Stories and Book Talk

Author: Elly in Nairobi

Nano Prep 2023 – Plans and Plans

It started with a character worksheet; to be specific, this worksheet – 51 Questions You’ve Probably Never Asked Your Characters. It takes more than a minute to answer these many questions. The experience is fun, you end up thinking up all these little side ideas, and amass a bunch of notes for each character. In the end, the process of creating characters can feel quite intensive, but you end up with a wealth of information. Information that truly makes the next step easier.

I moved to deciding the type of plot to use. Now, I’ve primarily been someone who sits and comes up with a story as I go. This idea is fun while it lasts, until you get stuck in the middle chapters and have to spend a few days, maybe months finding away to be unstuck. Hence, I became someone who writes on the fly, while also making plans before I started. Then, in time, the structure made more sense, and I fell in love with it some more. So, here we are. Testing out different types of plot ideas. I’m very sure this plot plan will work for me this time. Plot Method: Save the Cat! Beat Sheet. Hopefully ^_^ Maybe, I just like that it has a cat in its name.

Now that there was a map, the last week has been filled with word-building! For this, there was this worksheet – 20 Questions to Ask Yourself When World-building. I will confess that I’m still answering some of the questions in this worksheet and we’re now fully past world-building week. It is a lot of work thinking up places, lore, habits, meals, legends, and landmarks. It might end up being an encyclopedia of sorts. Someone stop me now before encyclopedia status that is, hahaha.

Alright, thankfully, we’re now in the building a community week. I’m excited by Nano this year because after an application, I became the Municipal Liaison of my Nanowrimo Region. A fancy way to say that I’m our region’s cheer leader. I get to hype everyone up for the challenge, and share info about Nano Prep. More importantly, it means getting immersed in it like no other time, so, I’m glad I’m managing to get some prep done. I can’t wait to put in the word count through the writing sprints in November. Which is like a blink away? Ever notice how the days fly when you’re having fun?

Alright, this is it for Nano-Prep. I came out of it with an encyclopedia, so yay for me. NaNoWriMo, here I come on Nov 1^st. Let’s see how the story goes.

If you wanna join in this fun writing challenge, sign up here: nanowrimo.org.

To access the worksheets, you need to be logged into nanowrimo.org.

October 17, 2023
Morrighan – The Remnant Chronicles

Morrighan
The Remnant Chronicles #0.5
by Mary E. Pearson

Before borders were drawn, before treaties were signed, before wars were waged anew, before the great kingdoms of the Remnant were even born and the world of old was only a hazy slate of memory told in story and legend, a girl and her family fought to survive.

And that girl’s name was Morrighan.

In this prequel novella to the Remnant Chronicles, a girl and a boy from enemy camps meet, fall in love–and set history in motion.

Thoughts:

I keep wanting to call this book The Morrighan. The lore in this story is so beautiful. Morrighan is an introduction into a world that is post apocalyptic. There are two groups in this world, The Remnants and The Scavengers. The Remnants are survivors of the old world, they love knowledge, farming, honor and love work. The Scavengers are insanely wild, and live in wild tribes with harsh customs, they are brutal and savage. They are enemies of the remnants and will destroy the remnants, and damage what they build.

This is the story about a girl named Morrighan. She’s a remnant who meets a boy who is a scavenger. Together, they forge an unexpected bond that changes their world. A bond that brings them together, despite the many challenges they must face being from different groups|clans. Through them, a story of the past and the future unfolds.

“Our stories must be passed to our sons and daughters, for with but one generation, history and truth are lost forever.”
― Mary E. Pearson, Morrighan

October 17, 2023
NaNo Prep 2023 – Week One
NaNo Prep :Week One – (Sept 18 – 24, 2023)

Activity: Developing a Story Idea

This week starts the first week of the NaNo Prep 101 course. Let’s go on a little development journey. My goal is to come up with a usable story idea that I’m passionate about. I have seven days to come up with a good one. I’ll be honest here and confess that I’ve probably spent the past week thinking about this idea. So, it will be two weeks in total.

I’ve drawn inspiration from the NaNoWriMo theme this year. The theme is “More than one way to tell a fairy tale”. My imagination is on overdrive. Whether I can keep this up is up to the next few weeks and what I can get down.

Influences that I can’t ignore: I’ve leaned heavily on YA books I’ve read.

Then, I’ve drawn a dash of inspiration from the stories my maternal grandma used to tell us in her kitchen before bedtime. Of ogres in the forest, and an old witch who would get on your back and refuse to get off if you carried her…shiver.

And so, here goes.

My NaNoWriMo 2023 Book Title is: –
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Book One
The Hidden Queen by E.K.
 
The Story is: - Airi/Aisha lives in Nairobi, Kenya. She has a harmonious life with her family. She is a good student and has spent school holidays at her grandma’s farm. Airi/Aisha has done so for ages. Until one day…when she discovers a secret in her grandmother’s farm.

Current status: - I’m still living in Undecided, Ohio with a large part of this story and it needs work. I hope the next week will be full of more information. The good thing is that I’ve finally decided on a title. Yay! I even made a book cover. Useful procrastination. ^_^
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I’m also sharing this idea as it is not a new idea. It has been written by others, a lot masterful, Chronicles of Narnia comes to mind. In between the small paragraph above, there has been an infinite collection of chicken-scratch writing on notebooks. A thousand crossed out thoughts and a character name that may change. That is the process. Yours might be more elaborate or simpler. I hope you have a great one!

I’m Looking forward to NaNo Prep Week Two Sept 25 – Oct 1. is Characters Week.

Wanna join in? Sign up here: NaNoWriMo
September 19, 2023
NaNoWriMo 2023
I’m excited to be part of the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) experience this year. I’ve done this before, but for some reason 2023 is feeling more exciting, so I’m going with it and hoping to see what I get out of this experience by the end of November 2023.

What is NaNoWriMo about?
- It is a choice to take on a writing challenge and complete a novel or write 50k words of a novel in November. The challenge is done in daily bits. That is, writing 1, 667 words every day to make 50k words in thirty days. This is without worrying about how much editing you need, or how well the plot is flowing. You can worry about all that once you get to November 30^th. You can choose to jump in and start on November 1^st, 2023 or plan your novel six weeks ahead (NaNo Prep) and start your writing on November 1^st. Sounds manageable, right?
It is a fun challenge to take on and have fun with it! The experience at least leaves me with the start or the bulk of a novel, or an idea that I can take to the next level.

NaNo Prep starts on September 18^th, 2023. Follow as I work to get a story from idea stage to 50k at the end of November 30^th, 2023. I’ll do my best to post this process on this blog in notes and emojis ^_^.

Wanna join in? Sign up here for NaNoWriMo.
September 16, 2023
The Africa Redefined Indie Book Prize – 2022 Winner

Echoes of Military Souls by Jerusha Kananu Marete

Echoes of Military Souls is a power-packed package of art that promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. It is a roller coaster stream of emotion.The poems forcefully remind us that soldiers lay down their lives for fellow humans. But do we really value this singular sacrifice?The theatrical ambiance of the poems imprint indelible vistas of hope for the indefatigable human spirit!

Inevitable Desires by Vincent De Paul

When her boyfriend goes missing without a trace, Hedwig Sanzi Joe is not prepared to face the reality. As she tries to understand what really happened, she is drawn into a vortex of a dark past, secrets, and betrayal.

Every step she makes, everything she does, is a terrible mistake with catastrophic outcomes in her life.

As she navigates through the murky waters of her new life, her dead boyfriend comes back to life at a time her marriage has hit the rocks. Hedwig has a fierce battle to fight—desires of her heart and the ticking bomb that’s her marriage.

City of Cannibals by Dancan Obuya

A city falling into despondency …
CANNIBAL
ravaged by bacteria that’s growing in its once cleanest river, life has become walking a tight rope:
POLLUTION
DISEASES
and the hazards those living in the city’s shanty areas face … the rich are the cannibals devouring a city that held so much hope with CORRUPTION

About The Africa Redefined Indie Book Prize

The Afrika Redefined Indie Book Prize is awarded annually for the best independently published book (fiction, poetry, and creative/narrative non-fiction). The Prize is open to Kenyan independent writers resident in Kenya, on the continent, and in the diaspora.

August 25, 2023
Six Types of Jobs You Can Build Around Book Publishing in Kenya
Six Types of Jobs You Can Build Around Book Publishing in Kenya.
1. Editing
Photo by Unseen Studio on Unsplash

Become an Editor. I have mentioned the five reasons why you need an editor here. This job is perfect for you if you love language, are meticulous with your reading, and don’t mind spending hours rereading and rewriting sentences. If you have such a passion, try it out. Editors edit copy in magazines, manuscripts, copy used for advertising, and other printed material used by organizations and businesses.
1. Book Formatting/Printing
Book formatters often work directly with printers. They design books, and arrange content for print. If you have a knack for design, this is a great skill to pick up. If you would like to open a printing shop, it is also a great skill to have.
1. Creative Design
Photo by Karine Germain on Unsplash

Creative Designers in the book publishing industry have the most fun. They are artists who create art for book covers, art for use in between paragraphs, illustrations, and color pages. The list is endless. They can also create book marketing logos, banners and social media posts.
1. Book Marketer
Authors spend a lot of time writing their books. They try to market their books, but it takes up a lot of their time, and they might even lose hope in between this process. This is where a book marketer comes in. If you have the skill to market products, take on book marketing and create a winning marketing formula that will get authors to reach out to you.
1. Book Publisher
Do you love books, and think there should be more publishers in Kenya? Then start a publishing company. Become a publisher. Publishers acquire authors proficient in particular genres and who are able to create content in that genre often. They market these authors and pay authors a particular royalty percentage, the rest of the profit is left with the publisher. Genres are many: mystery, fantasy, folklore, school books, romance novels, literature, comics e.t.c. If you are hoping to encourage a reading culture, and love books, become a book publisher.
1. Translator
Kenya is blessed with 50+ languages within its borders. There are also many different types of stories told in all these languages. Translation work does not have to be for foreign languages. You can choose to translate beloved stories written in English or Swahili, and translate them into these languages to encourage reading across the nation. Translation does not need to be limited to fiction. You can take topics in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering and translate this information into tribal languages. Who knows, you might inspire a budding engineer who only understands their mother tongue.

There are many different types of jobs one can create in the publishing industry, including printing, and paper manufacturing. There is of course the most creative one: becoming a writer, or comic book creator. There are so many possibilities.

Which one would you choose?
July 12, 2023
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me

by Tahereh Mafi

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Book Review

Shatter Me is a process or journey, moving from severe isolation to an abundant world. Tahereh Mafi’s writing is quite personal; limited to the main character’s perspective, and in a way puts you in this focus point where you can only discover the story through Juliette. The main character’s thought process seems fractured because of severe isolation. It is raw, painful, full of harrowing moments, and joyful moments. I loved the parts where Juliette would celebrate someone touching her, or any form of human contact. Shatter Me might not be for everyone, but I enjoyed reading it.

July 10, 2023
A Trip with Stunning Views- Our Beautiful Kenyan Landscapes

Mt. Kenya from a Distance – a beautiful National treasure.

It’s Hard to Look Away from the rolling hills.

Riders, where d’you go?

colorful abundance!

March 30, 2023
I Once Had A Son by Felicita Churie
I Once Had A Son

by Felicita Churie

A Note

First and foremost, I have written this story as a way of seeking healing and keeping my son’s memory alive. I also hope that parents who have lost their children will find some comfort in knowing they are not alone in their grief.
And to the kidney patients, may they be informed that there is hope in medicine and in the development of the newest methods of treatment. Donating a kidney may seem a big deal but to me, it was the solution and the best I could do.
To all doctors that take care of our patients, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for their priceless sacrifice in working long hours to see that their patients get back their good health.

Kindle | Print Copy

I Once Had A Son – 2nd Edition is now available. The second edition includes anecdotes and stories about Tobiko and his mother as they navigated harrowing visits to the hospital, and fun plays at school, and pictures of Tobiko through the different eras of his life.

Where to find this book:

Amazon: I Once Had A Son Second Edition

Nuria Bookshop Nairobi: I One Had A Son Second Edition

Discover more about Tobiko’s extraordinary journey here: Daily Nation’s The Highs and Lows of Kidney Transplant

Thoughts

I have had the privilege of working on an extraordinary book called, I Once Had A Son by Felicita Churie. She reached out to me on this blog and asked for assistance to get this book ready to publish on Amazon’s KDP. After we agreed on deadlines, I got to work on the story and fell into quite a unique experience.
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You see, there is a profound sense of awe and inspiration in discovering a story about a mother’s unconditional love for her family, in particular, her son.
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In I Once Had A Son, Mrs. Churie lays out the very personal journey she took with her son, Tobiko. She and Tobiko spent thirty-three inspiring years in a medical battle that would stun most. She describes the joyful nature of Tobiko’s birth, the joy of his growing up years, and the dreaded discovery of a struggle with kidney failure. Mrs. Churie and her family then embark on a long journey filled with love, camaraderie, a strong community that holds them down during the worst of storms, and a family bond forged like no other. She opens up and highlights the experience of donating a kidney to Tobiko. In the hope that her surgery experience will give others in similar situations courage and strength to get to the other side.

This book is an emotional roller coaster. I learned from Mrs. Churie and Tobiko that strength can be found even when it seems like there is none left to find. There is no love more profound than a mother’s love. Truly!

I Once Had A Son is now available on Amazon’s Kindle| e-book and print.

Look out for Print Copies in Kenyan Bookshops soon, or simply message Mrs. Felicita Churie to get a copy at Facebook page: I Once Had A Son
March 20, 2023
Deeply Grateful! – This Blog Featured on The Dailies

Yay!! The blog made it into the Daily Paper!

It’s not every day I get a message with a picture of a blog review. I got one, and there was the blog name in the heading, and for a whole minute I thought it was a mistake! ^_^ After the surprise, a happy dance ensued, and I went out and bought the paper to make a clipping. I’m very grateful to Abigail Arunga for giving this blog a review, and mentioning it on such a huge platform. It’s absolutely made my month. Thank you so much.

March 13, 2023