Wonder boys and an Amazing Amma

Image courtesy of http://superflykids.com/solid-color-cape

In case you were wondering what my alter ego is like, here are a couple of pages from one of the stories my boys and I invented (together) about our super-powered alter egos...

Once upon a time there lived two super brothers; Wonder Nik and his little brother Super Mili. The super brothers had many wonderful powers, but they still enjoyed doing what other little boys and girls did.

One day they were playing in their backyard at home.  Wonder Nik was freezing the dogs with his ice-breath while Super Mili thawed them out with his heat vision.  Finally, when the dogs began to yelp because they’d really had enough of being frozen then thawed out so many times in one day, Amazing Amma (Wonder Nik and Super Mili’s mum) came out and told them to find something else to do.

“But there is nothing else, Amazing Amma!  We’ve played with all our toys, we’ve painted the cubby house, we’ve thrown weeds to the chickens and we’ve even played Battleship and Uno said Wonder Nik.

“Yeah,” said Super Mili.

“Well, what is it you’d like to do?  Because you certainly can’t go on tormenting the dogs,” said Amazing Amma sternly.

“Well...,” said Wonder Nik, leading up to something he wasn’t sure they’d be allowed to do.

“Yes?” asked Amazing Amma very patiently because she was an amazingly patient type of mother.

“Well...,” said Wonder Nik yet again, hesitating nervously.

“Yes Wonder Nik?  Just say it and we’ll see if it’s possible,” said Amazing Amma still being amazingly patient.

“We’d really like to go to the zoo,” replied Wonder Nik nervously.

“Yeah,” chimed in Super Mili.

“Oh that sounds like a great idea,” exclaimed Amazing Amma enthusiastically, “but I’m afraid I won’t be able to come with you.  You two will have to go on your own.  I have great faith in you being responsible, and you have your super powers to help you out if you get into any bother.  Would you like to go?”

“Oh yes please!” shouted Wonder Nik.

“Yeah!” enthused Super Mili excitedly.

“But how will we get there?” asked Wonder Nik practically; he was a very practical super-boy and liked to know the details like how they were to go somewhere or how long it would take to get there.

“Well,” said Amazing Amma, “you could take the train, bus and ferry, or since you do have super powers, you could just fly there.  All you need to do is think about where you’d like to go and your super-flying-power will get you there.”

So Wonder Nik and Super Mili set off for a day of fun at the zoo.  Within a few seconds of closing their eyes and thinking hard of the zoo, they were soaring through the air.  Super Mili opened his eyes, smiled a broad smile and said,

“Yeah!”.

Pretty soon, they could see the zoo up ahead.  They started to think about landing and before they knew it, they were getting lower and lower, and closer and closer to the ground.  Amazing Amma was right, they thought, this flying business is not so hard.  She was often right, but the super brothers still couldn’t help questioning what she said.

Now that they were at the zoo, they had to decide which animals they would visit first.

“Let’s go see the tigers,” said Wonder Nik eagerly.

“No,” said Super Mili.

“Let’s go see the rhinoceros,” said Wonder Nik still eagerly.

“No,” said Super Mili who didn’t really talk a lot.

“Ok... let’s go see the monkeys then,” said Wonder Nik slightly less eagerly as he was starting to get just a little annoyed with Super Mili continually saying no.

“No,” said Super Mili.

“Well what do you want to see at the zoo?” asked Wonder Nik, getting quite exasperated now.

“Crocodiles,” said Super Mili calmly.

“Oh!” said Wonder Nik.  He didn’t like to admit it to his super little brother, but he did want to go and see the crocodiles and he did think that was a good place to start their adventures at the zoo.

“Oh, ok then, we’ll go see the crocodiles,” said Wonder Nik, trying to sound like he was only doing Super Mili a favour and didn’t really want to see the crocodiles himself.

“Yeah,” said Super Mili confidently.  He wasn’t fooled by his wonderful big brother.  He knew Wonder Nik loved the crocodiles, that’s why he suggested starting there.  He loved his big brother very much and loved to do special things that made him happy.

Suddenly, they heard screaming coming from their right.  They knew the lions’ cage was that way, and the screams told them that something was definitely wrong.  Wonder Nik looked at Super Mili and they both knew at once that they had to go and help immediately.  They ran as quickly as they could, and that was pretty fast because they did have super powers after all.  When they got near the lions’ cages, they came to a screeching halt.  Someone had let the lions out!  There were lions roaring and people screaming and running in every direction.

Wonder Nik and Super Mili knew they had to act fast.  Wonder Nik flew straight up in the air while Super Mili ran into the lions’ cage.  Wonder Nik used his incredible-electricity-gaze to shoot electricity bolts into an enormous fence around the lions.  Meanwhile, Super Mili used his magnificent-meat-fart-power to make the lions’ cage smell so enticing to the lions that they would want to come running back.

Sniff, sniff.  The lions could smell the scrumptious meaty smell coming from their cage.  Peeeuw!  So could all the people who had been running away.  The smell was so strong that the people all fainted, which was quite handy really because it meant that Wonder Nik could round up the lions and herd them back into their cage without having to worry about what the people were doing.

Once all the lions were in, Super Mili shut the cage and used his super-hot-snot-power to seal the cage door shut, just as all the people started to recover and cheer.

“Great job!” exclaimed Wonder Nik.

“Yeah!” agreed Super Mili.

Rainy Saturday music

Some music from the Dum Dum Girls to get a rainy Saturday under way...

"Coming Down" by the Dum Dum Girls

Finding an image for my alter ego

I have admired Amazing Amma (my fictional character alter ego from stories I used to tell B1 and B2) for some time, and now I have finally found a website that can create an image of her. It's a bit of silliness to start off the week with. Head over, have a play and see what your superhero image would look like...

http://cpbherofactory.com/

The Chicken Thief - Author Interview

Today I'm taking a bit of a departure from my usual topics. I'm talking to author and blogger, Fiona Leonard about her first novel, The Chicken Thief published to Kindle. Fiona's self-confessed gypsy soul has taken her from a career as an Australian diplomat to foreign and trade policy consultant to freelance writer, blogger, home schooler and author living and writing in Ghana.

Your first novel is an extraordinary ride of emotions, quirky characters and wonderful telling. I found that the voice of the protagonist, Alois, was so strong that I often forgot that it was a white Australian woman who was the author.

How did you find the voice of this young, black African man – a bureaucrat who left his job to be a chicken thief?

Ironically, in many ways Alois (pr: Al-o-is) is a very autobiographical character. I drew on a lot of personal experiences to make his emotions ring true. For example I confess to mining many of my own feelings about being a bureaucrat to help Alois articulate his desire to leap out the window and run away! (I should note I never considered turning to a life of crime though!) To give him an African voice I drew inspiration from African proverbs. Alois uses a lot of proverbs about chickens to explain what’s going on in his life. That language and sentiment gave me a starting point to find my way into his head.

I notice that while the protagonist is a young man, he is surrounded by a group of strong women.

Why did you choose to make the protagonist male? And then surround this young man with so many women?

For a long time I thought about this book as a very male story. And I think when I first started writing it, it was. But then over the years more and more women have appeared in the story. Rose, the love of Alois’ life, stepped out of the shadows very late in the piece, and demanded to have more of a say! I liked being able to use all of the women as a mirror to different aspects of his life.

I tend to come to stories through characters, rather than having a plot I need to fit people into. I had Alois as a character and I had Gabriel, and I was really drawn to both of them. The more I got to know them the more the other characters and the plot grew up around them.

While your novel is set in an unnamed African country, the political machinations are broad enough to for readers to find parallels in other nations.

Where did you find the inspiration for the political events of the novel?

Some of the events are drawn from specific events in southern African history, going back to the Independence struggles. Some were more current, drawn from events that occurred while I was living in Zimbabwe in the late 90s and more recently.

There’s even some Australian political history in there – when I was developing the relationship between the President and his Finance Minister, I often looked to the Howard and Costello machinations for inspiration!

The novel is littered with wonderful images of Africa and Africans that ring true, and contains some terrific metaphors that seem entirely African in their nature.

Do you think there is an international market for such specifically African content?

When you are writing about one country/continent and then marketing it internationally you need to strike a balance between making it true to the setting and also making it accessible to the reader. I like to think that if a reader picks up a book set somewhere unfamiliar then they already have a sense of adventure and curiosity that makes them receptive to exploring somewhere new.

It’s an exciting time to be writing about Africa. With the events unfolding in northern Africa, there is considerable media attention focused on the continent and a genuine interest in the hopes and aspirations of the region

Self-publishing has been around for as long as the publishing industry itself, yet it has been slow to gain mainstream popularity. Despite authors like Oscar Wilde, Irma Rombauer and Christopher Paolini choosing to self-publish, many authors today seem to prefer to duke it out for limited places with large publishing houses.

Why did you choose to go down the self-publication route?

Cold calling has never been my strong suit. I would rather establish a relationship and see what evolves, instead of the first words out of my mouth being ‘please publish my book!’ So I’ve never felt comfortable with pitching to agencies (and have not been particularly good at it to date!). On the other hand, I really believe in this book and wanted to find a way to get it into readers’ hands. E-publishing felt like the right way to achieve that goal.

With so many options for self-publishing available, why have you chosen to e-publish with Kindle?

Quite simply - location, location, location.

Plus, Kindle Direct Publishing makes the mechanics of actually getting your book into the marketplace incredibly easy. There is also a very strong author community behind the scenes at Amazon where authors can exchange ideas and information. That’s an attractive support mechanism when you’re starting out.

Are you planning to publish through other means in the future?

I intend to publish in hard copy later in the year, but that will take a bit more time as it will involve sending proof copies around the world. One of the things I like about Amazon is that they offer print-on-demand, which is great for self-publishing because it means you don’t have to carry your own inventory.

What do you think are the advantages for aspiring authors in e-publishing?

I think pricing is a huge factor. Because you don’t have the overheads that publishing houses have, you can keep the price of your book right down. Many first time authors are e-publishing at $2.99 or lower. This puts you into an accessible price bracket where readers are more willing to take a risk on an unknown author because they can buy a book for the price of a cup of coffee!

I also think being forced to do your own marketing is a fantastic experience. Being your own publicist means you have to be clear about what you are selling and who you are selling to. It’s a steep learning curve but helps you to develop incredibly valuable skills whether you stick to self-publishing or approach publishing houses.

How do you think e-publishing, specifically, is useful to aspiring authors from countries in Africa, Asia and so on – countries outside of what would be considered the western world?

E-publishing, especially through a platform like Amazon, gives you the opportunity to put your writing on a shelf alongside everyone else. You don’t have to wait to be discovered, you can discover yourself! And as long as you have an internet connection, you can do it from anywhere in the world.

Social media also offers an unprecedented marketing opportunity for new authors. Apparently 70% of Facebook users and 60% of Twitter users are outside the US so these really are global platforms that are there to be capitalised on.

If you could go back six years, what advice would you give yourself with regard to writing and publishing?

It’s funny, on one hand I would like to go back and shake myself and say ‘Stop worrying and just write already!’ (with a few expletives thrown in for good measure!) There’s a part of me that is frustrated that I took so long about it. But on the other hand, I think I needed to take six years to write this story. My plot and characters needed time to evolve, I needed to grow as a writer, and I needed to find the burning desire to write.

So perhaps I would say ‘Relax, go live a bit and come back when you’re really ready to enjoy it.’

So what’s next for you? Can we expect to see another novel from you in the near future?

One of the people I had reading drafts of my novel, asked early on in the piece whether there would be a sequel. At the time I had no intention of writing a sequel, but when it came time to write the ending, I specifically left a door open just for her! I will be sitting down to start writing again in a month or so, but whether it’s a sequel, or whether I finish one of the many half written novels I have lying around, I’m not sure yet! Either way, my aim is to have another novel ready to publish by the end of the year.

I’m looking forward to starting on a new novel though. Plotting and writing is the part I really love doing, and I’m itching to get back to it.

I can't wait to see what comes next from this clever author and wish Fiona all the best luck with her current novel. I urge you to head over to Amazon and have a look at The Chicken Thief - with a free sample and at only $2.99, it's a bargain!

Shining a Light in Dark Places

Image via Wikipedia

A Picture of [Mental] Health - Images | Nyani Quarmyne

My amazing photographer friend Nyani Quarmyne has recently done a photo essay and accompanying exhibition on Mental Health in Ghana. The images are evocative, technically stunning and beautifully understated. It's a powerful series of images and the stories behind each of the individuals is tragic. These are people who have been treated in ways we, in developed nations, would consider hideously cruel even for animals.

It reminded me of a story from my own family. My mother's uncle was said to have gone mad after practising a complex form of breathing and stotras in yoga without the guidance of a guru. The story goes that his arrogance led him to believe he was sufficiently versed in the practice of yoga to attempt these techniques unguided. In yoga, there are stotras that can lead either to growth or deterioration. Even those conducted for growth, if done incorrectly, are said to lead to disaster. Apparently, my great uncle thought it wise to defy popular belief and attempt these practices on his own. It led, in turn, to his downfall. The poor man was said to have gone mad and begun attacking those around him including his own family. He was chained to his bed in due course and remained there for many years. His wife was the only one who could enter the room to bring him food. He would attack his own children and the rest of his family could only peer at him through slits in the door as his mental health rapidly deteriorated. Healers were brought to the house and a variety of traditional remedies were tried to no effect. Through all of this, he remained chained, unable to leave the room or even reach the door. Eventually, his attacks diminished, he was deemed cured and released from his chains. But I wonder how he reconciled that period in his life. I wonder if the chaining made him fall further into his mental illness and how he endured that dark period.

It also leads me to ponder how societies deal with deviance from the norm. It would seem that we humans have little tolerance of deviance and little capacity to deal with it in respectful, humane ways. We're getting better at it I guess, but it's definitely a work in progress. The shunning, hiding, disenfranchisement and mistreatment of those with mental health issues is decidedly something to be castigated. But what is the way forward? I believe we can only move forward by shining a light in dark places. This is what I think Nyani is doing with his expose of the conditions endured by those Ghanaians with mental health issues. I hope you'll take the time to look through his powerful work.

Shouting from fast cars...

Catapults ready for firing

I was standing out the front of B1's school earlier this week watching the boys fire their catapults. Now I know you're thinking of little hand-held weaponry or modest structures that fire marbles, but no. These were huge and potentially lethal. They were truly awesome and I think I was saddest of all when they were taken apart.

Anyway, as I was standing out the front of the school waiting for fine adjustments to be made, a car drove past quickly. As it went by, the driver and passenger felt, apparently, an uncontrollable urge to stick their heads out of the windows and shout something. I'd like to say it was a profanity and I was outraged. I'd even settle for being able to say it was words of encouragement for the boys. In truth though, all that could be discerned of the utterance at speed was a primal grunt. It brought to mind a story that LomL had told me about going riding on his bike and being shouted at by passing motorists. I made the mistake of asking what exactly they shouted.... "Baaamaaahmaahbaaa" was the response. LomL's response to my confused looks? "Well that's what it sounded like to me as they drove by".

I always wonder what drivers in these cars are thinking as they shout. Do they expect to be heard clearly? Do they believe that their rants are articulate and clear? Do they not see the looks of utter confusion on the faces of those they're shouting at?

Me and Julia...on the Kindle

Cover of My Life in FranceThanks to my wonderful and much adored Kindle, I had the opportunity to read Julia Child's autobiography, My Life in France. Her writing is both passionate and revelatory. The book is a testament to both her passion for food and the wondrous love and acceptance that existed between her and her husband, Paul. At no point does she exclaim her adoration for him, nor he for her, but throughout the book it is patently evident that theirs was an extraordinary love story, filled with complete respect for each other. They obviously gave each other the space to be exactly who they were.

I had previously seen the film Julie and Julia and had fallen deeply in love with Julia Child through Meryl Streep's portrayal of her. The autobiography has only served to enhance that. Mrs Child's telling of her story is charming and humble. Her enthusiasm and wide-eyed wonderment at all she encounters is positively infectious and her humility at what both she and her husband achieved is, in itself, humbling. She is truly inspiring and has become something of a hero for me. I love how she conveys both her passion for and determination to master food (particularly French cuisine) and the extraordinarily subtle way in which her adoration for Paul intertwines itself throughout her story.

The story fills me with passion for food and a terrible wanderlust. This was a woman long before her time. A pioneer in her own way and definitely an exceptional advocate for strong women everywhere. I love her descriptions of herself and her sister. What a accepting family she was raised in. One that placed almost no importance on beauty and a great deal on learning. I like Mrs Child. If I could have a dinner with anyone, past or present, she'd be at my table and we'd be sniffing and tasting everything and comparing notes to try out recipes later.