Book Review: The Pregnant Corper

Book Description:

Ifeoma an Igbo girl who grew up in the western part of Nigeria and has inculcated the yoruba culture. Her first experience in the matters of love and relationship was a cruel one which taught her a hard lesson. She then lost the two most important men in life to the cold hands of death, denied her patrimonial right then became a victim of jest and mockery throughout her service year.

As a born again Christian, she kicked against immoral and illicit sex on the three weeks NYSC camp which has become a trend among the corps members during the three weeks boot camp but unfortunately she became a victim. Ifeoma got pregnant and couldn’t find the responsible corper who seem to have suddenly disappeared under her nose.

Enjoy the story of Ifeoma as she struggles through with her pregnancy with shame and stigmatization. After childbirth she continued her hard labour at survival being a single mother of a xenophobic daughter without a meaningful job in the tough and highly competitive Nigerian economy. 

Book Review: The Story of Anna P, as Told by Herself

Book Description:

Anna P lives on an island off the coast of Italy but can no longer remember how she got there. She came from South Africa but has almost no memory of the place or people there. The only person she has a kind of personal relationship with is a sex worker whom she pays by the hour.

It is only when she begins to connect emotionally with a young boy that she finds some value in herself, some place which she will not allow to be abused, and her life gradually changes.

This meticulously crafted, atmospheric debut novel asks a number of difficult questions about the nature of memory: who are we if we lose our memories? What does it mean to have no identity? And if we have no identity, can we still make ethical choices? 

Laybels Book Rave

Dear writers, authors, and readers,

I have some good, and maybe exciting news for ALL of you.

There's going to be a Book Rave in Lagos this May (from 9th to 14th) during the Nigerian International Book Fair.

I'm so excited about this because it's going to be an opportunity for authors to sell off copies of their books AND readers to buy as many "autographed" books as possible for fixed and affordable prices.

Authors, if you are interested in this opportunity, send an email to laybels@gmail.com or call 09094568139 for more information on registration and participation. Unfortunately, this is not open to publishers, agents, bookshop owners, but the authors themselves :)

For readers, there will be a list of all books and prices soon, so that you can prepare for the rave.

Tell someone to tell someone to tell someone of this event.

Literarily yours,
CMO.

Book Review: What Will People Say?

Book Description:

Hanover Park. The heart of the Cape Flats. It is 1986. Michael Jackson and Brenda Fassie rule every hi-fi. Princess Di and George Michael hairstyles are all the rage. There are plans to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the 1976 student uprising.

Neville and Magda Fourie live in Magnolia Court with their three children. They are trying to ‘raise them decent’ in a township festering with gang wars and barricaded with burning tyres. Suzette, the eldest, is beautiful and determined to escape her family’s poverty. Nicky, the sensitive middle child, has ambitions to use her intellect as a way out. Anthony, the only son, attracted by power and wealth, is lured away from his family by a gangster.

Which members of the Fourie family will thrive, which ones will not survive?

#FridayFeature: Meet The Author - Brenda Nwafor

Brenda Nwafor

Hello All,

Today's #FridayFeature (soon-to-be) author is Brenda Nwafor, the current Assistant Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos.

Let's get to know her in 10 questions.

1/ What is your name (Pen name if different), and what does it mean?

The name Eziafa is a derivative of Eziafakaego and means that a good name is better than wealth. It emphasizes integrity over material things. Brenda is a Scottish name that means torch, flame or sword. In essence, let's say while I can light your path, ignite the flame of love in your heart, I can also be a sword to cut you off when necessary. Nwafor: a child born on Afor day (a day in Igbo week).

Update: New cover for Black Box

Cover art from Budget Insight

Hello everyone,

While you were sleeping, I decided to do some upgrades, instead of working on my new book trailer for the Angela Hunter series (can't wait for it), and I ended up changing my short story cover art for Black Box.

In case you haven't read Black Box yet, you can get it on several online platforms (Smashwords; Goodreads: iBooks; B&N; Okada Books) for an interesting price... #FREE. The story, as well as the "old" cover art can also be found on my blog HERE.

Tell someone to tell someone to tell someone.

So, what do you think of this new photo?

:)

Literarily Yours,
CMO.

#FridayFeature: Meet The Author - Femi Onileagbon

Author: Femi Onileagbon

Hello All,

The Association of Nigerian Authors, Lagos Branch, is hosting a "Meet The Author" #FridayFeature, for the general public to know who the authors in Lagos are, what they have written, what they are currently writing, what inspires them, and many more in 10 questions.

#FridayFeature's first author is Femi Onileagbon, the current Chair of the Association of Nigerian Authors.

Enjoy his interesting responses below.

1/ What is your name (Pen name if different), and what does it mean?

My name is Amos Oluwafemi Onileagbon. Amos means a man bearing a burden; Oluwafemi means the Lord/God loves me; Onileagbon means the owner of a house populated by wasps. As one, my name means a man loved by God who gives him a house filled with wasps to help/protect/defend him as he delivers his burden of messages- in my case through poetry and drama and other means necessary.