The palace guards stepped aside to let the King and his sister through. He bid his sister goodbye and watched as she was led through the palace by the maiden. They walked like sisters and this alone reminded him of his youth, after all her sister was years wiser and older than him.
He turned to his brother-in-law when he heard, “Who is she to you?”
“She is the one who stands beside me.”
“I see, so when will you make her your Queen?”
“Only time will tell. I still see her whenever I open my eyes.”
“No! You will not mourn for her because you are stronger with this maiden. I see how you look at her, you protect her with your eyes and she in turn does not want to leave your presence, surely if that is not love, then the gods must be sleeping!”
“What if I never get over the one I love?”
“You said it, only time will tell.”
“Let’s go back inside, these walls are lined with gold but if you look close enough you will see the ears and eyes too.”
I thought about this post today. Waking up at six and thinking about the words as I did laundry, had breakfast, left the house, finished reading a book. When I turned on the radio or pretended to move, I thought about this post.
You are very patient, aki if I were you?
If you were me, and that’s impossible because there’s none like me and there never will be, but let me indulge your fantasy for a minute. If you were me then what?
Sometimes the sheer boldness of people astounds me. It’s like walking right into incoming traffic or better yet walking in front of an Umoinner, ROG, or those Rongai matatus where exhausts and loud music are nothing if they don’t scare the life out of you!
There’s this book, Last Train from Liguria by Christine Dwyer Hickey that has me going round in circles, digging up ghosts from my past. It’s a story centered around Bella, a woman in her thirties who leaves Ireland to serve as a tutor to a young boy named Alec ( Allesandro) in Italy. Fascism, a war, love and betrayal fill the story that is told from as early as 1924, 1933 all through to 1995. It is the ability of the characters to retain their individuality that stuck with me. It’s like in reading all 392 pages of the story,I never really knew the characters, like they slipped through my fingers and I cannot find them.
So, what? Why would that intrigue me? Well, patience grasshopper, it is an art that I have tried to master and also appreciate and it nagged me so much that I had to call my mentor to seek some closure. Why couldn’t I create characters like that?
His first question was why would you want to create such characters?
I said power. Every character wants something and even those who appear not to, cease to be bystanders at some point in the story.
He laughed. I heard him laugh as though it was a joke, but I was frustrated. When I am frustrated I cry and God knows why tears flow out of these eyes when all I want is to toss stuff and leave everything around me in ashes, but he laughed and then asked me to talk to him about the book. When I ran out of credit, he called back and listened.
So do you see why its bugging me? I asked hoping to have his understanding.
He simply asked, have you read your books? Especially Water, have you read it?
I said yes. He cleared his throat and said I mean really read it, like you were the reader and not the writer editing her work.
I said I haven’t. I could not, not really.
He said, Read it and then call me.
So now, I have to read my own book and suddenly I wonder what I will find in there. Typos, definitely. I know there has to be at least one typo, but what else? Will I love it or hate it and why should I read the second book in the series and not the first?
He said, well, people think that it is the first step that makes all the difference but it’s the second step that actually does because it determines whether you’ll go back to where you were or proceed with your journey.
“The sun shines but it does not burn itself. It is like the rain for it has someone to fall and rise for. The sun rises and falls for the moon, whom do you rise and fall for My King?”
—-Ulioko.
It’s been a wonderful journey in writing this series. What started as an idea grew into not one but three books and this morning I stared at myself in the mirror and asked why couldn’t you just write one book?
The truth is I couldn’t. Each book depicts a phase in Prince Ustawi’s life and to have it all in that book would be to overload the reader. There are books that do that to you. I did not want that.
Secondly, I had to grow in my writing and to space them out in four books was my way of achieving that.
As I take my time with Earth, I also pick up on where I lean on as a Writer and its a process that has me going back to the first book, Fire, to see how it all adds up. Every character wants something. In The Currents Series it all started with a vision and as we come to a conclusion did it come to pass or not and how have the people of Leo changed? What can we learn from them? What about monarchy and democracy and betrayal? Where does a ruler draw the line between truth and treason? How does he rule?
There is also a focus on marketing and book distribution. I was to draft a plan and email it to my Mentor, but so far I have nothing and before he calls me up to ask about it, I will sit down and come up with a working draft.
Until then, it’s more writing and editing until the book’s ready.
The story of Prince Ustawi began with the desire for a legacy and it burned like Fire.
The one who crossed the river daily marveled at the strength and determination of water, for it made its way across the strongest rocks and with time it became nothing but the earth beneath the river.
Ustawi came as a gift wrapped up in a vision that kept his uncle awake every night. He was born after three daughters: Amani (Peace), Amina and Alipo (The one who is present)
As the years went by even the tree could not tell when it would fall, but the wind swayed and even the strongest of trees swayed.
And so:
A boy was born in Leo
He grew up in Leo
He was banished from his own land by his Father, and now…he wants what belongs to him.
He is coming for his throne and no one…not even the gods, The Mighty Mie would stop him.
Earth is the final book in the Currents Series. So, how do I feel about it?
I am not okay.
I have been working on this series since last year and to have gotten to this point seems more like a milestone to me regarding my writing. I have always been one to write about romance and to have ventured into literary fiction and folk tales was never in my mind. So, I started with Fire and let it take me deep into a land where I met an intelligent drunk, a brave daughter, a tormented Seer, a loyal Warrior and most of all- people full of love and understanding of how a society should be.
I still have a long way to go before I release Earth– but one thing is certain, I am giving this my all because the curtain closes on the Land of Leo with this book. So, if you have been following the story of this young Prince and cannot wait to know what he makes of his life, then you will wait for a while as I let him lead me into his world.
Until then,
Grab a gourd of royal wine from the land of Leo by visiting The Currents Series page on this blog. I hope Ulioko entertains you 🙂
The first time I thought of writing The Currents Series, I was seated at Java in Kisumu with a friend. We had just ordered some mocha (I love an iced-mocha) and he was telling me about how frustrated he was with his parents especially his Dad for expecting so much of him. He had school, piano lessons and was also working part time for the family business, and it was taking a toll on him.
He said, “It’s like his business is some throne that I’m supposed to sit on whether I like it or not.”
And that’s when I thought of writing about a young prince who had to rise to power, and take after his Father whether he wanted to or not. I remember scribbling a text and saving it as a draft.
I did not think about it for the next three months.
Then one day, as I was in a matatu making my way from work, I heard these two women talk about a Nigerian movie where the Prince was forced to marry and abide by the customs but he chose not to and instead married a blind girl whom he truly loved. I remember thinking, that could be a great story line- but when I arrived home I was too exhausted to do anything but sleep.
I did not think much of the idea until the next Saturday morning when a friend asked me if I was still writing.
So, I started by writing bits and pieces of the story. I started with the names of the kingdoms and the characters. I went with Kiswahili because each name represented something, and as days went by I carried a notebook where I would write down scenes and phrases that came to mind. I sat down one weekend and typed it all.
When I was almost done, the lights went out and I had only saved half of the work. So, I resumed my typing the next evening.
I procrastinate, and I come up with many ideas while working on one- which often causes me to lose sight of what I am working on, so I had to set up an outline (thank you Stephen King but some discipline is needed!).
I had this structure that included a sequence of events that I had to follow while writing, and I stuck with it. The best part of finishing that first book came in on December 27, 2014.
I remember holding my books, touching the cover and reading it in print and thinking, “this is what it feels like.” I mean, it was my first book in the Series, I had done everything from designing the cover, selecting the font and simply putting it out there.
But no one told me how to market the book. How was I going to get people to read it?
So, when my friends and family members bought it and read it- they started demanding for the next book. I was not ready. I remember thinking, “now what!” but the book was needed and so I had to write and I have been since then.
So, what did I learn while writing a series:
Have an outline. Yes, there’s that whole Stephen King debate about plunging in- but it works for him, if you are writing and seriously considering publishing an outline is the best guide you’ll ever have. You need to focus on the plot and not lose track of the story line.
Readers do not love you if you leave them hanging at the end of every book. In my case, I have done so gently, but I still got complaints of major cliffhangers! Each book in the series needs to highlight a major aspect of your plot while advancing it, ensure that your reader moves along with you…maintain a steady pace.
Get an Editor. Yes, I did not have one for my first book and though it turned out well, it could have been excellent with an Editor. If you cannot afford one, look for your English Professor and ask him/her to read it, because you might not know the tiny mistakes that slip by while you write. An Editor is like a picky eater, they consume only what is necessary. You need to weed out unnecessary words and scenes in your book.
Overnight success is an illusion. Write. If you think you’ll make millions in less than a year, well, let’s just say that it depends on what you are writing, but you need patience.
Yes, and your friends and family may be great supporters of your work, but nothing keeps a book afloat more than word of mouth- or sharing buttons in sites! They should not just tell you they love the book. They should share the links on social networking sites, and write reviews to help spread the word.
This series was personal for me. I have written and submitted manuscripts to publishers before and never got any feedback. There was one time that a publisher called me to say that he wanted someone less “White” and more “African.” His words were “Your story is good, but the English is just not like our people, you know…we are looking for something more African.” I have written articles and I decided it was enough when I read my work under someone’s name. It hurt even more when I wrote three articles only to be paid for one under the guise of inadequate funds. I remember sitting at home and looking at the MPESA text on my phone and thinking, “I get paid this little for that much work?”
So, I have never submitted any of my works to any publishers here since then.
I am writing the final book in the series, and I am not yet a millionaire, but my journey has been worth that idea, the blackout, and the frustration of editing and revision. Though I am not so keen on writing another series, but I would most definitely write a romance novel…I love a good romance.
There are some scenes, but for me it is mostly dialogues, that always put me in a state. Sometimes I read and ask, “where did that come from?”
Sometimes I read and nothing resonates within me, but with Wind there was a moment that made me stop and put the manuscript down and go about the house cleaning rooms I had already cleaned.
It is a conversation that takes place five harvests later between Wema (the royal guard) and Baraka (Princess Amani’s husband). Wema and Amani were in love but Amani was a Princess and she was already promised to Prince Baraka- their marriage being that one of allegiance.
Baraka tells Wema;
Sometimes when I look at her, I see it, like grey ashes that are a reminder of a fire that once raged, and sometimes when you blow on them, you see a spark, a bright orange spark that burns beneath the pile of grey, is it too much for you to be here? Would you will your tongue to tell me what is in your heart?
Wind is only seventy-five pages, but of all that is said and done in the book, this moment made something in me stop.
It is also the only bit of dialogue that was not edited out of the story, and it makes me wonder what would happen if Amani did leave her husband for the first man she loved?
She causes havoc, sometimes she comes as friend who refreshes us from the heat, and sometimes she whispers in our ears as she walks on. One thing is for sure, we never know what she’s done until she’s left.
And this is the basis of this book.
Wind is the shortest of all the books in the series. You start on chapter one and find yourself at the end with questions and emotions that make you ask, “did that just happen?”
Well, you can blame my Editor for that, or you can be nice and thank me for that.
After looking at the cover, I decided to try something and edit the cover on my own for Kindle- and I came up with this:
The paperback and ebook will have different covers- and I now know that when it comes to designing, let’s just say that “Fire” was the best design I created…and maybe Earth will be too- we’ll see.
Wind sees the introduction of two characters who play a huge role in Prince Ustawi’s possible reign as King of Leo. They are Imara and his beautiful daughter, Amara. Ustawi meets them in the forest as they are fleeing from their attackers and tends to their wounds before setting them on the right path to Leo. This move sees the people of Leo engage in a battle they did not see coming, but it also brings betrayal, hatred, anger, and desire to the life of Ustawi.
It’s good to see this through and I cannot wait to get started on editing “Earth.”
It’s frustrating especially when you have an Editor who is keen on questioning not every word but every scene and character as though you were in some CSI show trying to solve a murder! I am frustrated. However,other Writers have been through this and working with an Editor is like seeing your work in a new way. You hate it and love it at the same time but most of the time you are definitely choking your Editor in your head.
Pepper is pepper no matter how much you overcook it.
He is like a dog, just like you say, but the dog is the only beast that you will pelt with stones but it will never leave you. His acts resemble madness but remember that the man who is mad is not so without a reason.
The river is never in a hurry to get to the lake, but when it rains, it flows and takes everything to the bottom of the lake with it.
The one who has crossed the river knows where to step
Ai, it is a curse my boy. i use my tongue but the people who witness its use never have ears.
I have given myself one week to complete the revision of book three which is titled Wind and get started on the final book called Earth- and then after that…well, who knows a lot can happen in between Earth and my next writing project.
Writing a series is the best way to test your determination, discipline and focus as a writer. You write the first book and as you release it, your mind is on the second and the third…and sometimes there’s always doubt knocking on your door trying to convince you that you’ll never make it.
The greatest challenge has to be consistency and also retaining your reader’s attention, and trust me when I say that’s hard to do especially if it takes you a long time to release the next book. Why?
Well, hundreds if not thousands of books are published daily. If your reader gets bored they could always look for something else to read. If they find something and love it, they can easily forget your work.
So, that said: I am working on Wind which is the third book in the Currents Series. I am constantly learning as much as I can about the experience of those who have read the first two books- Fire and Water, and it’s much appreciated.
I have to admit that it’s taking me sometime to write this book because two characters are introduced to the story and weaving their background and seeing them fit in the story is what I’d like to perfect, but until then here’s a sneak peak at the introduction and the cover preview. I’d love to know what you think, help a writer out.
When the wind blows, even the strongest of trees sways.
He felt it while he was at the training grounds.
The people who witnessed it said they had never known the wind to have such anger that it brought down branches of the strongest trees to fall on their roofs.
When he felt the wind on his face, he put down his shield and ran right into it.
The people who saw him wondered why he would do such a thing, but he knew where he was going.
nilichoandika 