BACK TO WRITING...

 It's been a huge gap between books. My first two came out in 2006 and this year 2014, I'm finally working on my (hopefully) third children's book. Let me clear this up; it has nothing to do with laziness- writing is my calling and something I've always wanted to do since I was a child and my father buying us African and Non African works in the hope that his children's English will be impeccable. I can't say if my English is just that but I know that I'm hardly short of words when I speak to people. But I'm digressing here.
Why haven't I written more for over 6 years? Lack of motivation. With my first two, I worked very hard on them; making sure that no old stories will be 'recycled', I wanted  to give my young readers original stories; not ones they've come across before and I was able to.

But as the years went by; I stopped. While I was still able to write DAYS OF OUR LIVES fanfiction and post them at a Wordpress.com fan site and received many kind comments and maintaining two blogs; I found myself uninspired and smarting under a huge case of writer's block. When I summoned up the will to try again, I decided to try writing my first novel. But after a few pages I discarded them, feeling like I was simply writing something people would regard as drivel and rubbish.
But this year- on New Year's Day actually- I prayed to God to make this year my year of triumph and for guidance in writing more books that will be my legacy. So, I started again, children's genre this time but something again held me back. This time it was fear, fear the readers will find it mediocre or rather I would be regarded as mediocre compared to Chiamanda Adichie who recently won another writer's award for her new novel "AMERICANAH".
 How on earth could I ever compare?
But then I got some valuable advice from a lady who is like a sister to me. She said "Don't let fear stop you from attaining your goal, do NOT sell yourself short!" And another from my uncle, "Let the readers be the judge, NOT you."
So currently, I'm working on my new book with renewed energy and motivation and I don't plan to let anything stand in the way of success. Everyone please wish me luck!

Oscars' Report

This year's Oscar awards was a good one for one of my favorite Hollywood actors-Matthew McConaughey- (The Wedding Planner, Sahara, How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days) as he won the Best Actor Oscar for his dramatic and moving portrayal of Ron Woodroof in the biographical film THE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB about an AIDS patient who had to smuggle unapproved medication to curb his symptoms as well as of his fellow sufferers of the deadly disease. Since McConaughey lost about 47 pounds to play his role authentically (far more than I'm YET to do), topped with his brilliant acting, he really deserved this honor; I liked him especially as the  adventurous/humorous Dirk Pitt in SAHARA, so I'm saying a hearty congratulations to him.

I'm also happy that 12 YEARS A SLAVE earned a nomination for  Nigerian British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor, for his portrayal of Solomon Northup; who by the way really existed. He was a free slave who was kidnapped and sold into slavery and he spent several years away from his family until he was found. I didn't watch it but I did watch an earlier version of Solomon's story as a child, a 1984 television movie starring Avery Brooks - SOLOMON NORTHUP'S ODYSSEY. Ejiofor may not have won the Best Actor Oscar but he did win the BAFTA award so congratulations to him and the people behind the making of 12 YEARS A SLAVE too and let me not forget his co-star,  Lupita Nyong'o, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Patsey (and it was her acting debut!). If SOLOMON NORTHUP'S ODYSSEY could make me cry, I can imagine how tearful 12 YEARS A SLAVE must have been to the audience.





Other winners include.. .

FROZEN- Best Animated Picture

JARED LETO- Best Supporting Actor (The Dallas Buyers Club)

CATE BLACHETT- Best Actress in a Leading Role (Blue Jasmine)

GRAVITY-  Best Visual Effects

CATHERINE MARTIN - Best Costume (The Great Gastby)