The Writing Room

  The music of the crunching of stones under my feet, the bu-dum bu-dum of my heart and a head full of grown up thoughts accompanied me as I jogged down the dirt steps. The steps led to a dirt track that resembled a squiggly mark that a child who had not yet learnt to write had scribbled on a page. My body traced its curves until I reached its end. A hop and I was on the main road which was not much different from the track, but wider. I was ready to experience the first of many firsts in my life. I ran past silent houses, free from the constant bickering of their owners. After rounding two more corners of silent houses, I reached the guango tree that guarded other silent houses. The guango tree provided shade for people and beasts. I stopped, not because I wanted solace from the blazing sun overhead. Stopping there was what travellers did when they reached that spot. Climbing atop one of the gnarled, sprawling roots of the guango tree, I gazed to my left at the far end of the ...

I sing a song I sing a song – a new song Music to the ear A song raw with emotions A song to start the year A song that soothes my wary heart that I wear on my sleeve A rare song that provides reprieve from troubles near and far I sing a song – a new song A tune from the sun’s bright ray A little light to show the way to the weary seeking eye A song to brighten the overcast morn A song to drive away the burgeoning storm A song to wean me from creeping doubt’s door A song to lift me from the sinking floor.

This Christmas will be one unlike any other for many people. With COVID-19 restrictions in place in many parts of the world, the traditional Christmas gatherings of friends and loved ones to affirm their love for each other, will be postponed until a time when such gatherings may not be harbingers of severe illness and death for vulnerable family members. But all is not lost. Instead of ruing the good old days of Christmases past, why not create a new Christmas tradition? How do you do this? Reach out to your community. Remember that Christmas is many acts of love rolled into one big celebration, so share one of these small acts of love with your neighbours and yourself. Go carolling this Christmas. If you are not in full lock-down and restricted to staying on your property, revive that age old Christmas tradition of carolling. As a family, whether you have the best singing voices or not, get up really early in the morning, don those face coverings, get the dog and spend at l...

  Have you been wracking your brain to come up with ways to promote your book? You have written your masterpiece, if only in your eyes, and you’ll be happy if a few hundred readers get access to your story, taking into account the fact that while  over 2 million books  are published in the world each year, only a small percent go on to impact the majority of the reading public.  As an indie author, you will have realised that it is challenging at best to get readers to pick up your book – at least the paying ones. However, to build a readership is a process and the strategies that I'll share with you will help you to further this process, while not necessarily bringing in the dollars right away. But don’t lose hope. You have embarked on a marathon, not a sprint when you go solo in this business. Here are three strategies to promote your book and I guarantee that you will get some positive feedback and, no doubt, some negative ones too.. Use them and see what happ...

It is the season of giving and what better gift to give than the gift of reading, whether to yourself or to friends and relatives! In this post, I explain the two genres of books and showcase the types of books under these genres. I also suggest books from each genre that have had international or national acclaim and would make great holiday gifts. Book Genres Books are divided into two genres - fiction and non-fiction.  The Encyclopedia Britannica defines fiction as follows: ... literature created from the imagination , not presented as fact, though it may be based on a true story or situation. Types of literature in the fiction genre include the novel, short story and novella. The word is from the Latin  fictiō,  “the act of making, fashioning, or molding. While “ [n]onfictional prose , is any literary work that is based mainly on fact, even though it may contain fictional elements. Examples are the essay and biography.” So you have a choice of books from w...