Erase and Rewind

 

Chapter One: Awkward Menses

 

Her period was getting embarrassing. This was her third week bleeding, and the flow didn’t seem to be abating even a little bit. If anything, it was getting worse. She was seeing double and she couldn’t quite walk in a straight line. She couldn’t tell anyone though; her father would run screaming from the room if she tried to talk menstruation with him and her brother might drive her to the hospital in a panic. This was one of those awkward times, when she wished her mother had asked her to come along, when she walked out on all of them seven years ago. Well, she hadn’t so Rosemary would just have to handle this the best way she could. She excused herself from class to go see the nurse, hoping she’d be able to get there considering her vision was blurry. 

 This was a good time to have a best friend she could call on. Unfortunately, her best friend was also her panicky brother. So, she was back to square one. She walked slowly arm trailing against the wall to the nurse’s office. Nurse Sylvester was always very concerned; her eyes went squinty and she’d lean forward to listen intently when someone was confiding their problems to her. It was as if she was trying to compensate for all the neglectful parents who abandoned their kids to her care. Rosemary didn’t buy it though. She knew for a fact that it was nurse Sylvester who’d spread the rumor that Angie Lemon had gonorrhea. 

To listen to the rest of the story, click here 

Self-Publishing Ain't for the Faint Hearted

I am on holiday right now.
Outside of my window, the dark blue swimming pool beckons.
Or maybe I could be taking a walk by the sea.

But here I am, sitting.
Writing a blog post about how goddamn difficult self-publishing is.
You know why?
Because a self published author is not only the writer, they're the publisher, the marketer, number one cheerleader, publicist, distributor...okay maybe you're not the distributor, but you gotta keep an eye on them if you don't want any surprises.
Basically, you're running a company in which you're every single position including bottle washer, maintenance, and housekeeping. It's quite exhausting and it never stops.
Just now, I'm tackling an issue that came to my attention purely by accident. I bought a gift copy of Erase and Rewind from Amazon in order to enter the gift card into a giveaway on a readers' site. I did so because of a Facebook post where someone was asking about book reviews and the site put a link in the comments.

(So yes, while you're innocently browsing your facebook or twitter, you might come across something you need/want to act on because IT NEVER STOPS).

Well I went to Amazon to get the gift card number and I get a very disheartening message:
This book is not available in your country.
So...
I wrote a book.
I published it.
But it's not available in my country.
I had already come across this issue before with Child of Destiny when my son tried to get it for his friend. I'd already spoken to my distributor about it. They dismissed as a technical issue which would be sorted out presently.
It's a month later.
It's not sorted.

I miss Pronoun like the desert misses the rain. They had an Author Happiness Liaison. Them closing down has definitely been a step back for the self-published author.
So
1. I can't get my gift card for the site until Amazon sorts this shit out.
2. The distributor should have had this shit sorted on day one.
3. I'm now wondering where else my book is 'not available'.
4. Sigh.
I'm supposed to be on holiday!
If I had even a smidgeon less passion for my writing, I'd shut this shit down and go dispense medicine.
Speaking of passion, I recently accidentally opened an author page group on Facebook. Seeing as I didn't want to just close it without thought, I left it blank for a while but now I think I know what I want to do with it. I want to write stories from prompts. Which the group members will give me. So I'm urging you all to go and join it here so you can ask me for the stories you want to read.
Have you gifted my boxset to the bibliophile in your life yet? Happy Boxing Day.

Have you had a similar experience? Hit me up and let's share solutions.

A Look Behind the Curtain

Now that you've had time to read Erase and Rewind it's time to take a look behind the scenes. A few facts that might interest you about the writing of.
First of all you might have noticed that there was some kind of foreign language in the story.

“What is that?” she exclaimed in fear taking an involuntary step back.

“Djab”, the sailor said falling to the ground.

Devil.

That language is Haitian Creole. I used google translate to write so I hope I got it right. Let me know if I fucked up huh?
I like to do that though. I like to mix and match cultures according to their lore and beliefs. A thing that I find is that there is a lot of intercourse between the cultural beliefs of different peoples. The people of Hispaniola who are featured in this story carried their beliefs in a boat from West Africa and then modified it from Christian beliefs, and the cultures of other peoples they came across. The thing is that ultimately, we all come from the same root.

This week is a good one to remember that huh?
There is also no escaping that mix and match that has taken place because it's like HIV. It gloms itself onto your DNA and you can't kill it without killing yourself.
Which makes me question all these so called cures people are claiming to have. If you've found the cure for HIV it means you can now cure viruses. All viruses. Because they all behave in the same way and that's why you can only manage them.

It's the same thing with supremacy. Be it white supremacy, kikuyu supremacy, wherever you find it in the world. People think it's a cure but it's not. It's a blindfold. A blindfold to assist the person donning it to escape from reality.
One thing I like about myself and it's reflected in the way I write is that escaping from reality is not in the cards. My books might give you a new way to look at that reality, a way to gain new perspectives; but not to kid yourself about it.
Some people don't like that. They prefer the 'bury your head in the sand' approach. More power to you. :)

And Now...For My Next Trick

It's been about...twelve days since Erase and Rewind was released. I'd like to thank you all for all the copies of Child of Destiny you've bought as a result...Very confusing but gratifying nevertheless.
I did manage to get my first review for Erase and Rewind and it was FIVE STARS!
Wooohooo!
Whoever you are Kindle Customer, I'm so happy you enjoyed the book.
I was thinking about maybe doing a sequel but then you guys seem more interested in Child of Destiny so maybe I concentrate on that sequel. It's more than half written but life has been happening at a 2016 rate so...
Is anybody having an epic 2016?
I won't complain because I haven't missed a meal, my son is alive and healthy and I have work to do, and y'all enjoy my books.
At least a little bit.
Yeah?

Well so anyway, pretty soon I shall be unveiling the #eraseandrewind challenge to take advantage of the current social media craze and give you another reason to buy the book.
 It involves reading.
In accents.
Will you join me?

Launch Week Day 5!

Hi! Now that we've had time to buy and read...haven't seen any reviews yet though...maybe y'all should get on that;
TIME TO ENTER THE COMPETITION!
Fill in the form below and enter to win.
Mwah!

Launch Week Continues: Erase and Rewind

Wow it's been three days of my first ever launch week campaign.
Learning curve people, learning curve.
So...
I got this new book out right?
Erase and Rewind?
You mighta heard me talking about it?
Funny thing.
Y'all are acting like I'm promoting Child of Destiny...
Were you guys just WAITING for that price to come down so you could buy it?
Readers are like sooo...unpredictable.
Anyways, here's Erase and Rewind once again. Click on the preview. Read. See if you'll enjoy.

Do you enjoy magic? Stories about magic? Lore? Mythology?
I love it. I love the way different cultural beliefs are similar and different.
There is a lot of lore surrounding twins; what powers they have, what they can do...whether or not theyr'e from the devil...
So Rosemary is a twin.
Her father is also a twin.
Rosemary is the only female in this double twin family.
It puts her in a unique place to break a family curse.
And that's all I'm telling you.
Buy the Book.

Erase and Rewind: Book Launch Day!

It's Launch Day! for Erase and Rewind...your surprise November book.

I like to let the book speak for itself, so click on the preview and...preview it. I'll just...wait here.

Did you like it? Was it good? Alright so what's next?
Click on buy of course. And while you're there you might as well click on Share as well. Best to be thorough.
Now here's where it gets good.
For one thing, there's a prize to be won for just buying the book. And here's how you win it:
1. Have you liked my face book page? If not, do that. Just scroll to the top of this page and find the icon for 'Facebook Page'.
2. Join the launch party event by clicking on 'going' on Facebook or registering on eventbrite below.
3. Shop. You can click on the buy now link above, shop now on Facebook or go to bit.ly/EraseandRewindbookpage
4. Read the book.
5. Leave a review/fill in the sign up form.
6. Get in the draw to win a prize

In addition to ALL of this awesomeness, all my other books are half price this week. huh? HUH?

In addition to all of this, I have a proposition for you...unfortunately it isn't dirty...
If you're a writer you know how hard it is to get people to review you right?
Well, I have a new system; probably it's an old system but I just thought of it...
You buy the book if you feel it's your cup of tea, you read it, review it and send me the link to your review. When you do that, I send you your money back. Win win.
If it's within this launch week, you also qualify to enter for the prize.
Win win win!
Who's in?

Countdown to Book Launch

Erase and Rewind

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Announcing My Book Launch!

Surprise!

I have a present for you; an #newbook is out and will be available from November 3rd everywhere ebooks are sold. 

Even more exciting? It's only 99 cents!

This book is science fiction/fantasy which I'm told is a topic not many African authors tackle. I'm not even going to give my opinion; once the book is available on amazon I'll just post the link to the preview and y'all can judge for yourselves if it's worth buying.

I think it is.

In honor of the launch of Erase and Rewind Creativity Defined will carry out a promotion and here's what's gonna happen.

• Like my Facebook page
• Sign up for the launch party event
• Click on 'shop now' and buy the book.
• Fill in the form below
• Or leave a review on Facebook or the book site
• Get the chance to win the prize (pics in the form below).
• BONUS: All of my other books will be half price during launch party week!

Now isn't that a great way to begin November?

Here's the form; don't fill it out until AFTER you buy the book.