Romance
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BOOK BLURB
Have you ever loved someone and didn’t even know it? That’s the dilemma facing Felix Essien when he wakes from a coma to find he is married to the most beautiful and sensual woman he’s ever known. He cannot remember her or their wedding; he who had sworn never to get married or to give his heart to another. Yet, he feels an intense bond with her that he intends to explore fully. Ebony can’t believe her good fortune when her paper husband wakes not remembering the temporary marriage arrangement with no intimacies he’d proposed, and is now the adoring husband she’s always dreamt of. She plans to make the most of the passion blossoming between them. However, would he still feel that way when he regains his memory and realises she’s been keeping secrets and their marriage is not what he thinks it is?

 

Top Ten Facts About The Main Characters

 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | All Romance | Smashwords | 

Coming to Barnes & Noble soon

A lover of books as a teenager, Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket with a torch at night. These days, with a young family to take care of, she's still sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.
During the day though, she transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual, atmospheric romance stories with passionate characters.
When she’s not writing or reading, she'd hanging out with family and friends or travelling. Born in Nigeria, she currently lives in the UK with husband and children.

You reach her via her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+ or Pinterest

Follow her blog for latest news and giveaways:
http://kirutayewrites.blogspot.com

Read book excerpts and free short stories on her website:
http://www.kirutaye.com

Link to her Amazon author page

To celebrate the release of Keeping Secrets, Kiru is giving away a goodie pack which includes $20 Amazon gift card, signed paperback of An Engagement Challenge, Keeping Secrets t-shirt and face cap. Leave me a comment to stand a chance of winning and complete the rafflecopter to enter the contest.

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Delightfully Inconsistent

Show of hands if that describes you in any way, form or manner.

*raises hand and waves*

Yup, I thought so. I'm a card carrying member of that merry band, along with Procrastinators Anonymous. I'm also the mother of The Goo, who when she says the magic word, "@*%"x@" transforms into Super Goo, The Nocturnal Terror.

(PS. The Nocturnal Terror is only one of her many aliases)

Anyway, I'm part of this Blog Tour, invited by my good friend and fellow mummy-writer, Sifa Asani Gowon - www.sifushka.blogspot.com . The deal is she mentioned me on her blog (last Monday) and answered some questions, and then (This Monday) I mention her and three other bloggers, and answer some questions.

It's like a chain letter for blogs, men, dude!

(Does it show that I am sleep deprived?)

So first, the questions:

1. What am I working on?
I am working on (putting the finishing touches on) Anthology 2. It's a collection of stories by female Nigerian writers invited by yours truly to give us Nigerian happy endings. Why happy endings? I'm glad you asked - 'cos the world is depressing as it is. I would like to read something that gives me hope, that tells me it's okay to dream a way out of this pit we've dug ourselves into (talking to you, Nigerians!). So yeah. We're basically done, and in a couple of weeks, I'll be sending it to the publisher, and then going to pray :D

2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I don't know. Happy endings, I suppose.
(That makes no sense)
I don't know - I haven't really decided on a genre of choice, so I can't say. Feel free to call me Madam Gender-Bender.
(Wait. What?)

3. Why do I write what I do?
Ah!
I like to make people feel. If I can tug at an emotion then I'm happy. Oddly enough, writing happy endings is not exactly easy. (It's not easy, Period!) But it's worth it.

4. How does my writing process work?
That's a funny question.
Hmm. Well, first my internal discipline lever is broken so yeah...but external pressure (I'm ashamed to say) like deadlines are great. That's why the anthologies plan for the year 2014 is so great for me. But my process specifically - I ignore everything else - The Goo, Papa Goo, Meals, Housework and so on - and write. If it's good, yay! If it's not delete, and try again. Later...

So that's me (gosh, I'm entertaining). Next week, you'll hear from:

Kiah, who reads and writes, and likes to eat fried plantain, every day, all day.
www.kiahsscript.com

Pamela Agboga, who writes poems, playlets, short stories and articles.  She recently published her first novel, Weekends are For Loving, and is currently working on a movie script with a friend. She loves reading novels, and watching movies as much as writing, maybe even more, and hopes to beat her writing deadlines this year...so far so good.
www.chowilson.wordpress.com

Xavier Ighorodje, who is a writer of weird fiction, and has not seen it fit to supply his photograph or a bio. So hopefully, this will do (and shame him a little. Muah ha ha!)
www.mrxavierighorodje.wordpress.com

Author Spotlight: Nana Prah

So...in lieu of my apologies for dropping off the map (again), I'll just give you my Good News (which is also your Good News :D). You remember I said I wanted to work on 4 anthologies this year. Well, anthology one has been accepted by a certain publisher (no names. let's not jinx it), so yay!

But the reason I'm out of hibernation is to shine a spotlight (that was cheesy) on Ghanian romance author, Nana Prah.

Why? You ask. Well, as you know I love a good love story and so when I got a chance to read, and review Nana Prah's Midwife to Destiny. I jumped at it (heck yeah!).

But first, let's ask her a few questions, shall we...

Who is Nana Prah?
As a child we used to sing a jump rope song that went: “She’s the best in the west, cause she rocks so fresh.” Yup that’s me.

Why write romance?
For the same reason I read it. The Happily Ever After. It’s my favorite part.

What's the most romantic thing that ever happened to you?
Receiving a delivery of flowers along with this cute karate monkey that said “Heeyaaa” when you squeezed it. That was the best Valentine's day ever.

Do you think African men can be romantic?
They can be, but they aren’t. Romance takes time and finesse. Most don’t think it’s important to invest in.

Where would you say was the most romantic place in Ghana?
Any of the beaches. Sitting with someone as you watch the awesomeness of the ocean is romantic. Even better if you add a kiss or two.

You've been writing since you were in the eighth grade (according to your blog), but when did you decide you were going to get published and why?
Right out of nursing school I decided to chronicle my experiences as a new nurse. I wanted to show the world what a fresh nurse had to deal with. It ended up being a stress reliever for me, but I never submitted it to get published.

Did you have help along the way - writing coach, mentors?
I’d consider my friend, Tanya, a coach of sorts. After all she had a degree in English. That had to count for something. Now that I am published my beta readers and author friends have taken that role.

What do you do for fun?
I love to read. Hanging out with my friends always makes me happy.

What's your go-to movie to relax?
The Lake House with Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. I adore that movie. It’s a romance with a bit of time shifting in it.

Which would you prefer - a quiet evening with friends, or a night out on the town? Why?
It depends on my mood and my friends. I enjoy staying in and chatting, but I do like to get my groove on every once in a while.

What's your favourite dish?
Pizza. The cheesier the better.

What's your favourite drink?
Coke. I could drink it by the gallon, but I don’t.

What's your favourite snack?
I actually wrote chocolate as my favourite dish until I saw this question.

What's your writing ritual?
I write in the evening. I sit in front of my computer and type away. Sometime only a few words come out, others days I have to force myself to stop and go to sleep. I don’t do anything special other than let the words flow.

What inspired Midwife to Destiny?
The desire to enter the Afro Romance Competition a couple of years ago. One of the requirements was that the romance had to be set in Africa. Since I didn’t have one written I set to work.

One review likened it to 'Grey's Anatomy in Africa'? Did that ever cross your mind?
Not at all, but I thought it was brilliant when I read the review. I wrote a post comparing the two works and discovered that yes, Midwife to Destiny can be considered the Grey’s Anatomy in Africa.

Does Destiny Series imply that readers should expect more books in this line? When and will there be any similarities?
The next book, Destiny Mine, is on the editing table. It features Esi, Ora’s sassy cousin and Adam, Jason’s arrogant womanizing best friend. When you read Midwife to Destiny you’ll know why Destiny Mine had me in stitches when I wrote it. I can’t wait to share.

What's your favourite thing about writing?
Expressing my ideas in a way that makes sense and entertains.

What's your least favourite thing about writing?
Editing. I’ve learned the hard way that when you’re doing it correctly, it’s a whole lot of stress.

What's the best piece of advice you got as a writer?
Get a beta reader. I don’t know what I did without them. Oh yes, without them I got rejection letters. They make my work so much better long before submitting it to publishers.

Any words of advice for new writers?
If you’re interested in writing, then write. Nothing is stopping you except yourself and your own insecurities. Live in love not fear, and everything will turn out well.

Ain't she a doll... Check out the blurb and excerpt below, and Get Your Copy Now!

Midwife to Destiny by Nana Prah
Destiny Series, Book 1
Contemporary Romance, Multicultural

BLURB

Ghanian nurse Aurora ‘Ora’ Aikins never expected to find the love of her life while on vacation in South Africa. Engaged to another and believing that love has no place in her life, she returns to Ghana, and puts duty and honor first.
Three years later, Dr. Jason Lartey still can’t get Ora out of his mind or his heart. After learning she never married, he takes a risk and moves to Ghana hoping to rekindle what they started. His sudden appearance in Ora’s Emergency Department sends sparks flying all over again.
They're in the same country, working in the same hospital, and together but distance creeps between them. Can they make their destined love one for the ages?  

 

Buy Links

Amazon | Decadent |ARe Barnes and Noble| Smashwords 

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The pain pulsing through Aurora ‘Ora’ Aikins’ injured wrist transitioned into a delicious, unfamiliar tingle when Dr. Lartey touched it.

"It's just my luck to come on vacation and get hurt,” she huffed in frustration as she forced herself to not sigh at the pleasure his gentle probing touch evoked.

"You were very lucky. The x-ray shows your wrist isn’t broken, but you sustained a very bad sprain so you have to be careful with it,” he said, sounding all business-like.
Each time he touched her wrist, her stomach twisted and her awareness of him as a man, with the need to get to know him better, intensified. These sensations unnerved her but the gorgeous man she had the privilege of calling her doctor seemed unaffected.
His confident stride had drawn her attention when he’d entered the consulting room. His spicy, with a citrusy undertone, cologne filled the sterile hospital air, making her nostrils flare to take in more of his unique scent. Deep brown eyes had perused her chart as she’d taken in his short-cropped hair, high cheekbones, and thick lips that brought kissing into her mind. Dark smooth skin rivalled the richness of high quality chocolate.
Ora scanned the emergency room cubicle, which had become smaller with the doctor’s broad-shouldered, towering stature, for cameras. Could she be on a reality TV show? Starring in one had never been a life objective, but the crew might have caught her unaware. No visible cameras, but those producers were sneaky and could place one inside a stethoscope.


Nana Prah was born in Ghana, West Africa, raised in the US and currently resides in Ghana where she loves her job as a writer and nurse educator. She has been writing since she can remember (in her journal) and has been an avid reader of romance novels since the eighth grade. She has finally been able to utilize the years and years of inadvertent research into writing her own romance novels where love always conquers all.


Blog: www.nanaprah.blogspot.com
Twitter: @NanaPrah
Facebook:Nana Prah,

Author
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It's been a while

Holla!

Happy 53rd Independence Day, Nigerians!

What do we have to be happy about? Life and Hope. At all, at all, na winch!

Anyway, this is what I've been up to:

2013 Reading Challenge

Timendu has
read 225 books toward her goal of 300 books.

hide

225 of 300 (75%)

view books

This is what I'm reading now:

Timendu's bookshelf: currently-reading

Surprised by Joy

by C.S. Lewis

tagged:
currently-reading

Anna Karenina

by Leo Tolstoy

tagged:
currently-reading

Amplified Bible

by Anonymous

tagged:
currently-reading

The Message Remix

by Anonymous

tagged:
currently-reading

On Black Sisters Street: A Novel

by Chika Unigwe

tagged:
currently-reading

And this is my current playlist:
Once More With Feeling

• Dog days are over - Florence and The Machine
• When it gets down to it - Fred Hammond
• What the water gave me - Florence and The Machine
• Ring a bell - Late Night Alumni
• Hope is rising - Downhere
• The sun is shining - Third Day
• Breathe slow - Alesha Dixon
•  Love song - Third Day
• Supermassive black hole - Muse
• Loved on me - Fred Hammond
• Till it happens to you - Corrine Bailey Rae
• Automatic - Tokio Hotel
• Atmosphere (remix) - DC Talk
• Reformation - GS Megaphone
• Sing, sing, sing - Chris Tomlin
• A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
• Stronger - Mary J. Blige
• In my place - Coldplay
• Don't wait - Kaskade feat. Haley
• Letters from the sky - Civil Twilight
• Poison and Wine - The Civil Wars
• We are hungry/I will not be silent - Jesus Culture

I've also been writing but I won't be sharing it with you yet. Let's just say it's some kind of weird, not totally made up Ijaw mythology. So if you've got stories of any unusual weird occurrences by the waterside, drop me a line.

Thanks.

Oh, and Papa Goo's movie TABLOID for EbonyLife TV (Channel 165 on DSTV) will be airing on the 6th of October. That's in 4 days. Make sure you watch it!

Blast from The Past Thursday: Broken Nanowrimo Dreams

Hello you.

Yes. I've been away. I've been...errr...busy. That's right.

Busy.

No, there is no other blog. I haven't even put up a Facebook note. Honest.

:)

Anyway, enough crazy talk. Here's my unfinished nanowrimo piece of last year. Please let me know what you think. I stopped writing it because the world building, especially creating the magic system, was driving me crazy. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 1

It was getting dark. That was the thought that crossed Kandara’s mind as she watched her father walk down the beach towards the ocean with a white cock in his left hand and a small knife in his right. It was high tide and the waves roared and crashed unmercifully against the sands before they slipped back. The cock wailed in fear and anger, but the waves paid it no mind and neither did her father.

She walked a little distance behind him, with her twin sister, Kajol, by her side. They both carried little clay pots covered with leaves, and had to walk carefully on the sands to make sure the contents did not fall out. A flash of lightening brightened the sky, followed by a clap of thunder. Kandara glanced at her sister. Kajol didn’t even flinch.

She is not afraid, thought her father, as he took purposeful steps forward. He didn’t look back, but he knew she was still behind him. He could sense her spirit. She has always had a strong presence, he thought, I have to teach her to temper it or she will overwhelm the villagers. He reached the shore line, and turned his thoughts to the business at hand.

There was a slight breeze and his white wrapper billowed around his ankles. As he waded into the water, his voice boomed with an incantation for their deity. “Opubeni! Dibaere! Great mother and sustainer of life!”

The girls stepped forward with their arms outstretched, their gifts in front of them. Her father continued, “this day, we humbly come before you,” he had waded deeper into the water, bracing himself against the onslaught of the waves. The beach sand wasn’t much help but as the chief priest to the Sea goddess, he had been doing this since he had come of age. Time may have sapped his strength but it had also gifted him with experience. The water whipped and frothed around his thighs now as he continued, “trusting in your mercy, we seek your wisdom.”  His daughters reached the shore line and waited.

“Reveal your will to us. Direct our thoughts.
Open our eyes to behold your ways
That we may speak your truth to your people.” his voice boomed, over the waves “that we may direct their path according to your desire”.

The girls placed the pots in the water simultaneously and immediately the waves softened and quietened, and took the pots in.

The sky darkened quickly, and suddenly. Then a flash of lightening, a clap of thunder and a loud wail from the cock as their father ran the knife cleanly across its neck. Its legs struggled against its binds and its wings whipped about frantically but it was dead.

Another flash of lightening, another clap of thunder, and the cock was flung into the ocean. It hit the water and Kandara imagined she heard a splash but that would have been impossible. The waves had gotten louder and higher, but would break just before they reached the shore so the trio of worshippers were not in much danger. At least not from the waves, the sands gave way beneath their feet and they had to finish their business quickly or the sands would offer them to the ocean.

“Opubeni! Dibaere! Great mother and sustainer of life!” boomed the chief priest again - and then he dove into the ocean.

Kandara hated this part. They would have to wait for him to return. The only danger was that his return was not his decision. If the Sea Godess was pleased with the offering, then she would send back the Chief Priest with a message for the villagers.

If the Sea Goddess was not pleased with the offering, their father would not return.

********************************************************

A few miles from the Great Ocean, just past a small but rich rainforest was their village. It was named Periama by her founders because they believed that the land that they built their homes on was a sacred gift from the Sea Goddess, Opubeni. Local folklore said that land where they had their homes, farms, village square and shrine was once all under the sea. Kabowei, the first man birthed by Eneyi, the Mother of all Gods, had placed him in the care of Opubeni, her daughter because there was unrest in the land of the Gods. Upon receiving Kabowei, Opubeni realised that he could not survive in her watery world and so to ensure his survival, she retreated just a little and gave up a small body of land. This, along with the regular bounty of sea food was enough to ensure his survival, and Eneyi, seeing that he was in good hands, sent down Ebiere, the first woman to be his wife.

As time went by, the man and woman grew to be a family then a tribe and then a village. Opubeni, gave up more and more land, and Kabowei’s ancestors showed their gratitude with gifts, worship and devotion. They declared her to be their saviour and deity, deciding that they would have no king, for the leadership of Opubeni was more than enough. A pair of twin boys were chosen to be her priests and the village agreed that their descendants would always be priests of Opubeni. These priests would offer the gifts and prayers of the village to the Sea Goddess, and would receive her counsel and judgement on their behalf.

These priests served Opubeni and the people of Periama well for they were faithful worshippers of the Sea Goddess and the people prospered because of them. However, with time and with every new generation, devotion to Periama waned and the priests paid the price for this cooling of the villagers’ faith. That was why there was fear in the village air tonight. For the tide had been rising, but not receding as far back as it used to, and many feared Opubeni had tired of them, and wanted her land back.

There were whispered rumours of an abomination among the people. An abomination that would anger even the kind and merciful Eneyi, if she still bothered to visit with men, but none of the rumours could tell for sure what it was.

“I have heard”, a woman whispered to her husband in their hut, “that someone may be worshipping an evil spirit.”

“What evil spirit?” her husband asked, his voice tired.

“I don’t know!” was her hasty reply, “you know, I don’t know of these things, but you -”

“Me what?”

“You spend your days in the forest -”

“Hunting game.”

“Are you saying there are no evil spirits in that forest?”

“I have not seen or heard of such things.”

“But Peretin, the palm wine tapper’s wife said her husband had heard the sounds of strange beings dancing in the forest.”

“Strange beings?” he laughed, “and how do you know that these strange beings were not the fruit of tasting too much palm wine?”

She opened her mouth to answer, but he stops her short with a raised palm, “Feed me, please. Then you can regale me with the tapper’s palm wine induced tales.”

She snorted, but got up and went in to prepare his meal. He muttered to himself, “Evil spirit? Opubeni, have mercy.”

********************************************************
Opubeni would claim him as an offering for reparation of the village’s offence. Kandara and Kajol would be the new Chief Priests, and they would have thirty days to appease the goddess before she took back her land and allowed the sea to submerge the village.

Kandara whimpered as her eyes searching for her father in the raging waters. “Opubeni, have mercy“, she prayed.

“You are afraid.” Kajol said, her eyes also locked on the waves.

“You are not!”

“No.”

“Why?”

“There is nothing to fear.”

“What?” her eyes wide in disbelief as he she turned to look at her twin. “Father may not return!”

“That is a possibility. Especially if you consider the warning signs.”

“You would be pleased with Father’s death?”

“My pleasure or displeasure is of no relevance here. Opubeni will do as she wills”, she replied coolly, glancing at her sister, “it would serve you well to remember that.”

“But Opubeni is kind. Opubeni is merciful.” flung Kandara, desperation creeping into her voice.

“Opubeni is a goddess. And Father is her Priest, as are we. We live to serve her. We are simply her instruments.”

“Shut up.”

Kajol laughed, short and mean. “Very well. It doesn’t change the truth.”

“Truth?”

“Stop shouting. We aren’t even supposed to be speaking.”

“Truth?” a whisper now, “Do you want Father to die?”

“Resting in Opubeni’s arms is the highest honour.”

“Sometimes I hate you.”

Another laugh. “I don’t believe you.”

“I don’t want Father to die.”

“It doesn’t matter what we want.”

“Do you want Father to die?”

Sigh. “I don’t think of it that way.”

“How do you think of it?”

Pause. “I think of my options.”

“Options?”

“Yes, options. Right now, I’m thinking when Father returns we will have to tell the village Opubeni’s message, and prepare the thanksgiving offerings. If the message requires an offering, we will have to prepare that as well. If Father does not return, we will have to tell the village that as well. We will have to prepare for the Priesthood ceremony, and it will have to be done quickly. We will have to come back to Opubeni, and -”

“I’m not ready!” Kandara muttered.

“Ready?” a frown furrowed her face, then cleared, “oh”, another short laugh.

“I don’t think I will ever be ready.”

Kajol’s eyes narrowed to slits as she turned to look at Kandara. Kandara’s head is bowed in shame, and she’s afraid to look at her sister.

“I don’t think I want to be Opubeni’s Priestess.” Kandara said, her voice a whisper, barely audible over the roaring of the waves.

********************************************************
In the land of the gods, there was trouble once more. Then again, the trouble that started in the time of Kabowei and Ebiere never really stopped. No, it simmered and now had come to a boil. Eneyi, the all powerful mother, was facing dissent in her kingdom. She was not troubled. She was not even worried, but her children, Opubeni, Agunowei, and Kirikeme were. They had abandoned their duties as protectors of mankind and had returned to their mother’s aid.

“You should return to your wards.” Eneyi said, for what seemed to her to be the umpteenth time.

“Don’t be silly, mother.” replied Opubeni, raising her voice, “we are here to help you handle this”

“I have handled it.”

“Obviously, not well enough”, Opubeni again, “ You don’t seem to understand the repercussions of your inaction.”

“Inaction?”

“Yes mother! You aren’t doing anything!”

“I have done enough. Nothing more needs to be done.”

“How can you -”

“Mother, we’re here now” Kirikeme cut in, “At least, let us take care of these rabble rousers for you.”

“ I wouldn’t call them rabble rousers, Kiri.”

“Okay, but they are trying to overthrow you.”

Eneyi laughed at that. “As if such a thing could be done.”

“It could, mother.” said Agunowei, you know it could.”

She smiled, “Agunowei, you have been with me the longest. You too are afraid of the throwaway insults of a few servants.”

“Servants that you have imbued with much power.”

“Only in the land of men. They have no power here.”

“True, mother, but if they get enough men to worship them or even fear them.”

“A very big if.” said Eneyi.

“A possibility none the less.” replied Agunowei, his voice gruff. Eneyi looked at him, then at her other two children. “That is why you must return to your wards.”

“No!” yelled Opubeni, “we are not leaving you alone, and that is final.”

Eneyi laughed again, then said, “Stay then, and look after my affairs. I will go down and look after yours.”




CHAPTER 2

Kajol looked at her sister’s bowed head, then turned back to look at the ocean. “I know” she said.

“I’ve always known. I have never understood why but -”

“Because I want to live a normal life.”

“What’s normal?”

“I don’t know.” she said, her voice distracted as her toes traced in the sand.

Kajol waited, not saying anything, not moving. The roar of the waves seemed louder.

“I want more in my life than just rituals and sacrifices.”

“Rituals and sacrifices are a part of everyone’s life.”

“Yes. A part. Not all encompassing. Kajol, we do nothing else!”

“That’s not true, dear sister”, she said, “ we listen to the demands of the dear dear villagers.”

Kandara sighed, then replied, “The villagers come with their prayers, not demands.”

Kajol hissed.

“It is our duty to help them -”

“A duty you tire of.”

“No. I do not tire of that. That is the one part of my life that gives me joy.”

“Joy?” said Kajol, and then threw back her head to laugh. “You expect too much from life, dear sister. Opubeni gives and Opubeni takes away. We just have to make do with our lot.”

“That is not enough for me.”

“Then you will live unsatisfied.”

“Are you satisified?”

“I do not seek satisfaction”,

That's all folks. I may go back to it. I don't know. What do you think?

PS. Deepest apologies to those who are having trouble leaving comments. I don't know why that's happening, but rest assured I will soon find a tech savvy friend to take care of it. Till that happens, feel free to leave me a comment on Twitter via @ChrisTimOere.

Muchos Gracias. 

The (Unnamed) Book Club

A few months ago, I let loose a bit of a rant on twitter about The Definition of an 'African' Writer, and how we are expected to write village square stories or colonial time stories or civil war stories. Basically, historical fiction. After my rant, and some distance, and some deep breathing, I became somewhat ashamed of myself.

What right did I have to complain about the type of work African writers are expected to produce? First of all, where is my body of work? Second, how many African writers have I actually read? Where did I get the idea that there was a stereotype aspiring authors like myself had to conform to? Shame on me.

So, I decided that next year, as part of my 300 book reading challenge (more on that later), I would read more African authors. Enter my BFF, Cho, who out of the blue asked me to start a book club.

"Why?"

"Maybe it will encourage me to read more".

Hmm. I ran the idea by our mutual friend, Joy, who said, "I've been meaning to start a book club, but never got around to it". Well, then, I was gingered. I asked them some more questions on the number of books we would read - 1 a month, the genres, and other little details. We all agreed to think of a name later, but I was so excited about it (books!!!) that I opened a Blackberry group with the the tentative name - The (Unnamed) Book Club. Little did I know, that once (Unnamed) forever shall it be. Thankfully, the other 12 members of our all female group (which includes Ann) like the quirky name (no one has said they hate it, so yay!).

We don't officially start reading and discussing the books till next year (which is just around the corner), but so far, it has been fun. First, there were nominations, and then campaigns, and then votes. Just this Sunday, the polls closed and we have our reading list for 2013. Drum roll please....

January - The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
February - I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
March - The Mrs. Club by Ekene Onu
April - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beechar Stowe
May - Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
June - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
July - Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
August - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
September - On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
October - Stardust by Neil Gaiman or The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (we're still voting, but Stardust is in the lead. yay!)
November - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
December - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

PS. I nominated Fine Boys by Eghosa Imasuen but it didn't make the cut *sniff sniff*, but I'm going to mention it anyway because the author was nice enough to respond to my inquiry on twitter about an image of his book cover for my campaign.

Will you be taking a reading challenge next year? What books are you just dying to read?

PPS. Sigh. Internet is acting up (I hope that means it will rain tonight), and so that means alas, I cannot upload images of the book covers tonight, but mark my words, I will eventually.

(Cue evil laugh)

 (Felt like the thing to do)