Zambian Award-Winning Author Mubanga Kalimamukwento has announced her forthcoming book, Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies.

The 2024 Drue Heinz Literature Prize winner‘s new book, Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies, is a multi-lingual, hybrid collection of essays and poems that encapsulates a kaleidoscope of emotions: at once self-excavation and epitaph, exhumation and burial song. These words are a conversation between the present and the past.

“…joy wilts, Dust to dust, the preacher calls it Ashes to ashes, as mwana tosses it mangles itself inside her nostrils now the aroma of starved earth, the brilliant white of a mother’s new coffinment waiting to receive it.”

Kalimamukwento deftly navigates the aftermath of devastating personal losses, particularly that of her mother. Through them, she invites readers to reflect on their own experiences of loss and the enduring impact of familial bonds.

About the Author

Mubanga Kalimamukwento is a Zambian poet; her poetry has appeared or is forthcoming in the Tusculum Review, Contemporary Verse 2, and Passengers Journal and has been translated into Italian by Menelique. She won the 2021 Deborah Keenan Poetry Scholarship and the 2022 Tusculum Review Poetry Chapbook Prize, selected by Carmen Giménez. Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies Shortlisted for the 2023 (Center for African American Poetry and Poetics) CAAPP Book Prize. 

Another Mother Does Not Come When Yours Dies comes out in April 2025 and is now available for preorder

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Ben Peter,an internationally known business executive and leadership scholar, has just released two inspirational non-fiction titles. His new books are titled, Get Set, March and Clearing Your Mental Deck.

Both books are a must-read for everyone who wants to excel in business, and life as a whole. This prolific author, and business development expert outperformed himself. If you’ve read many of Ben Peter’s works, you’ll definitely agree.

Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading business strategists, Ben Peter has helped countless people to reignite their passion for life through:

• health products,
• live events,
• personal mentoring,
• and coaching.

He is a Professor of Management and also the Chairman and CEO of five privately held companies. Ben Peter has a Ph.D. and an MBA in Business Management, and over fifteen years’ experience in the financial services, motivational speaking and coaching, pharmaceutical, healthcare, education, and direct selling industries.

Ben’s personal life story has been a source of immense inspiration to so many people. He believes that working hard is not enough. You have got to work smart with a high dose of discipline and willingness to be intentional with every goal and vision of greatness you have. His books also carry that same philosophy.

Enough About The Author. Let’s Discuss Get Set March and Clearing Your Mental Deck.What Are They About?

Book Description Of Get Set, March By Ben Peter.

This book was written to help readers understand the importance of building a thought process, which is an essential foundation for successfully executing a winning strategy for your vision. Success in any feat is usually a thought away.

The quality of your thoughts ultimately becomes a guiding path for your actions and eventual outcome. It is vital you pause at the end of each chapter to reflect on the nuggets of truth learned while reading this book.

Get Set March will teach you how to:

• apply these principles practically to your organization or any organized system
• see how these principles will be instrumental to your progress,
• focus on the process of creating a vision of what you want,
• accomplish your vision.

The goal of this book is to help you simplify every crucial part of your project, from the conception phase to the execution phase. Too much complexity can also hamper the success of a good project plan.

The entire process of strategic implementation, from the conception stage to the project closure, is made up of critical stages that must be appropriately implemented with caution. Every step has its unique methods.

Get Set, March! is available on Amazon  and Okadabooks

A Synopsis Of Clearing Your Mental Deck

Many people are constantly on a quest to find the secret to achieving self-actualization, which is a term synonymous with success in life. The reality is that,success in life is firstly, a product of how you think and then secondly, of what you do.

Your thoughts determine your actions. We become what we think about. We manifest physically and constantly behold our minds.  

That is why this book, Clearing Your Mental Deck, has been put together to help you truly concentrate on arriving at the most important attributes that help every human attain their greatest desires. These attributes are considered by many people as the most important qualities that help us, not only to become successful, but also to attain self-actualization.

This book is currently available on Okadabooks

 Want to read more from Ben Peter. Here’s a list of books authored by Ben Peter:

• Build Up.
• The Money Cook Book.
• Principles of the Top.
• Money Code (co-authored with Charles E. Eromosele)

 If you have inquiries about the author or his works, send a DM to his publishers, Purple Shelves Publishing House. Their twitter handle is: @PurpleShelves.

I’m off to purchase my own copies of Get Set March and Clearing Your Mental Deck.

How about you? You can post your reviews of the books in the comments section. Or you can email them to CWN. We’ll be glad to publish them.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Ben Peter’s New Titles, Get Set, March And Clearing Your Mental Deck appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Have you ever considered writing a book in your indigenous language? Would you like to get tips from a polyglot author? Then you’ll be interested in joining our tweet conversation on Wednesday the 19th of June, 2019. At exactly 7PM,  Ositadimma Amakeze and Creative writing news (@cwritingnews) will be having an interesting Tweetchat. The entire conversation will revolve around reading and writing in indigenous languages (other than English). Of course, the author will discuss his writing process and how he wrote the brilliant book,  ‘Anụ Gbaa Ajọ Egbe‘. You are invited to follow this tweetchat on # iyil2019.

A few months ago, 2019 was declared United Nations year of Indigenous languages. In line with this, culture activist, Ositadimma Amakeze wrote and published a novel ‘Anụ Gbaa Ajọ Egbe’. It was his own way of practicing his cultural theory of Glocalisation. This brilliant author believes that writing in Indigenous languages is an effective tool for glocalisation.

About the Book

Anụ Gbaa Ajọ Egbe… is essentially a fable. The author wrote this book to promote and preserve some of the most interesting and important folktales which have been passed down orally, in Igbo land. The title which may appear controversial gives an insight into the clever and unpredictable tortoise. For where there is a tortoise, there are limitless possibilities. Remember, it was he, who chose to be addressed as “Unu dum”(all of you) when he joined a flock of birds to a feast in heaven. You better see why he is the Nkpọnkpọ kpọkịrịkpọ, one of a kind, no other animal is capable of begetting but she Tortoise herself!

You need not be troubled about how this conflict will be resolved unless you are unaware that words are spoken with wit and skills. Ever marvelled at how the tongue and teeth can coexist peacefully? Although the teeth crave for the taste of meat, it never tries to hurt the tongue.

Ndị Igbo would say, “the masquerade that dances at the village square does not dance for itself.” Mbe (Tortoise), who is the protagonist is in the plot and conspiracy with the other members of the animal kingdom. Names are deliberately written in the capital that each may stand out and therefore, be outstanding!

Full-scale humour is guaranteed, logical thinking required in quantum dose, and above all, the appreciation of animals as beings worthy of respect is provoked! This piece is unique, interesting, and captivating, especially for lovers of indigenous fables, it brings the reader back to his roots. This commendable book is an imprint of Purple shelves, a young and thriving publishing company in Lagos, Nigeria.

About the Author

‘Anụ Gbaa Ajọ Egbe‘… is the second Igbo novel written by Ositadimma Amakeze. His first, ‘Ọgazị Amaka’ has been read in several secondary and tertiary institutions, including College of Education Umunze. In no distant time, he hopes to unveil his poetry collection which is completely tailored in the Igbo language. He is the author of ‘Teeth of a Snail’ a captivating book, which is widely read; it was read in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Ositadimma Amakeze is also the author of ‘The Last Carver’, ‘Medley of The Muse’ and others; all of which are accessible online at Amazon.com, and in bookshops.

He is the founder of Young Women & Men Creative Association (YOWAMCA), an NGO. YOWAMCA can be accessed via #TeamYowamca. Ositadimma is a certified ÓMÓ Ambassador Award winner, as well as a DICIDE Smart Ambassador. Recently, he received another prize at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. He hails from Nimo in Njikoka L.G.A, in Anambra State. He is also a Catholic priest at one of the parishes in the Awka Diocese.

What Other Readers Have Said About This Unputdownable Book!

The post Event # iyil2019 / CWN Will Be Tweetchatting With Ositadimma Amakeze About His Recent Fable Titled, Anụ Gbaa Ajọ Egbe appeared first on Creative Writing News.

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Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie will be moderating Michelle Obama’s UK exclusive book launch event, slated on Monday, 3rd, December, 2018 at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. Isn’t that exciting?! We are so envious of the people who would be attending the event!

The highly anticipated book is a memoir titled, “Becoming”

“Reflecting on her memoir, Michelle Obama will invite audiences into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her — from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she will recount her triumphs and her disappointments – both public and private – and in candidly recounting moments from her own extraordinary journey, Mrs Obama will also share life lessons learned, and inspire people to become the very best version of themselves.”

As part of her work with and in support of young people, Michelle Obama, Southbank Centre and Penguin Live will be donating 300 free tickets to secondary school pupils from across London and the UK, as well as some local charities and along with the rest of the audience will receive a hardback copy of Becoming.

We are already anticipating the great conversations that would happen at the event; two great, intelligent and accomplished women on the same stage! Get you pens and papers out for the powerful quotes that we would surely have after the event.

News reaching us is that the tickets for the event are already sold out. Don’t despair, hopefully, a video of the event would be released later on.

Were you able to get a ticket? Do tell us how it goes when you attend. Don’t keep the juicy details to yourself. You may write about your experience in the comment section, or send us a book review or opinion piece. Visit our “write for us“ page for more details

Thank you.

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The post Announcement: Winners Of The Sweet Crude Odyssey Book Tour appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Welcome to the online book tour of Sweet Crude Odyssey ! Lawrence Amaeshi’s book is one that is not just thrilling but enlightening. It is one of those books you cannot put down once you pick it up. The after effects of this enthralling book is nothing short of amazing. You just keep replaying the scenes in your mind. We are literally gushing about this book at Creative writing News.

Having said all of these, you do not want to miss this book tour. Listen to the audio excerpt, read the worded excerpt below, ask Lawrence Amaeshi questions about the book in the comment section and you stand a chance to win a copy of this wonderful book. He is available to respond to all your questions.

Don’t miss out. Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell another friend to join this book tour now. The book tour doesn’t end here neither does it end today. To increase your chances of winning, head on to lolaopatayo.com tomorrow for another exciting book tour.

This book tour is also an opportunity for budding writers to draw from the well of wisdom of this great writer. Seek some sage advice and gain first hand information on how to improve your craft (just saying).

Enjoy the book tour!

Click to listen to an audio excerpt from Sweet Crude Odyssey

I hope you enjoyed the audio recording and the excerpt. If you haven’t already read an excerpt, Click HERE to read.

Praise and Blurbs The Novel Has Received

“Never in the history of African literature has any extensive and believable work of fiction been put forward on militancy and war in the Niger Delta as is shown in Sweet Crude Odyssey.”

– Obinna Udenwe (Award-winning author of Holy Sex and Satans and Shaitans)

“Sweet Crude Odyssey is the  most influential Niger Delta novel today.”

– Chioma Iwunze-Ibiam (Blogger and author of Finding Love Again)

“I am thankful for the existence of this novel.”

– Olivia Ndubuisi (OAP and Founder of Open Book Nigeria)

Book Description/ Synopsis

15 September 2004. Bonny Island, Nigeria “Been watching you.” He let the smoke out of his mouth as he spoke. “Judging from the way you guzzled those bottles, I can tell you need a life coach. “I can make you rich. Richer than you’ve ever imagined.” In the international market, they call it sweet crude – crude oil with low sulfur content. It flows in the oil rich Niger Delta region and is targeted by oil thieves, who siphon it from the pipelines and sell to the highest bidder. Crude oil black market is staked with blood and immense wealth, encircling rich barons in international cities and savage militants down at the Niger Delta creeks.
This is the world Bruce Telema is lured into. Spurred by desperation and pulled by the allure of immense riches, Bruce plunges into this dark abyss of betrayal and destruction, striking illicit million dollar deals and battling security forces and rival militants. But steadily, even as he outruns poverty and gains a fearsome reputation in the oil cabal, death, karma and the law stay close on his heels.

About The Author

Lawrence Amaeshi writes prose fiction and non-fiction. His first novel, Sweet Crude Odyssey, was
published under the Prestige label of Kachifo Ltd. His book has been featured on Vanguard, Kirkus,
Clarion, Creative Writing News, Reader’s View amongst other renowned literary review critics. He is
rounding off a long-distance learning novel-writing course in Stanford University. He lives in Lagos with his wife and kids. He is working on his second novel.

Don’t Forget To Purchase A Copy Of This Amazing novel.

Sweet Crude Odyssey by Lawrence Amaeshi is now available on Barnes&Noble, Amazon and Okadabooks.
A review of the novel was recently published in the Arts and Culture section of BellaNaija Review and the Vanguard Newspaper

Leave your comments and questions in the comments section. The author will be here to answer you.

Thank you.

The post Welcome To The Book Tour of Sweet Crude Odyssey By Lawrence Amaeshi appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Want to know more about the book? You can read an excerpt HERE. You can also read the inspiring tweet chat on  #SweetCrudeOdyssey.

You can follow me on twitter @chiomaiwunze

The author can be followed via @lcamaeshi

The post Book Tour Announcement: Sweet Crude Odyssey By Lawrence Amaeshi appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Immediately I read the first two pages of Lawrence Amaeshi’s Sweet Crude Odyssey, I knew I wanted to make it a book of the month. And guess what? I devoured the fast-paced, gripping novel within a few hours, and I had a lot to think about. Interestingly, other literary bloggers are partnering with us on the book of the month project. They have read the book and absolutely love it.

Okadabooks.com will be sending out a review of the book and Olivia Ndubisi of @openbooknigeria will be chatting with him on a tweet-meet. Zahrah Nesbitt-Ahmed of Bookshybooks.com will be hosting the author alongside Lola Opatayo. Award-winning author, Obinna Udenwe has already conducted an indepth interview with the author. You”ll get a link to the interview when it goes live.

The book has been tagged the next biggest Niger Delta oil war novel, but I’ll tell you it’s even better. Join us on the upcoming tweet meet and online book chat. He’ll be available to take your questions.

At the end of the month, we’ll hold a giveaway. But you don’t have to wait until then. Copies are available on Barnes&Noble, Amazon, Okadabooks and Lanterna Bookstore, Lagos.

Book Description:

15 September 2004. Bonny Island, Nigeria

“Been watching you.” He let the smoke out of his mouth as he spoke.

“Judging from the way you guzzled those bottles, I can tell you need a life coach. “I can make you rich. Richer than you’ve ever imagined.”

In the international market, they call it sweet crude – crude oil with low sulfur content.  It flows in the oil rich Niger Delta region and is targeted by oil thieves, who siphon it from the pipelines and sell to the highest bidder.

Crude oil black market is staked with blood and immense wealth, encircling rich barons in international cities and savage militants down at the Niger Delta creeks. This is the world Bruce Telema is lured into. Spurred by desperation and pulled by the allure of immense riches, Bruce plunges into this dark abyss of betrayal and destruction, striking illicit million dollar deals and battling security forces and rival militants. But steadily, even as he outruns poverty and gains a fearsome reputation in the oil cabal, death, karma and the law stay close on his heels.

About The Author:

Lawrence Amaeshi writes prose fiction and non-fiction. His first novel, Sweet Crude Odyssey, was published under the Prestige label of Kachifo Ltd. His book has been featured on Vanguard, Kirkus, Clarion, Creative Writing News, Reader’s View amongst other renowned literary review critics. He is rounding off a long-distance learning novel-writing course in Stanford University. He lives in Lagos with his wife and kids. He is working on his second novel.

The amazing Sweet Crude Odyssey by Lawrence Amaeshi is now available on Barnes&Noble, Amazon and Okadabooks.

A review of the novel was recently published in the Arts and Culture section of BellaNaija Review and the Vanguard Newspaper

The post Announcing The Book Of The Month appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Like Bright Omoh Sado rightly declared, Lawrence Amaeshi’s Sweet Crude Odyssey is the new biggest novel about the Niger Delta. Published by Kachifo’s Prestige Imprint, Sweet Crude Odyssey is one unputdownable novel. And I’ve been feeling bad that I hadn’t heard of this novel until now. Anyway, better late than never, right?

If like me, you’ve been dying to read an adeptly-spun tale, here’s an excerpt of  Lawrence Amaeshi’s Sweet Crude Odyssey.

CHAPTER ONE

I felt uneasy. I couldn’t shake the thought that someone was watching me. Someone was.

The man staring at me was European, probably British from his stiffness. He wore a long sleeve shirt rolled up at the cuffs with corduroy pants. The smile on his face said he knew something he wasn’t willing to share.

He wasn’t alone. There were two women with him, clad in tight-fitting clothes – miniskirts and transparent blouses. Their table was heavy with drinks and food, but he was more interested in me.

The bar’s clientele was split between indigenous and expatriate oil workers, all in search of a good time. It was a melting pot for lovers of local music, drinks, aquatic delicacies, and assorted meat sourced from the thick mangrove swamp. Women of the night hung in the shadows along the drive-in.

It was way past midnight and guests had begun to leave alone or with company.

The clock hit 2:00 a.m. Daisy, my companion, had already retired to the hotel room, and I reluctantly rounded up for the night as well. Nocturnal insects hovered round the incandescent light bulbs and mosquitoes converged in the darkness under my table. They would have to find another victim tonight. I was done.

Then the white gentleman sat down at my table, opposite me. His cologne was a heavy, flowery fragrance with a touch of cider.

“Hi’ya, mate?” His cockney accent was thick.

I was not in the mood for small talk; I was plastered from downing two bottles of Hennessy. I looked on at the deep orange glow of my cigarette as I inhaled, aware that the bar almost empty, and brushed off a beetle that had fallen on my shirt.

“The name’s Steve,” said the Brit. “I couldn’t help but notice you. Can I bum one off you? I’m out.” He helped himself to a cigarette from my packet, lit up, and took a deep drag. “Been watching you.” He let the smoke out of his mouth as he spoke. “Judging from the way you guzzled those bottles, I can tell you need a life coach.”

He glanced around the bar, his distaste visible. “Continue down this path, my friend, and you’ll burn out fast. This is the land of not enough – near misses, misery, and strange bed fellows, ain’t it?” He jerked his head at the prowlers in the shadows. “Only so much your body can take. Would be a waste of the wonderful life you’ve never had the chance to enjoy. The one I know you’ve dreamt off everyday, Bruce.”

My head jerked up in reflex. How did he know my name?

 “I can make you rich. Richer than you’ve ever imagined.”

I was dead sure I had never met this stalker before – drunk or sober. Was my situation so dismal everybody could see it? “Mister, did I ask for your help? Mind your business.”

Steve didn’t flinch. “You are my business.”

Interesting right?

You can read the rest of the amazing Sweet Crude Odyssey by Lawrence Amaeshi in both hard copy and soft copy. Copies are now available on Amazon and Okadabooks.

You can follow the author on twitter @lcamaeshi

The post Read An Excerpt Of The Next Biggest Novel About The Niger Delta Oil War appeared first on Creative Writing News.