I hope your days have been tender.

For my part, I’ve been in the midst of balancing clinic days with the work of creating. I finished up National Youth Service; I started service around the same time promotion had just started for The Bone River, and it’s been rewarding; my clinical skills are the sharpest they’ve ever been, but I’m just happy to be done, can’t lie. As writing stories and preparing to write stories has me in an oddly ritualistic mood, I’ve gone back to the things that remind me of who I am and the stories I look up to. I’ve also put down the first words of my next novel, which I promise is a sequel to The Bone River. Finding Afem and Heych (wherever she may be!) has not been as scary as I thought, but then again, reconnecting is easy when you never really left…

I have two things to share with you for the month.

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Awards and Where to Find Me in June.

Commensalism, or the Labyrinth’s Vessels” is a 2026 Ignyte Award Outstanding Short Story Finalist ✨

I am honoured to be sharing this ballot with incredible authors. This story means so much to me, and I am grateful to everyone who nominated it. To everyone who read a conversation between a chef from Lagos and the super-intelligent slime mould that conquered Earth and shared it with their people, thank you!

I’m grateful to editors Olivia Kidula and Somto Ihezue for believing in the work, and to the other amazing people at Will This Be A Problem for giving this story a home. Finally, to all my friends and colleagues, for all the amazing feedback as it was coming to life, and for cheering me through every rejection email.

Other stories that feature on the finalists’ list are Descent by Wole Talabi (Clarkesword) for Outstanding Novella, and We Begin Where Infinity Ends by Somto Ihezue (Clarkesword) for Outstanding Novellete, as well as Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, Harmattan Season by Tochi Onyebuchi and A Song Of Legends Lost; all for Outstanding Novel.

You can vote for Commensalism and all the other amazing stories across all categories till August 16th.

VOTE FOR COMMENSALISM

In other news, I will be in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom, this month for the 2026 Boldoz Books and Arts Festival!

The theme is Sio Uyo, which translates to “Speak up”. It resonates because of the need for all of us to lend our voices to the many injustices and indignities around us every day.

I love Festivals; the opportunity to meet readers and writers will always excite me, and I happen to be from Akwa-Ibom, so this is everything to me. I’ll be speaking on a panel and meeting, signing copies of The Bone River, so come through with your questions and —as always—ask me for a fun pose! I cannot wait to see you all.

Be The Rain

The words come from The Unbroken by C.L Clark, a sapphic fantasy that I read in recent weeks, a secondary world, queernorm fantasy that still succeeds in examining the ills of colonisation, discrimination and hatred. Even with Luca, one of its main characters being a sympathetic monarch, it critiques colonialism poignantly, even down to the dynamics between her and Tourraine, a lieutenant in the colonial army kidnapped from her home country of Qazāl as a small child.

“We pray for rain” are words first uttered by the people of Qazāl as they work towards the liberation of their land from colonial rule, and over the course of the story, something new is asked of Tourraine.

That transition stuck with me, because it calls on us to be involved. Silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and with everything happening in Nigeria, with all the death we’ve seen become a part of our daily life, with the hardship that permeates everywhere, weighing shoulders and backs down, it’s not unexpected that we look up, praying for rain, but for the change we need we must be the rain— act in neccesity to bring about change knowing the cost.

It is a terrifying thing to ask of us, but omo, it is that or extinction by slow, painful strangulation.

So..Be The Rain! (Also, get your PVC)

What I’m Enjoying

📖 Reading

From novels to short fiction, I enjoyed the stories I read while I was away.

THERE IS NO ANTIMEMETICS DIVISION was my first foray into the world of SCP, and it does my favourite thing; it takes deep SciFi x horror concepts and uses them to explore the human condition deftly. Interconnected high- concept stories blow your mind with every page and I recommend it if you love skin-crawling, mind-bending “Black Mirror-esque worlds

Caged Ocean Dub is a Nigerian Surrealist dream (abi is it a nightmare) that defies classification with every story. Available from Masobe Books, it is a great place to get into Nigerian Speculative Fiction. My favourite stories on this read were Ngozi Ugegbe Nwa and Kikelomo Ultrasheen.

The Crimson Vigilante kept me on edge for pages and pages, and with time finally freed up, I tore through hundreds of pages in hours. Can’t say much because I no wan spoil, but this is real crime thriller shit!

The Sword of Kaigen has worldbuilding enough for three books, characters you can’t help but root for, and page-turning action sequences. Peak Fantasy because M.L Wang will always deliver.

The Left Hand of Darkness is an examination of our relationship with gender and sex and how it has affected our evolution as a species. It is remarkable, and I’m glad I’ve finally read Ursula K. Le Guin

📺 Watching

I watched a lot of things.

I enjoyed The Testaments, and now I wish I’d seen The Handmaid’s Tale, but its Margaret Atwood’s work interpreted so efficiently I just might watch it too.

Mother Mary was an unnerving musical x horror, and Perfect Days was a patient, contemplative film with so many amazing shots.

Remarkably Bright Creatures felt like a warm hug, Project Hail Mary made me a hopeful human for exactly one week, and Hamnet made me ugly cry (Jessie Buckley deserved every one of the awards in her clean sweep)

On a Final Note

Thank you, as always, for your support. We’re up to four hundred and fifty subscribers, and yes, I still do a little dance for every subscriber and supporter. I’m grateful for everyone who reads my work and follows this documentation of my journey.

To stay up to date with my doings, follow me on Twitter (again, their parents named them Twitter) for book updates and ramblings outside of here + Instagram and TikTok for other posts and short videos.

Happy Pride 🏳️‍🌈

Nkereuwem.

First of all (don’t say it); Cheers to Four Months of The Bone River!!

This month, The Bone River reached points I only allowed myself to think of at the back of my mind, behind like two cartons of doubts I only shifted aside to enable the work the novel asked of me.

The first of those achievements was making the 2026 British Science Fiction Awards longlist for Best Novel.

The longlist featured nearly thirty nominations for African writers across all categories; it is an honour to have this recognised alongside so many amazing novels and stories. Voting is open for BSFA members till February 19th.

The Bone River also hit a remarkable landmark: TWO THOUSAND COPIES SOLD!

Thank you to everyone; booksellers, fellow authors and friends across the industry, bookclubs and above all, readers: this does not happen without all your support.

I started writing again eight years ago, and I wrote The Bone River across four of those years. In that time, I quoted a Maaza Mengiste tweet so often that my friends rolled their eyes (lovingly, ijn):

“The work is the work.”

The words became a creed to remind me that nothing can substitute for actually writing. “Control what you can,” I’d tell myself as I wondered whether a story would get accepted, “Tell the best story you can.”

It worked, and for a while, I could see where I was going clearly enough that my doubts were easy to brush off, but recently I had to admit to myself that I…am in unknown territory.

You Are Here

I first encountered the words of poet David Whyte on a night I was scrolling online instead of editing the final draft of The Bone River. In an interview, Whyte shares his views on finding yourself in an ever-changing world. He quotes Dante and David Wagoner’s “lost”, but his own words stayed with me:

“How do you know that you are on your path – because it disappears. That’s how you know. How do you know that you are really doing something radical? Because you can’t see where you are going. That’s how you know. And everything you have lent on for your identity has gone. And so you are going to enter the black contemplative splendours of self-doubt, at the same time as you are setting out on this radical new path.”

I lean on the “dreaming is free” ideology, and it has meant I do not stand in the way of my imagination, in my work and in my life. Like me, there is something you want to do. A dream you know will demand everything. You are walking towards this vision of that future, but you do not entirely know how you will get there.

Significant change comes on the back of radical action, but as the forest sprawls out around us, we find ourselves worried: How do we go where we do not know?

I find it helps to ground myself. I am not lost—I am here. I remind myself that I was not always where I am, and I could not see where I was going then either, but I made it here. When I work, I focus on what each paragraph is supposed to achieve, or a chapter’s role in the grand scheme of the book. I do a little bit every day because it adds up.

When I hesitate, I take stock of what I know. I know I want my work to mean something to me; it is—first and foremost— an affirmation of my ability to create, to stir my soul. Beyond me, I know I want my work to be to others what some stories I’ve read in my life are for me; work that met me at the very point I needed it. I want people to remember the people who put them on fondly (and sorry if it isn’t fond anymore by then). I remind myself that the universe rewards risk, but it is easier to take risks when you trust yourself.

Practice because it makes letting go of the fear easier. Whatever work you do, sharpening your instinct through study and effort is tried and tested. It looks different for everyone, but when you’ve given what your work asks of you, as the path disappears, you’re less likely to hesitate.

You Are Not Alone

On the day of my book launch, I was approached by someone who’d recognised me (because I am now very famous). Once I confirmed my identity, he asked me if I’d heard of a concept in Efik spirituality. That surprised me, because I had not encountered many people who knew of it, let alone a chance encounter in a bookstore. Our conversation revealed we had unintentionally collaborated for years; For years, Tete Akoda had written many articles and research papers I’d read and referenced, and even built an app that translated English to Efik! A tool that saved my life as I wrote my novel.

I was in awe. To do so much thankless work? crossing rivers and visiting ancient alcoves to help preserve your culture? Amazing. I could not believe it existed when I began my own research, and I was grateful for the opportunity to thank him for being there for me without knowing. We’d never met, but that chance encounter reminded me of a truth I hope we all hold on to.

You are not alone.

Creating can be a solitary journey, and you can feel lost in the pursuit of your dreams. Remember that these “phases” where we feel lost or ‘in the dark’ are natural precursors to new ideas, and that everyone around you is also figuring it out. We’re all in what David Whyte calls the “contemplative splendours of self-doubt” together, all seeing things differently, some seeing more than others at different points. You will learn from what was seen by those who came before you, and those on the journey with you.

Collaborating with the people around you is an important part of our journey. The world wants you to see other dreamers as your enemy. I hope you try to see them as you see yourself. Do not be afraid to ask for help, to work with others. A tree stands on its own, but whether it is in a forest or not, it is not alone; its roots run deep, sharing with those around it, providing shade and life and air, and receiving in return.

I may not fully know how I will get where I want to be, but I will get there, because I know where I am, and I know that I am not alone.

Updates

I’m currently working on Super Secret Untitled Project #1, and I’m having a great time. It’s a lot of the stuff I like to do before I get to writing: character bibles, plot outlines, and the works. I’ve known where I want to go with this work for a while, but I’ve never been at this point, so I’m going to do my best to do right by the work and make sure the novel that gets to you is the best it can be. The title will be announced soon, as well as a release date!

Because I am benevolent (and kind), here’s the first title of the first act:

Until then, there’ll be more events for The Bone River, and hopefully, there’s one in a city near you soon. Exciting things are in the works, and I cannot wait.

What I’m Enjoying

📖 Reading

I’ve read five books so far this year, and I’m pleased to announce I’m finally reading The Way of Kings, book #1 of Brandon Sanderson’s The Stormlight Archive series.

I started the year with a re-read of Pierce Brown’s Red Rising Series, and I got through Golden Son (RR #2) and Morning Star (RR #3). A Space Opera that does everything I love in a good novel: epic fight sequences, amazing character work x worldbuilding, and Darrow!

I also read The Memory of The Ogisi, the final book in The Forever Desert novella series. All the books in this series can be read individually, and each breaks your heart while teaching you a lesson in the way empire operates, and the ways we prop up the systems subjugating us.

I finally read Han Kang’s The Vegetarian, and I cannot believe it took me this long to read it. The premise seems simple enough; a wife chooses to be a vegetarian, and that simple subversion of her old life throws everything and everyone. Will read more Han Kang. I also got an ARC of They Made us Blood and Fury, Cheryl S. Ntumy’s upcoming fantasy novel and cannot wait till you all read it.

📺 Watching

I watched a few movies, but my Oscar Snub of the year, Park Chan-Wook’s No Other Choice, has been the pick of the bunch. I also really enjoyed Mars Express—a French science fiction film set on Mars (obviously lol), and A24’s Eternity, a romance set in the pre-afterlife.

With my anime-watching powers restored, I got to watch Jujutsu Kaisen’s Culling Game arc (Praise Maki Zen’in!). I also started HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the Dunk and Egg novellas by George R. R Martin. I read Dunk and Egg years ago, and the series has delivered everything we loved about the original series at its best.

On a Final Note

Thank you, as always, for your support. We’re up to four hundred and fifty subscribers, and yes, I still do a little dance for every subscriber and supporter. I’m grateful for every one that reads my work and follows this documentation of my journey.

To stay up to date with my doings, follow me on Twitter (again, their parents named them Twitter) for book updates and ramblings outside of here + Instagram and TikTok for other posts and short videos.

See you soon.

Nkereuwem.

🖊️What I Wrote

The Bone River🐍

This year, I experienced one of the biggest changes of my lifetime: the publication of my debut novel. I spent the first half of the year in physical and digital rooms with my editors, beta readers, and artists, working to get The Bone River ready for the world. By September 26, 2025, readers were able to hold my debut novel in their hands, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

I also got to tour!

I took my debut novel around Nigeria, with over fifteen engagements and events across five cities: Abuja, Calabar, Kaduna, Ibadan and Lagos. It never ceased to amaze me—with every hall and every question from the audience—to have met with so many who engaged with my work with care and showed up for The Bone River!

I spoke at the Ake Books and Art festival, my first time as both an attendee and a guest, and spent time with various authors, including the amazing people from the African Speculative Fiction Society. For the three days, I was surrounded by people who shared my love for storytelling and books. I got to meet so many amazing readers and lovers of the good work; friends from the internet made flesh, and new friends made. I saw my book in so many hands. I saw Heych’s scalp tattoo in real life!

With so many newspaper and magazine features, we closed out the year with more good news: The Bone River made two EOY lists. Brittle Paper’s list of 100 Notable African Books of 2025 features books by authors I’ve read and looked up for years, and to have TBR next to their names? dream-like stuff. The Bone River also made Afrocritik’s “Notable African Books of 2025” list.

All this for a sapphic urban fantasy set in Calabar. So, you see? A crazy year

Short Fiction

I had three short stories published this year.

“Commensalism, or the Labyrinth’s Vessel, where a down-on-his-luck Lagos chef debates existence with the superintelligent slime mould that conquered his world, features in Issue #5 of “Will This Be A Problem: The Anthology. I’m immensely proud of this story; to be featured alongside my peers from all over Africa and the diaspora was an honour.

My second story for the year was in SFF Magazine Fusion Fragment. A Treatise of Significance to Uyo Above features a climate-ravaged Nigeria with floods x radioactive storms, a young scientist, and the spirit-bot he suspects is housing his father’s soul. I really enjoyed writing this story, and it is available to read for free in FF #26 alongside amazing stories and poems (consider leaving a tip).

My final story out this year was Pieces of Me, a contribution to Ekondo Review #1, a gathering of stories by writers from Akwa Ibom and Cross River. Available to read for free, Usiak-Utin is a worthwhile endeavour I was honoured to be considered for, and the talent in this issue is remarkable. Pieces of Me happens to be the story where Heych’s family is born, and I am glad people get to read it again. Do check it out.

These stories are eligible for upcoming awards (consider nominating my work!)

The Bone River Giveaway: Winners

I announced the ten winners of the Ufan giveaway across my social media platforms. Between the winners who got over ten nominations and those who were chosen by raffle, we enjoyed this process. Winners will be contacted and will receive their copies of The Bone River in the coming days.

Thank you to my friends Anthony Azekwoh, Patricia Beshel, Josephine Inika and Bankole (Just Bankole) for sponsoring copies and ensuring this outpouring of love and friendship happened

2026: Works-In-Process

Almost everything I submitted this year got picked up (with one thing in final consideration), so that’s a yay for me! In fairness, I didn’t submit much, but I’m glad to talk about what I’m working on.

Title-Reveal-Soon (The Carnival #2):

What if I told you I’ve already begun drafting the sequel to The Bone River? Because I have, so you can stop threatening me in the comment sections guys!

I will take some much-needed rest from the whirlwind that was this year, but work on Book #2 is underway. I love this world and these characters and cannot wait to sit in the outline we may or may not burn and redo, and continue to follow Afem and Heych into the madness that Calabar has in store for them.

The title? Well, watch for that.

“Quintessence, or the Nature of Fetters” is a short story I submitted to an anthology collated by the amazing people at the ASFS in collaboration with Vector Magazine x British Science Fiction Association. It follows a family at the heart of a globally transformative technology, the ability to mine human souls and save them. It is written in interview style, following the father and his first son, stylistically different from anything I’ve written before, and will serve as a teaching tool for science ethics lectures at Imperial College (I knowww)

I cannot wait for you all to read it.

I have the ideas for my next short fiction, and I hope I get to go to space again, or the ocean’s depths! Those are the two I’m fixated on because they push me to be better.

What I Enjoyed

📖 Notable Reads (10+)

I read thirty-one books this year, and I these were some of my favourites:

The Truth of the Aleke by Moses Ose Utomi

Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase

The Year of Return by Ivana Akotowaa Ofori

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L Wang

Neccesary Fiction by Eloghosa Osunde

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez

How to Get Rid of Ants by Jesutomisin Ipinmonye

Seeri by Chiamaka Okike

The Dance of Shadows by Rogba Payne

Butter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

Jade City by Fonda Lee

📺 Notable Watches

SINNERS (2025) Dir. by Ryan Coogler

ANDOR (S1-S2)

WHEN NIGERIA HAPPENS (2025): Dir. by Ema Edosio. Written by Bayo Oduwole

KPOP DEMON HUNTERS! (2025)

FRANKENSTEIN (2025) Dir. Guillermo Del Toro

AVATAR: FIRE AND ASH (2025) Dir. James Cameron

PANTHEON (S2)*

PLURIBUS (S1)

On a Final Note

Thank you for coming on this journey with me. As usual, if you’re ever unsure about where to find me, I’m most active at my newsletter, and news and updates also appear on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok; follow me and stay with us!

Wishing you a happy New Year in advance. Cheers!

— Nkereuwem.

In our world, everyone is a universe unto themselves, but as we weave through each other’s lives, sometimes we’re held in place, bound by the threads of a friendship formed. Our friends anchor us when life thunders, they brighten dark days and ease burdens.

That being said, when I announced the giveaway for my novel, like the antagonists in many Christmas movies, I…underestimated the power of friendship.

The Bone River giveaway closed with 280 entries, and with them, hundreds of messages. With every year feeling like we’re living through unprecedented times, the things that matter most always find a way to survive, and your messages of goodwill, love and affirmation are proof that we are all in this together.

One of the reasons I wanted to do this was my friends, who have been with me every step of the way. They followed me to cities we’d never visited to meet readers, and kept late nights as we worked on character art, glyphs and character deconstructions. They helped me cover hospital shifts and urged me to pursue this dream as if it were the last one I would have.

The other reason is that I am grateful. To readers for engaging with this work with care and joy. For every post about The Bone River–every repost, share or comment. For everyone who reads and urges others to read, shouting from the rooftops for a book by your mutual–for the “oomf” book. Everyone who annotates their copy and journals + is already threatening me to release book two. For everyone who has heard about The Bone River and has my little urban fantasy on their TBR (lol), or who has read it and left a review.

Sosongo. Thank you!

Your support has made this usually solitary journey a delight, and in the spirit of good cheer, I’m pleased to announce we will be raising the number of winners to TEN!

Winners will be announced by the 26th of December 2025 and contacted on how to pick up their copies of The Bone River

All the best,

Nkereuwem

The Bone River has been in the world for almost three months, and the reception has been phenomenal. This book was once a dream I hid in the depths of my being, and now that it is in your hands—in our hands— this reality surpasses dreams.

Over the time it took to bring The Bone River into the world, I have been honoured by the gift of friendship, from the long list of people in the acknowledgements and then some, to you all, readers, booksellers and supporters of the good work. This novel would not have been possible without you all, so with Christmas approaching, a few of my friends have something for you.

We will be giving away five copies of The Bone River, and you can help ensure that someone you think deserves it is in with a chance. Click this link to fill out the form; leave a message for your person and, in doing so, enter them in the giveaway, because friendship!

THE BONE RIVER GIVEAWAY

The deadline for the entry into the giveaway is 23rd December 2025, so get into it! The winners will be announced by Boxing Day, and we will be in touch with the winners after that.

I’m able to do this because of everyone who showed up to an event during my tour. Every post about The Bone River– every repost, share or comment. Everyone who reads and urges others to read, who annotates their copy and journals, and is already threatening me to release book two. For everyone who leaves a review, or has The Bone River on their TBR (lol) and says so:

Sosongo. Thank you.

This is the beginning of an amazing journey; we’re going to have so much fun.

NK.

First of all (don’t say it); Happy Two Monthiversary to The Bone River!!

As you all know, we have been on tour, so, for the first time in weeks, I am sitting in my own room and I have so many things to tell you about. Interestingly enough, some of these things involve shared memories, and as I toured for my debut novel all of November, I met more of you than I thought was possible. As we shared moments grounded in our love for storytelling, I found myself trying to record as much as I could, and this got me thinking about memory.

I think about memory a lot: about collective memory and the challenge to it that the present times are, about the way empires thrive by controlling the narrative, and about personal memory and how much our flawed recollections make us into who we are.

I know I can trust my memory, maybe not with all the details, but with feeling. So with that, I will tell you about one of the most transformative months I’ve had in years.

Ake

A year ago, I was invited to the Ake Books and Arts Festival 2025, an annual gathering of lovers of literature and art. I have never attended Ake, so my first time at the festival would be as a guest.

The theme for this year was “Reclaiming Truth”, so I spent a lot of time asking myself what that meant to me, so when I was asked, I’d have an answer that didn’t sound one kind. In the end, I realised that all of human existence is a constant reclamation of truth; all the art we create as we try and understand ourselves, all the scientific endeavours we undertake as we try to understand our world and our place in the universe. Truth is always challenged because of what it asks of us: to know the truth and not act to ensure it is upheld is a failing humans are constantly guilty of, so we cover things up and muddy the waters so we can go on with our injustice and manufacture consent for atrocities, etc

We know the truth liberates, but freedom is not free, so we stay bound.

An important theme, considering the times we live in.

Being at Ake Festival filled my heart.

For the three days, I was surrounded by people who shared my love for storytelling and books. I got to meet so many amazing readers and lovers of the good work; friends from the internet made flesh, and new friends made. I saw my book in so many hands. I saw Heych’s scalp tattoo in real life!

The winners of the 2025 Nommo Awards were also announced. Congratulations to Chisom Umeh on winning the Nommo for best short fiction; “From Across Time” is powerful stuff. Suyi Davies Okungbowa, won best novella for Lost Ark Dreaming and Womb City by Tlotlo Tsamaase, a riveting sci-fi set in a dark, futuristic Botswana, won the Ilube Award for Best Novel!

The African Imaginary—a platform for contemporary culture, spotlighting creativity born and raised on the continent—hosted the Ake Festival guests to and I was so in awe I forgot to take more pictures.

We were told to bring books that told us a truth about ourselves for portraits, and I took two: my novel (because it taught me I could do difficult things) and Eloghosa Osunde’s Vagabonds! (because it saw me when no other work did). The portraits were taken by Victor Adewale, a phenomenal photographer.

My book chat and panel were held on the second day of the festival. Hosted by Sharon Adeoye-Ajanlekoko (my very cool editor), the book chat was for The Bone River and epic fantasy First Born of the Sun by the incomparable Marvellous Michael Anson. To be sat in that hall, and to have people whom I looked up to, and readers who’d travelled from far and wide, witness us? I cannot fully explain how that moved me.

My second panel was a fun introduction to the African Speculative Fiction Society by members and executives for non-members and festival attendees, where we got to talk about all the amazing work the ASFS has done in bringing us together and providing a platform for readers and writers of African Spec Fic to commune.

Thank you to everyone who showed up, who listened and took a chance on my novel and to all the wonderful people at Ake, BookBuzz Foundation and Ouida Books for believing in The Bone River.

On the other AkeFest days, I participated in TikTok challenges with readers and writers, and attended insightful panels and book chats that made me spend more money. I watched When Nigeria Happens, a film directed by Ema Edosio and written alongside Bayo Oduwole, and a room full of readers and writers was left in awe of the riveting story. Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka read a poem to us, and a new generation of poets performed pieces that tore my heart as I learned so much about the genre I say eludes me the most.

I made so many new friends and shared so many moments with a phenomenal group of people from all over the world. I was stopped everywhere to sign copies and take pictures. I gave the same advice I was given to writers, and received amazing insights from the other amazing guests and readers. What a life!

Ake changed me. If you were there and we met, thank you for taking out the time to say hi and take a picture, for asking me questions and making my experience so wholesome. I will never forget that.

The Tour!

The final leg of my tour for my debut novel took me to a city I had not visited in years, and as with my first time in Ibadan, I did not absorb as much of Ibadan as I would have liked.

I took the morning train and made it in good time, and once we made our way to Roving Heights, I did the same thing I did in every city: mentally prepared myself to talk to an empty room. We had to move the time up, and I was in a city I had not visited in years. I did not think anyone would show up, because who even am I?

Omo, I was wrong o.

We had a wonderful session! Hosted by the amazing Mazeedah, the Ibadan book chat was the first with a full group that had read the entire book (twice in an instance!) We got into the mechanics of fantasy, and I saw my book annotated the way I annotate others. I met friends from Twitter and TikTok, and defended myself for the things I put Afem and Heych through. I promised I’d start work on the sequel (I have, ish).

On the train back, I thought of the insanity of dreaming this world up and how so many people have chosen to flow where the river is taking us. Thank you to everyone who showed up!

The Lagos leg of my tour blew me away.

I had a session at the Reading Room by SBC Bookclub, where I got to listen to writers read passages and talk about my work to a gathering of readers and writers, and then it was on to the book launch.

Hosted at Ouida Lagos, launch day was a spell. I watched a dramatisation of one of my favourite scenes in The Bone River, the truth-telling ritual. To see the scene brought to life by Isoken Arude and Peculiar Adunni reminded me that my work doesn’t stop with me. Then it was on to a conversation with Amyn Bawa-Allah, who had so many amazing insights and questions. I got to meet with so many of you, and I want to thank you all for being a part of a very special day. I got cake! and a portrait of the cover!

Lagos meant another event at Cafe One, University of Lagos, and again I was floored. In the middle of a very busy day, I got to speak to readers and answer questions on the novel and the craft as I see it. Seeing my book in the university bookstore, and signing copies for readers and the store will stay with me.

My final stops were a session at Roving Heights Landmark and a radio chat with Book On Review with Benji at Classic FM. I also had to sign a copy of my book at a rave! Crazy yeah?

To have made this tour happen from October to date. Over fifteen events in five cities across Nigeria, to see the eagerness for stories on display and to gush over these characters I once only talked about with my friends? Thank you

I will try to remember as much of this tour as I can, but writing this helps. I do not have nearly enough pictures, videos and memories, but I will never forget how this felt.

You have honoured me with your time, and I will never take it for granted.

Sosongo. Thank you.

Updates

• The Bone River is now available on Goodreads and The StoryGraph. A review is a great way to put the word out, and you get to add it towards your reading goal (wink wink)

Till next time,

Nkereuwem.

The Bone River has been in the world for six weeks, and the reception has been phenomenal. I have been a grateful recipient of kindness from you all— friends, strangers turned friends, and everything in between. This book was once a dream I hid in the depths of my being, and now that it is in your hands—in our hands— this reality surpasses dreams.

The Tour

October was unforgettable.

For one thing, it was the start of my tour for The Bone River. My first event was at Spine and Label, Abuja, where I was in conversation with Abdulkareem Baba Aminu. It was fun and engaging —a heartwarming celebration of my book’s arrival in the world. I read passages from my novel in front of an audience for the first time, ever, and I enjoyed answering questions about craft and this work in particular. There was even cake! I am very thankful to everyone who put the word out and showed up for me and my little fantasy novel. (Signed copies of The Bone River are available at Spine and Label)

There was no slowing down, and day two followed with a meet-and-greet and conversation at CaféOne, Abuja, with amazing writer Osahon Ize-Iyamu. Every question meant more questions, and by the time we were done, I left with another reminder that this work is real to more people than me and my friends (who are very cool!)

Everyone asked for fun poses, and I was happy to oblige (I made them do the poses)

Next Stop on tour was the city where the Bone River is set

Calabar, my Calabar.

I had two events in Calabar, and it would be the first time I’d be back since I left years ago. Calabar has changed a little, but I love how much she resists change. It was surreal to have a chat with Enoabasi Nta in the Department of English and Literary Studies at my Alma Mater, the University of Calabar. Also fun to note that the ELS building is next to Nyoho, the Faculty of Mysteries, in my novel (you’ll know it when you read it).

Day Two in Calabar was at CafeOne, and I was in conversation with culture critic Iniabasi Jeffrey. I loved how the conversation flowed and how it reminded me of my days in the waiting as a medical student. I loved seeing faces I’d known for years and new people, too. I loved how, though many people had not read the book in the crowd yet, they were so excited to ask me which ancient house owned the streets we all knew, and how, by the end, everyone was arguing for their own odudu house. This book has been described by many as a love letter to Calabar, and I love that the city I wrote it for embraced it so eagerly.

Insane stuff.

Abuja Again!

I got off a flight back from Calabar and went straight to a reading and conversation hosted by Shammah Godoz at Roving Heights, Garki. I got to tell everyone how much Calabar has changed and not changed simultaneously, and engage with a mix of people who had already read the book and those threatening us so we would not spoil anything.

It was fun and thrilling, and I got to meet other writers, including the genius that is Umar Abubakar Sidi, author of Nommo-nominated “The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus”.

Kaduna

The Bone River also flowed to Kaduna. I travelled by train for the first time in Nigeria, and after a three-hour journey, I made my way to the first event, a meet-and-greet at CafeOne, Kaduna. The Rambling Thoughts book club in Kaduna is a wonderful endeavour; young people who, by sheer force of will, keep the good work of literature alive it was an honour to be hosted by them.

Day one in Kaduna also gave me a great gift; people who came to the Cafe for another reason were fascinated and joined us! I was overjoyed by how that session went, and I know everyone else there had an amazing time.

After some sightseeing, I spent my second day at a reading in the beautiful Fasaha Cafe. Speaking about the work of writing and sharing among my newfound friends in a city I’d never been to, and the fact that we were there for hours, just lit my heart up.

We had a signing and took pictures, and by the end, people had taken to using the stamp I had made for touring for their arms! That was very cool. Kaduna was a delight, and I cannot wait to be back.

On the train home, I kept thinking about how blessed I’ve been to make these connections, and I am thankful to everyone who showed up and asked a question, and everyone who asked for a fun pose.

So now I’m back home, resting before I dive back in and flow to wherever the bone river takes me. I’ll be in Lagos and Ibadan this November, for the Ake Book Festival (20th-22nd November 2025) and a host of other events across both cities. A detailed list will soon pop up in your email and on my social media accounts.

Thank you to everyone—booksellers, fellow authors and friends across the industry, bookclubs, and above all, you, the readers—who’ve made this such a special time.

It is not lost on me that all this is possible because, like you, I believe in something singular, and yet so many things: the power of storytelling.

Updates

• The Bone River is now available on Goodreads and The StoryGraph. A review is a great way to put the word out and you get to add it towards your reading goal (wink wink)

- The Bone River has me in the news!

I spoke to Pulse.ng about our book, and the city that gave it to me.

Read the article here.

• I have a new story in the latest issue of SFF magazine Fusion Fragment.

It is called A Treatise of Significance to Uyo Above, and it is a story I wrote earlier this year that features a climate-ravaged Nigeria with floods and radioactive storms, a young scientist, and the spirit-bot he suspects is housing his father’s soul. I really enjoyed writing this story and it is available to read for free in FF #26 alongside amazing stories and poems (consider leaving a tip).

As always, thank you for being part of this journey.

Nkereuwem.

It feels unreal that The Bone River has been in the world for one week, and now we’re on to the part of this I’m most excited about:

Touring!

Tour Dates: October

At long last, we’re going to tour The Bone River, my sapphic urban fantasy set in a Calabar where necromancers, river deities and fire-wielding magicians rule over a supernatural community on the brink of war.

This will be my first tour dates, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet you all and celebrate this cool thing we did. I cannot wait to meet you all.

I even got a stamp! (lmao)

Here’s where I’ll be this month, if you want to come and find me:

ABUJA

We kick off the tour with our first physical event in ABUJA on the 18th of October. I’ll be in conversation with Abdulkareem Baba Aminu at Spine and Label, Abuja. There’ll be books (and cake!) at the venue, and I’ll be signing after! If you’re around, please come by.

On the 19th of October, I will be in conversation with you all at the second event, Cafe One. We will discuss the novel, the journey so far, and answer questions from the audience. This is an interactive event; we’ll be talking in detail about the book, taking questions from the audience, I’ll sign, and then we’ll all get to talk after. Love that day already.

CALABAR

The homegoing leg of my tour kicks off on the 24th of October, and I’ll be in conversation with Enoabasi Nta at the University of Calabar to get us going. I haven’t been back in a minute (Blame being a doctor fr fr). I cannot wait to meet everyone at my alma mater.

On the 25th of October, I will be at Cafe One, Calabar, in conversation with Iniabasi Jeffrey for an activation of The Bone River.

This tour will be the first time I’m in spaces like this as a speaker, so I know this will be extra special for me and everyone I get to see.

ABUJA, AGAIN

On the 26th of October, I will be at Roving Heights Garki, Abuja, in conversation with Shammah Godoz. I go to Roving Heights all the time, and now my books are there; insane stuff fr fr. We can gist some more, because by then, there will be more questions to answer, no? Come through!

Paperback Realnesss

The Bone River is real!

I am in awe of this breathtaking cover, and the details?! Amazing stuff!

Reading this physically has been a trip, and I wrote the thing. I cannot wait to hear all your thoughts when we meet irl.

One More Thing…

By virtue of being subscribers to TAL, you’re automatically entered for a giveaway for The Bone River and the very beautiful perks.

Your support means everything to me, and I cannot wait to celebrate with you all.

See you soon, yeah?

Nkereuwem.

Hello friends!

I hope you’re well

August was a month of learning and waiting, and as things began to pick up again, I bring news (I know, I know. Stay with me, guys)

Update on The Bone River

After we’d announced a release schedule, issues with publishing logistics meant a delay in the release of my novel debut. It was frustrating, but I also got to witness the team and everyone at Phoenix x Ouida Books come together and ensure we got back on track, and I’m pleased to let you know that we are back on track.

The Bone River is now set for release on the 26th of September, and you can now pre-order a copy!

PRE-ORDER THE BONE RIVER

Here’s Phoenix’s description of the book:

Power flows through ancient bloodlines, and through the Secret Peace, the Four Houses rule the unseen.

Heych Henshaw, a freelancer on the run from a malevolent god, returns to a city she swore never to set foot in again. Drawn by debts and an inheritance of buried names, she’s pulled into the rising tide of conflict between the ancient Houses.

Afem Aba Ye Duop, the Hand of Death, is running out of time. The sole heir to a throne steeped in bone ash and blood, she wants more for herself than to be what her father requires her to become when she turns twenty-one. When her father offers Afem her freedom in exchange for her help, she's forced to work with the woman she vowed, if she ever laid eyes on again, she would kill.

As the Secret Peace falters and death magic stirs in forbidden places, both women find themselves entangled in a dangerous game of legacy, betrayal, and vengeful gods.

Welcome to Calabar, where power is ancient, loyalty is fragile, and the rivers are always watching.

This has been an amazing journey, and I want to thank you all for your support so far, and with publication day closing on us, here are all the ways you can support this book, many of them which cost nothing at all:

1. If you can, pre-order it!

2. Add to Your “To-Read” List (very important): Spread the gospel of Afem and Heych home and abroad!

3. When you do read it, leave a review! (Anywhere you like. Even just your socials. Talk about it. Review accounts on Goodreads, Fable or Storygraph? Share your thoughts if you’re about that; if not stars, likes or upvotes, are fine!)

4. If you can’t do any of these, spread the word. Boosting related posts on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok helps.

Stick around if you’d love to get information on everything from book tour event dates to early access to exclusives, subscribe to my newsletter.

I can’t tell you how lucky I feel that I got to write this books and see it in print. And to have you as my readers…Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

See you at The Bone River

Nkereuwem

Thanks for reading thinking about life.! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Share

I hope you’re doing as well as possible. This is going to be a big update, so let’s get to it.

Cover Reveal for The Bone River

Published by Phoenix, an imprint of Ouida Books, The Bone River is a sapphic urban fantasy set in a Calabar where necromancers, river deities and immortal fire-wielding magicians rule over a supernatural community on the brink of war (can you tell I love this sentence?).

Here it is:

The cover was designed by the amazing Jessica Louis, an artist I admire and am now honoured to call my friend. The image is based on an idea everyone in this creative endeavour shared for Afem. In the foreground, Afem Aba Ye Duop in her terrifying glory, wielding a wicked bone-metal blade. In the background, the Bone Chief’s throne—carved from the bones of the great mammoth Ikpun kpun kpun Ine (It is real; I checked)—to bring to mind the ancient nature of the powers in play, and the enormity of her “destiny”. I really love the mood it evokes: unsettling, chaotically poised and raw. It captures Afem and Heych’s world, our world, perfectly.

Afem and Heych have been amazing to write. From going off and doing their own thing that I did not outline (but ended up being wayy better) to leaving me teared up as we went through their journey. This story grows out from them, and I’m glad they are on my side.

For your first perk, here’s Phoenix’s description of the book:

Power flows through ancient bloodlines, and through the Secret Peace, the Four Houses rule the unseen.

Heych Henshaw, a freelancer on the run from a malevolent god, returns to a city she swore never to set foot in again. Drawn by debts and an inheritance of buried names, she’s pulled into the rising tide of conflict between the ancient Houses.

Afem Aba Ye Duop, the Hand of Death, is running out of time. The sole heir to a throne steeped in bone ash and blood, she wants more for herself than to be what her father requires her to become when she turns twenty-one. When her father offers Afem her freedom in exchange for her help, she's forced to work with the woman she vowed, if she ever laid eyes on again, she would kill.

As the Secret Peace falters and death magic stirs in forbidden places, both women find themselves entangled in a dangerous game of legacy, betrayal, and vengeful gods.

Welcome to Calabar, where power is ancient, loyalty is fragile, and the rivers are always watching.

Because you’re with me on the inside. Here’s some more information. We have a date! We’re on a tightrope, but the current publication date for my debut novel is August 22nd, 2025 (Just 10 days away), and it has taken everything not to reveal this before now, so everybody clap! Should all the inside movements of the publishing industry favour us, my debut will be in your hands very soon.

This has been an amazing journey, and I want to thank you all for your support so far, and with publication day closing on us, here are all the ways you can support this book, many of them which cost nothing at all:

1. If you can, pre-order it! (Pre-order links will first go live here before anywhere else. *wink wink )

2. Add to Your “To-Read” List (very important): Spread the gospel of Afem and Heych home and abroad!

3. When you do read it, leave a review! (Anywhere you like. Even just your socials. Talk about it. Review accounts on Goodreads, Fable or Storygraph? Share your thoughts if you’re about that; if not stars, likes or upvotes, are fine!)

4. If you can’t do any of these, spread the word. Boosting related posts on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok helps.

Stick around if you’d love to get information on everything from book tour event dates to early access to exclusives, subscribe to my newsletter.

I can’t tell you how lucky I feel that I got to write this books and see it in print. And to have you as my readers…Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

See you at The Bone River

Nkereuwem

I spent the early parts of May visiting family, as well as finalising work on the novel with my amazing editors. In early June, I worked on short fiction—editing a story selected for a project I cannot quite talk about yet. I enjoyed that till I got two emails; one was a rejection from a dream magazine, and the second was an acceptance…into National Service. After the initial shock (which is weird, considering I applied for the thing with my own hand) I packed my bags and made my way to Niger State!

The Road to Paiko!

Camp was roughly two hours from home for me. It would be my first time in Niger State, which is the largest state in Nigeria btw. The trip to Paiko was scenic when I wasn’t fighting motion sickness.

I finally got to see Zuma Rock! It isn’t the only rock face in the vicinity, but there’s a reason why it is the one we all know.

The journey was miles of land and greenery that made me yearn for a Nigeria safe to travel through. Within two hours, we had arrived, and I was left to fend for myself in a strange land.

Youth service brings together people from all over Nigeria for an orientation camp; three weeks in the middle of nowhere with extremely regimented days and nights, but in all honesty, I needed the time away (ideally, I’d have preferred a vacation in a resort).

I was immediately directed to the clinic, where I spent the majority of my time in camp. With corps nurses and pharmacists to help, we catered to the healthcare needs of the entire camp populace: corps members, camp staff and soldiers. We were severely understaffed, but we made it work, and I made friends along the way. Secluded as camp doctors were, I had to find a day and do the one thing my mother hoped I would in camp: Man-o-war drills.

Because I like you lot, I will post one (and only one!) picture.

Behold:

It was pretty high up, but I was not scared. I put characters through scary things so I should be able to face them, abi?

My bed was so thin I could feel the metal rungs, and the food was awful, but I got the break from my routine I wanted, and I took great pictures of sunsets.

Sunsets became a part of my day, and my colleagues would even ask, “Will you not go and snap? It’s evening o”.

Paiko was beautiful when we were not complaining, and now I’m back in the real world, but I’m not entirely ready to rejoin it all. I hope that I can have a semblance of peace even as things ramp up, as I continue my service year and work towards my book release.

The Book🐍

It has taken everything from my editors and the amazing people at Phoenix and Ouida Books to keep me from making all the announcements myself, but I trust them, so I will stay my tongue.

I will tell you this, though: The Bone River is so beautiful!

Seeing my book in its final layout before we went to print was heartwarming, and if you’re on my social media accounts, you’ve read whatever bits I’ve been able to post without legal decapitating me. My favourites are the glyphs drawn for the novel that are beautiful to look at + incredibly relevant to the story.

My favourite glyphs happen to be a very cool one I already got tattooed and “ufan”, an Nsibidi glyph for “friend”.

The reception for the art from the book has been amazing, and I know you all will love this book. The next time you receive mail from me, it will be the news we all want!

Until then,

Nkereuwem🐍

I have been thinking a lot about characters. All my reading focuses on what makes them tick, and with all my writing I spend so much time trying to make the characters that show up in my work real; like everyday people you can see in a store, or at a rave, or the bank. Developing characters has led me through unplanned introspection time and time again, and I’m here to figure out why.

As we grow up, the characters we encounter start as brightly colored, like in our cartoons and picture books. Those features help you to identify those characters and if memory serves, Like the Teletubbies, those features help you to identify those characters and if memory serves, Tinky Winky is Purple, Dipsy is green, Lala is yellow, and Po is red (love Po sm). As our ability to discern and sort out goes from broad strokes good for childhood development to more detailed pattern recognition that goes beyond physical characteristics, the characters are then more nuanced, more human. With school, most people go beyond picture books, picking up work that provides us with more information; we’re then taught to extrapolate the information and pass exams. With time, some people go on reading, even to the point the TL finds out someone read a hundred books and can’t believe them (It happens. People be reading). Wherever your reading has gotten to, the stories we are told serve many functions. Reading serves as a tool for entertainment as well as learning, and it is a powerful tool for shaping morals and developing empathy.

As I’ve grown as a reader and a writer, my eye for the details that make up a character has improved. I understand the reasons why characters are introduced the way they are, the importance of physical description as well as personality, and why people want their characters to be flawed, nobody holy pass and whatnot. I try to learn from all media, but there’s a chance there is more subtle stuff I’m missing even when my body recognises it.

To make characters believable, to make them stand up from the page, the work must be convincing, and it takes a lot of interconnected facets to make a full person.

Inflection

Meeting new people is one of the most interesting parts of the human experience. If you’re going into the world and trying to forge ahead, it is all centered around introductions and new beginnings; from making new acquaintances, friends and colleagues to romantic partners. Some of these encounters are so important that they’re inflection points in your life, moments when things change for you. A bad friend can lead to circumstances you would not have been in just months prior. A bad relationship can alter your brain chemistry, leaving your self esteem in the seventh ring of hell, causing you to doubt…e don do.

The point is, the people we meet are important.

A question friends and partners often get asked is “How did you guys meet?”( I love a good meet cute), because we almost always remember how we met the important people in our lives. Should it not be memorable for a character?

The moments when your main character encounters other characters are important even when they don’t happen in the present. In everything from songs to books to film, characters are constantly being introduced to propel the protagonist forward, or hinder them.

For the audience, the way we meet a character is very important because it is not a simple introduction. Writers are often encouraged to make the character's introduction something memorable. We’re told to show them “in action”, as doing something is a better way to showcase what a character is about while introducing the world you’re building. The reader gets a crash course in the character – what they look like, their personality and their work. A young Locke Lamora (The Gentleman Bastard sequence) has a whole region quarantined and burned. Eniola Salami (King of Boys) momentarily leaves a socialite party in her honour to torture and kill a former associate. Darrow of Lykos (The Red Rising saga) risks his life diving in the mines of a terraforming Mars to show his intelligence and his coconut head. These moments help an audience decide if this is a character they want to stick around for.

Meeting a character in a book can also mark an inflection point in your life. It is seeing a character with thoughts you have been trying to form, or been too afraid to put words to. It is seeing a character go through similar challenges as you and overcome them in different ways – from outright victory to dealing with defeat (girl who is going to be okay-core).

If you’re like me and got tired of overthinking introductions so you made a mental PDF with how you want to be perceived and haven’t changed the operating parameters since 2012, you’ve come to the right place fr. I used to dread meeting people, because first impressions are important, but I you cannot use them to judge a person ; you don’t know them, and first impressions are not a bad starting point, but if you hold on to them even in the face of new information, you never truly want to know that person. I like finding out things about people over time, and letting that be who I decide on.

Origin

Origins are a defining way to build up a character and there’s even the tried and tested “Bruce Wayne’s parents getting killed in the alley to him becoming Batman” pipeline that works for protagonist origin stories. A character’s backstory is the foundation of their person. It rationalises their actions and makes readers root for them.

It is also important for antagonists. Everyone makes jokes about how Anime often reveal the sad circumstances that led a demon to a certain point, often before the character makes a decision to turn things around, or how Old Nollywood did the “It all started when I was a child” flashbacks when the evil person (ntm on Patience Ozokwor characters please) is apprehended. All storytelling recognises that at some point, the audience needs a character's backstory to buy in.

In stories, characters often function in the present, but if the flow of time works the same way in your story as in real life, they have a past, so when I’m building up a character, I often find myself asking myself certain questions.

What happened to them?

Why should anyone care?

I think of this in the context of our lives. When you meet someone, you can immediately pick up on certain things about them, likely things they want you to know – how they look, how they talk and their ✨ vibe ✨ – but how often do we find out that we do not truly know them, at least not until they let us.

We’re surprised when people who don’t really know us dislike us, but some simply took on information about us from other places, or in the absence of that, made assumptions to fill in the many blanks based on stereotypes and internal biases put in place in society over generations. The darkest parts of this hateful characterisation are all over our world today, and in the absence of individuality, people fall behind these identities that allow them to belong to something and act without considering the burden to the self. In truth they all did it. They were all persecutors. They all lynched or urge on the perpetrators.

As a writer I try to make it so even my secondary characters are well developed, and often, a character the writer created simply to aid the protagonist ends up loved and adored by fans all over, but even then, they're still not the main character no? That is one distinguishing feature between reality and our stories; in this world, there are no secondary characters. Here, everyone is fleshed out and whole in a way no writer can ever achieve. Everyone, at every given point, is growing and hopefully, learning. Everyone is realising things, messing up and fixing things, and making choices that cause shifts in their lives. Sometimes their choices end up affecting society-at-large, but even when it does not, it does not make any life any less important than someone else’s.

Who Are You When No One Is Looking?

Growing up, I used aesthetics and personality as a mask; I curated a look that blended in, and I was whatever the people before me had come to know me as, or what I believe the current group of people required – “class clown”, then a charismatic person, or a person that just knows things. I “performed” and hoped no one saw me as the person inside – the ball of anxiety that did not want to fade into the background again.

It worked for a time, but it was exhausting.

We choose an aesthetic that most aligns with how we want to be perceived, and in reality humans are very multifaceted so that is not all we are. Stories that play aesthetics against personality produce a layer of contradiction that makes the characters more…layered. A character’s physical attributes help readers visualise them, and their personality, which the plot often beats into submission, helps complete them.

Enter flaws.

Flaws make for great character development. They’re why a character will make a decision that frustrates you as a reader, but they’re important because a “perfect” character will, more often than not, make you roll your eyes, at least they are exposed and you find yourself empathising with them (Not bullies sha, never bullies for me). They’re also a teaching moment, and in seeing a character unlearn something, we’re reminded we can change and grow.

When I’m building up a character, I want to know who they are when no one is looking, because if that person doesn’t change, they will not become the person I need to tell the story. I am now meeting myself every day, doing things because they make me happy, and not to impress strangers (May stranger die ten times fr). I want to try my best to be happy with who I am when I’m alone.

Accept that, like most characters, you’re not perfect; give yourself grace, and work to be better.

Caring

Interesting characters tend to care deeply. They usually have world views that need challenging, or changing. From Darrow (Trust me. E get why) to Eren Yaeger (Shingeki no Kyojin) to Rin (The Poppy War trilogy), characters with deep passion for things – like the survival of their people in all these cases – often make for great storytelling; readers will care because they care

Our understanding of our privileges (or lack thereof) informs our worldviews, and in stories we watch characters change their stances as the story progresses. This change often requires following those views to false victories that clear our eyes, or defeats we think are the end (they rarely ever are).

I know where I stand on many issues, but I only stand there based on the information available to me, and I remind myself that it is okay to change my mind and evolve as time passes. I try to make choices that bode well for me and the common good. I remind myself that everyone I see is on the board with me; we’re all different, but we are, for better and for worse, all in this together.

Updates

I finished the story! the climate fiction story that has been a bit of a head-spinner for months. I realised I was holding on for a few reasons, chief among them being that novel edits had not yet started for the year, and I did not yet know what to write next. I have since edited the story and submitted to some magazines and I hope to have publishing news soon (Clarkesworld already said no, but we move)

What I’m Enjoying

📖 Reading

I’ve read four books so far in February.

In the Shadow of the Fall is a thrilling fantasy novella that does so much in its 160 pages. It is an exploration of a world where faith is all that we have left, based on Yoruba cosmology.

Susanna Clarke’s Piranesi has been on my reading list for years, and I was finally able to get my hands on a copy. It does some things with characterisation and prose and narrative style that I have not seen done, but in the end, it was a story about finding yourself, set in a constantly flooding world with dilapidated statues and a main character that you cannot help but worry for. It is gritty and real and cold and wet. A very good read.

Butter Honey Pig Bread!!! What a book. I cannot recommend this enough, and I wish I’d read it sooner. The prose in this book is unyielding and audacious. The characters we follow and the ones we meet as so well written – they’re vast, but laid out so beautifully over the book for you to decide. Love and loss in all its forms? Food made so well I felt like I was watching an episode of The Bear? Spirituality explored so keenly it captivates you, urges you to question your world.

And Banji! *Falls to my knees and clutches sand.

A remarkable book.

My final read for the month was issue V of “Will This Be A Problem: The Anthology”, now out wherever you get books. My story “Commensalism, or the Labyrinth’s Vessels”, where a down-on-his-luck Lagos chef debates existence with the superintelligent slime mould that conquered his world, features in this. I’m immensely proud of this story; to be featured alongside my peers from all over Africa and the diaspora was an honor.

📺 Watching

I am pleased to announce my anime slump is over!

I am all caught up on Solo Leveling and Kaiju No.8. I love the fight sequences and the spectacles animated in these two shows. I am back to waiting for episode drops and I’m pleased with myself about that. If you want to watch a protagonist put the fear of God in his opps and co-opt them into his necromancer army watch Solo Leveling and witness my glorious king Sung Jinwoo.

I watched a few movies, and of them all Conclave (2024) stood out. The performance from Ralph Feinnes, Stanley Tucci and the rest of the cast were so weighted and breathtaking. The cinematography gave us so many amazing shots all through the film. Conclave was thrilling and thick with tension as I watched to see who would become the pope. It deserves every award it will win.

On a Final Note

Thank you, as always, for your support. We’re up to eighty subscribers and yes, I still do a little dance for every subscriber and supporter. I’m grateful for every one that reads my work and follows this documentation of my journey.

To stay up to date with my doings, follow me on Twitter (again, their parents named them Twitter) for posts and ramblings outside of here + Instagram and TikTok for other posts and short videos.

See you soon,

Nkereuwem.

How are you? January has taken what belongs to Caesar, but it has not taken these musings from me, so my first entry for this year will be an exploration of something I am still figuring out; there will be tangents that I hope time will help me make sense of, but as of today, these are my thoughts on something that has sat in my mind as the opening words for this year.

So let’s have it then; Immersion!

All the things I work on have taught me that mastery is the best gift you can give yourself, especially in something you want to care about truly. To immerse yourself in the work till it becomes more than familiar; till it becomes second nature.

Swimming

After a near-death experience + my fear of my river deities kept me away from deep bodies of water for most of my life, I finally learned how to swim in 2020. It was not cute or elegant; I’d been practising my kicks and strokes for weeks, but I also refused to go into the part of the pool I could not stand in. My cousins promised they would wait for me in the deep end with a floater, and when I finally said “[redacted] it !” and pushed off the rails to “swim”, I got there and there was no one there. I calmed myself and did what I’d been practising for weeks, and true true I swam.

For some, beginnings – like a new year or even a new skill – are an exciting opportunity to fill a clean slate. Other people (read as me) dread the start of a thing because it is difficult to see beyond the task we may consider insurmountable, but as I learn and grown in the work, I’ve had moments that led me to a simple truth:

The eventual moment when you “master” something does not happen without starting.

It is important to practice – it makes letting go of the fear easier, but it is also as important to enter the water. The shallow end does not hurt, and to swim, you need to first walk through the water and imagine swimming through it, as ridiculous as that might sound. In that same vein, to create the things we love that do not yet exist, we need to be able to dream them; to see ourselves as the version that makes this happen.

Now you’re in the water. So practice your kicking. Start that story you’ve created an outline document for. Go outside and make the film with what you have. Trip and fall as often as you can. Splash around to allow your body to familiarise itself with the mechanics of the task ahead. There is nothing that substitutes for doing the work; not thinking about it, or planning to do it. Just start, first.

The Hard Bit

The moment when I went from fighting for my life to swimming to safety was a big victory, especially for someone who feared drowning as much as I did. Now I was aware that I could not simply drown, I was able to iron out the kinks in my skills and improve on them. The equivalent of that for any craft is when you gain an understanding of the basics. Unfortunately, we all know that the real hard bit comes next.

As a writer, I often go back to read the work I wrote as far back as I have it available. For me, my old work is inspiration, a reminder of how far along I have come, and how much further, how much deeper I can go. To go from a place where my work felt awkward and did not yet match my taste, to a place where I can read my stuff and be critical of it but still pleased is the greatest gift writing gives me. All craft approached with honesty and determination does the same thing; with practise, you go from doing the thing with unsteady hands to a level where that skill seemingly becomes second nature. The gap between those two things is the hard bit.

The wonder that is the human being is capable of so much that we now consider trivial; a baby goes from touching and putting everything in their mouth to asking questions and forming associations, to you, dearest reader, over many years. We are, till we are well and truly gone from this world, able to do and undo — Why shouldn’t we? (Entirely rhetorical o plis)

The power of repetition is the most important thing. Immersion as I understand it is familiarity with something in such a way that it comes to you instinctively. It is what we see when we watch athletes perform feats of superhuman levels with such efficiency and listen to live musical arrangements that stun our senses with how much they border on perfection. What we do not see on that stage is the practice; the thousands of shots that basketballers took to make fifteen in a game, or the cut strings and bruised bodies that performance rehearsals leave in their wake. We know of them, but we do not see them, so it makes the heights attained seem beyond us. You may not be able to sprint or hoop like a professional whatever, but your craft also demands this from you, so you have to practiseee.

If you love your thing, you want it to be good, no? It is why we’re often so critical of ourselves that we don’t think a wonderful thing is good. If you allow yourself the room to be vulnerable, determined, and free — whatever your work needs — you will reach the end and know you have done well. For me, the most important thing is to know I did my best, that I did the work. It may seem like things come easy to certain people, but work that inspires awe is rarely ever birthed from humans swimming on the surface; it often requires you to dive to the very depths of the craft, where pressure is at its highest, and there is so much darkness that only those who know where to go can come out with something so beautiful it makes you want to get into the water yourself.

Reading Immersively

When I saw Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer I was left stunned by the sheer scale of the work, from the amazing cast performances and “Can You Hear The Music” off Ludwig Goransson’s Original Score, to amazing cinematography that made me google the person behind it [ Hoyt Van Hoytema: He was also cinematographer on Tenet (2021), Nope (2022), Dunkirk (2017), Spectre (2015) and Interstellar (2014) ]. My favourite bit was how the scientist from my textbook kept popping up like the Avengers, and then a character was introduced I’d known of, but not of his involvement in the Manhattan Project: Richard Feynman.

I encountered Feynman’s name in passing physics class, but more recently his name came up before I saw the film. I was in University, struggling with Dental Operating Techniques when I learned some things about Feynman:

He was a Nobel-prize-winning Physicist, and he was also an enthusiastic player of bongos and congas who developed a unique way to “learn anything”, now dubbed the “Feynman Technique”

I employed the strategies in my academics; I mapped all my knowledge of the topic at hand, tried to explain (preferably to a child) it in the simplest way possible, reviewed and then re-tested it by explaining it to another person.

This has come to define the way I learn things, and I noticed it trickle into my work.

Every year since 2019 I’ve read at least twenty books each year. It is a simple goal I set because although I was a more obsessive reader as a child, as an adult I have a lot of responsibilities. When I started this I was just reading, rediscovering my love for a hobby that had retreated to the background of my life. I read the books, enjoyed the stories and “reviewed” the ones I really liked on my Goodreads. As I returned to writing, I approached reading with a newfound fervour; I wanted to understand what made these books I loved tick. I read books on writing alongside my novels, and over time I developed a system that saw me read books less as a reader and more as a writer.

I try not to take myself too seriously, but highlighting and analysing books as I read has become something I now do to almost everything I read. I try to get into the mind of the author. What were they trying to make happen? If I can figure that out, and distill that into something I can learn from, I come out of every book a better writer.

I want to take what I know now, and whatever else I learn, and apply it to my work. Next, I want to be able to pass that knowledge on effectively, so I immerse myself in all the stories I love.

How deep are you willing to go for your work?

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Updates

I am still on the cusp of finishing “that” story—the climate fiction story that has been a bit of a head-spinner for months. I was able to write some more of it, by which I mean strip it down and rebuild it without even denting the word count. I cannot wait for it to be finished and then sent into the submission grinder until one day I delightfully announce that it has been accepted at a dream venue.

In the spirit of trying new things, I wrote a script! It is for E Dey Happen, an animated series with a cutting comedy style that I like and a story so ridiculous you think No na, surely not. Until the episodes I’m involved in come out, check out the first two on YouTube.

In publishing news!

“Commensalism, or the Labyrinth’s Vessels”, is on its way to the world. This story, where a down-on-his-luck chef debates existence with the superintelligent slime mould that conquered his world, will be in Issue V of “Will This Be A Problem: The Anthology”, out 31st January 2025. I’m immensely proud of this story and cannot wait for you all to read it.

In more good news, my story, The House of Old Marian, made Reactor Magazine’s list of Best African Speculative Short Fiction Stories of 2024!

Wole Talabi (Convergence Problems x Shigidi) curated this list of amazing stories, and to have my work recognised by one of my favourite authors was amazing; his kind words mean everything to me. This list features amazing stories from writers all over Africa — writers you should be on the lookout for in the coming years. I am so honoured to be mentioned in their company.

The House of Old Marian has been transformative for me, and we’re on course for publishing day for The Bone River, my debut. I cannot wait to share Afem, Heych and the others with you later this year.

🐍 ☠️

What I’m Enjoying

📖 Reading

I’ve read three books so far in January, and I’m finishing up a fourth.

Chloe Gong’s Immortal Longings and Fonda Lee’s Jade City are both urban fantasy books that draw you into these colourful yet dark worlds. Chloe Gong’s San-Er is an amalgamation of twin cities where body jumping is power and a norm, and the cutthroat nature of it all kept me on the edge all through the book. In Jade City, I got a wonderfully woven tale of Janloon, the city where power comes from bioenergetic Jade. The pacing and action were amazing, and the stakes kept rising all through till the end.

Both books were stories of family, betrayal and the lengths people go to protect their loved ones. The worldbuilding in both books is breathtaking and so immersive (see what I did there?)

I also read Cassandra Khaw’s The Salt Grows Heavy. This book felt like a dark dream. It was prose unhindered and characters that felt like they emerged from the depths of the ocean. It engaged all my senses and shook them, and the body horror elements felt thrilling to read. All I kept thinking was, “Wow, this is scary stuff. Give me fourteen more of those right now”.

After all the incredibly intense stuff I started with, I went for a “gentler” book, so my final read was Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa. It is contemplative and sad at times, but it is also warm — a snapshot of those moments when you feel lost and looking for a way to forge on.

This year, I plan to read more short stories than any year before, I have a few in mind, but I’d love suggestions from everyone. What stories stuck out to you? If it is online send it my way. If it is yours, can I read it?

📺 Watching

• Creature Commandos S1 made for a good watch to pass the time. I love James Gunn’s approach to misfit teams like the Guardians and the Suicide Squad, and this animated show was no exception. I loveee Bride and Nina Mazursky, and all the backstories. Good Stuff

• Castlevania Nocturne S2 was amazing, and I do not want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet, but wow. What an achievement. The care and intention behind characters like Annette and Maria allows them to take to the stage and work towards heart-tingling resolutions. Erzebet and Drolta were intense and amazing antagonists. Richter Belmont, the man that you areee! Alucard? Need I say more?

  The fight sequences were beautiful, the animation was wonderful, and Edouard sang through it all. No notes.

• I watched films too. My plan to see every Timothee Chalamet lead role meant I saw Beautiful Boy (devastating stuff) and Bones and All (Nightmare fuel). I also saw Swan Song (2021), a science fiction movie that was so simple and tender in its tones that it reminded me of After Yang.

On a Final Note

Thank you, as always, for your support. I do a little dance with every subscriber and supporter, and I love writing these; they’re a documentation of this journey, and I’m grateful for it all.

To stay up to date with my doings, follow me on Twitter (again, their parents named them Twitter) for posts and ramblings outside of here + Instagram and TikTok for other posts and short videos.

See you soon,

Nkereuwem.

Hello friend,

The holidays mean different things to us all. For some, it is fun sandwiched in traffic (I am not talking about Lagos), or trips home to spend time with loved ones. If your work still hasn’t let you go, inform us so we can do something about it (We cannot help you, tbh )

Weeks ago, I found myself in a position where I could no longer ignore my personal needs; my back and hands ached from months of clinic work and typing, and I made the administrative decision to take a break. With clinic work, I could reject job offers and see out the year, but writing calls to you whether you like it or not, so I promised myself I would take it easy. All of this meant more time spent reading and catching up on movies and shows, but it also meant a lot of time simply observing, and this meant thoughts from the periphery of my mind strolled forward. The most prevalent of all these ideas was simple: Everything sucks.

A common thing I hear a lot is that we all have in common than we realise. The memes and throwback posts seem to agree that we all live similar lives and share the same experiences, and that weird feeling is how I got drawn into this “concept”. We’re all experiencing the same things and those things have shaped us, but we forget that we can also shape events — make things happen where they would not of their own accord.

Your awareness of the world is shaped by what you’re exposed to. From your culture to the media you consume all through your life, it is social engineering geared towards maintaining the status quo. Prejudice is taught, and no one is born thinking themselves better than another based on their skin colour or tribe. No one is born with hate, but we see children repeat the biases of their parents even to adulthood. We live in a society where you can’t go anywhere without a stereotype about your country, tribe or other identities slapping you, but ask where they learned it and…nothing.

Collective consciousness is a topic spoken about frequently. The world is such that it is easier to lean into things as those in power want them to be — how they want you to think it must always be. It is easier to hate things we do not want to understand and surrender the need to think for ourselves to “na so we see am”. It is easier, but time and time again, most people are drawn to questions that carve through those arguments.

Why should I hate this person?

Why do I let this injustice be if I know it is wrong?

Those moments are points when we are within the “pulse of the world”.

One of the first things I learned in medical school was the proper technique for checking a radial pulse. I initially just used to put my fingers over where I thought the radial artery was and spew a number — abnormal but not too abnormal. I eventually figured it out, but the steadiness of the pulsations and what the pulse rate told you about the heart’s overall state are what being in touch with the pulse of the world feels like; you know when something is off, and with an open mind, you learn how you can help right wrongs and injustice.

I live in Nigeria, and I do not think things have ever been this awful in my lifetime. From insecurity to awful infrastructure and a cost of living crisis, things sometimes seem bleak, but this feeling transcends my country. All over the world, innocents are dying in needless conflicts, and oppression and prejudice are being normalised in mainstream media + aggressive normalisation of hate speech (I’m looking at you, podcast bros) that feels like we’re going backwards. There’s been a shift; everyone lives through “unprecedented times”, but this world and the constant upheaval we seem to be going through? Something is off, and most of us can tell.

The internet is the largest measure of the state of the world. It functions in this respect as a double-edged sword, showing you the best and worst of humanity; it shows you are not alone, but it is also used as a tool to reiterate that you are helpless to enact change; sure, sign a petition, use a hashtag to give a voice to your cause, but how long can you do that while seeing no real change? The bet is on you giving up. There is so much between where things are and where things should be; so much injustice and hurt and hate that we may have even become desensitised to it, but we cannot afford to lose guard. 2024 was an harrowing year to be online, but if you’re like me, and you could not bring yourself to look away for too long, I need you to know that you’re right to be frustrated by everything. You’re right to be angry, to question those who want you to sit by and just let things be.

Here comes the writer bit.

Being a writer, especially a fiction writer, requires you to be many things. You are a parent before you have any children. You live in worlds you’ve never seen, worlds that once existed only in your mind. You are a rebel fighting for a better world, a victim who becomes more than their trauma. Your ability to be an empath, to grasp situations beyond your tangible experience, is one of the most powerful tools in shaping the world.

The world whispers in its stories. It is its call through earth and wood and paper. It is the way stories weave through whatever new branches we make for ourselves; from music to film to the internet. This means writers often find themselves at the very pulse of the world itself. The stories that imagine a future where we win come from those who let themselves sit in our reality, and with their words let others know it is okay to dream. It is not monolithic, so all forms of ideas, even bad fruits, grow if nurtured. There is work that reinforces even the most divisive ideas, and more often than not, that gets more light shed on them.

Those who want to steer the world however they see fit know this, so they ensure they always have a hand on the steering. Media conglomerates and power brokers know whoever controls information steers the future. Why else would billionaires buy social media apps and newspapers, or governments smother any information outlets that do not lean into whatever rhetoric they want to popularise? They try to control what you know, what you feel like you need to know. They ban books and education on history in schools. They cannot tell you who you are if you know to learn the world, and find what is true for yourself.

What can you do?

I ask myself this question every day, and the simplest thing I do is lend my voice to the causes: If you have a platform, speak on the injustices of the world. Let your work speak truth — include characters they want to erase, show people in places society does not allow them into. Write worlds where we did it, where prejudice is not the order of the day, where we fixed up and changed things.

Lasting change does not happen without storytelling. From essays and books to songs, documentaries and films, those who continue to advocate and fight for a better world must be heard. It is important to document the journey and imagine a world where we’re better and do not let injustice stand abi? It is important that everyone who can speak against wrongs does; that way, we can help steer our societies and the world in a direction filled with hope and optimism without disregarding our present.

Look at that. Revolution soon? Stick around.

Updates

The past month blurred by. Waiting for my next round of edits (or not, great editors if you read this, pity me. It’s perfect!) meant twiddling my thumbs in anticipation with not much to do, so I chose to look at it as some time to work on other stuff.

I finished one of the two short stories I’d started earlier this year, and I am on the cusp of finishing the other.

The first story is an amalgamation of two stories that ended up being what each story was missing — an exploration of a supernatural community fighting to hold on to their ancestral land + their leader’s journey to earn the power to undo his biggest failing. These stories taught me that everything doesnt have to work immediately, as both came together over two years. This one I hope gets accepted for 25’ so I can raise my shoulders as I’m walking.

The second story is a climate fiction piece I’ve been working on all year. It is a father passing his hopes — and his burdens — to his son. It is spirit masks and sustainable energy, but I tried to lean more on its emotional core over the tech; maybe that is why it’s been tough to work through. A colleague told me if I cannot see the end I haven’t given myself enough to make the ending, so I’m taking that to heart. Who knows, maybe I finish it before the year runs out.

I’ll admit it was a bit of a lurch, but it was nice to slow down, take off my novel writer hat and wear the dreaded short fiction one; coming back to the stories after draft revisions meant I am not even the same writer who started them months ago.

What I’m Enjoying

Family time included a photoshoot this year, so here is my favorite picture from it all:

We managed to get my favourite couple to sit next to each other! (for two minutes)

📖 Reading

I started John Gwynne’s The Shadow of the Gods, and I love how cold and real the world feels, but along the way, I finished a few other books.

Wole Talabi’s Convergence Problems is a collection of stories that does the thing I love the most about speculative fiction so well. The stories’ themes are very human and emotional at their core even with the use of SciFi as a medium for these stories. In Arc of Electric Skin, a mechanic wronged by his country volunteers for a life altering experiment. Blowout is a high stakes family rescue mission on Mars that examines grief in siblings. Ganger, Nigerian Dreams and Embers are dark but honest stories about the many problems facing citizens of the global south with very amazing technological concepts.

Lemme not spoil the whole collection. I loved Wole Talabi’s Shigidi, so I am just happy to have more WT.

The Murderbot Diaries

I love Murderbot! (I also love Murderbot not just cus Anne Leckie said it)

I planned to read the Murderbot books because I’d read the Monk and Robot Duology and wanted more low-stakes science fiction that examines the human condition. Now, I knew the Murderbot books were cool and there’d be a lot of violence, but the books are also a nice unravelling of what it is to be human in a future where lines between technology and biology are blurred. Murderbot is smart and sarcastic, and the narrative style is refreshing and engaging.

I cannot wait to read the rest of the series.

📺 Watching

Arcane S02: Arcane is a testament to incredible dedication and love for a craft. The storytelling was incredibly audacious in attempting to end the Piltover and Zaun storylines this season, but the team pulled it off. I was left with a pit in my belly, but that was entirely a good thing.

Animation! Phew. The attention to detail was immense, and the show is somehow even more beautiful in this season.

Music?! I haven’t rested because I have nothing I write while listening to Ashes and Blood by Woodkid.

All in all CaitVi and JayVik (I hope I got that ship name) have nothing on #Timebomb ( Which is the hashtag for Ekko and Jinx)

Pantheon: I rewatched Pantheon, which to me is one of the most amazing shows of recent years. The concepts Pantheon explores are intimidating, but it does not hide from them (Ken Liu *inserts heart emoji). Just another show I wished got more than two seasons.

On a final (for the year) note

That is all from me for 2024, but you know what that means?

Novel debut year coming!

There’s so much more to come, and I am grateful to everyone joining me on this journey. I cannot wait for you all to meet Afem, Heych and the magical city of Calabar.

Happy Holidays!

Kind regards,

Nkereuwem.

Over the last year, my after work hours were often spent writing. In the first quarter of 2024 I was able to type “END” in my WIP. With med school and life, The first draft of “The Bone River” took me the shadowy parts of three years to write, and it was a relief to finally have a draft of my work done.

Then I remembered I would have to edit it.

It has been an interesting (help me, please!) journey to say the least. Between the latest draft of my book and short stories, I wrote 60,000 words over the last year, if you don’t count filling up patient records in the clinic every day.

Here are some of the things I learned along the way:

Tell It To Yourself

Sometimes writers, creatives in general, want the work to be perfect from the jump. That is valid; you have great taste, and it will simply not do to have something you make not match up yeah?

Here’s the thing: it will have to do.

A popular saying among writers is that the first draft is you telling yourself the story. In essence, it doesn’t have to be perfect. You cannot perfect your craft without actually doing the thing. Planning to do the thing is not doing the thing; you cannot edit nothing, so you have to tell a version of the story. Whatever it is, however it is, you can build on it.

I’ve had to learn that the work is perfected in the doing. The first version of a story is rarely ever the version that goes out into the world. I’ve had to rewrite entire stories because I entered in wrong place. It was the same characters, but the thing I put down — give or take 5,000 words — was not the story. I was stubborn, but in the end I gave in. One of such stories ended up as “The House of Old Marian”, a transformative story for my craft.

In another world, I did not budge, but this is not that world: Praise be.

We worry that the work is flawed, but art is imperfect. In The Creative Act, Rick Rubin says:

“Flaws are human, and the attraction of art is the humanity held in it. If we were machinelike, the art wouldn’t resonate. It would be soulless. With life comes pain, insecurity, and fear.”

I held this because art mirrors life. Even at the very end, when the work can be considered done, it will not be perfect. It will not be accepted by everyone who encounters it as the law, or an undeniable masterpiece. My work is of me, and I’ve had to learn that it will find those it is meant for. I do hope everyone finds something in it. A word of encouragement, a relationship that reminds them of something they cherish, or mirrors something they’ve gone through so they see someone, albeit fictional, find a way and find their way. My story is not singular, and I’m grateful for all the good work that came to me because its creators did not let doubts hold them back.

So don’t stop. Not when you’re writing the first draft. Not when you finish it. Rest o, but don’t stop.

Preparing to Kill Your Darlings.

Omo.

The hardest part about editing is taking something you love apart. It is neccesary, but that doesn’t make it suck any less. Once my draft was done, my energy levels were up, and I wanted to keep going, but on the encouragement of my editor and friends, I just let it sit. I had written the best version of the story I could at the time, and it was time to step away and come back with a fresh set of eyes.

So I immersed myself in other things. I read a lot of books, watched a lot of movies (films if you’re feeling spicy). I read short stories, wrote and rewrote short stories, and did real life. I did not stop thinking of the work, but I did not write for months. It doesn’t have to be that long, but step away from the work.

Have people read it as it is and listen to their feedback. My editor and other writers helped. From recommedations of stories, books and shows to songs, I got amazing responses and help as they read through. I also had beta readers — readers who volunteered to read my work and give their thoughts. I took from our open conversations about the book, but I also made a google form with questions for beta readers to answer when they finished. It helped to see the work through the eyes of readers and having their questions and answers helped with revisions. Thanks beta readers!

I also read the entirety of the novel; not the surface level stuff I’d done recently. I asked myself why I’d done certain things, and what I was hoping to achieve. I was able to bring certain things that were subconscious forward and inspect them in the light. This peeling apart allowed me to see my work in new ways.

Then I outlined again. Deeper and more detailed than I had before. I even made a sheet. Me? A spreadsheet user?! It felt like I was trying to distill this vibrant artistic process into something mechanical, and replicable, but in naming things and giving it all structure, I was able to plan efficiently, and draw out more from every part of the work. A lot of things had happened in that time, but finally, it was time to edit!

During the actual editing process I got to the killing bit. I had feedback, and a plan, but I found that the thing I needed more than anything was honesty. I have had to be honest with myself about the work as I progressed. I had to be ready to fix anything and everything, even lines, paragraphs and sequences I’d come to love.

I tried my best to allow the story grow while maintaining its essence and themes. Some characters got more time this go around. Action sequences were stretched and squeezed, and settings were improved to make them more immersive. I also got to use a lot of the prose work I developed over the course of my time away from the novel across the entire body of work. I posted daily updates on Twitter (its twitter till it dies) and people interacted with every now and then, and after three months of going through my work with a fine toothed comb I did it. I had written a further 33,000 words over the revision window.

The experience of draft revisions was this constant unraveling and evolving to rise to the levels the work required. Every other day I learned new things about my characters and myself (ew) and by the end of this round of edits.

I enjoyed it and cannot wait to do it again. (This is a lie someone help me! Save me!)

What is working on new things like for you?

The Day Job

Did I mention I am a dentist? Oh yeah. I am a dentist.

I just concluded Housemanship — a compulsory year of hands-on training for new doctors after years of compulsory hands-on training in Medical School.

Housemanship meant waking up every day to keep the hospital running even during strikes, putting in more hours than most seniors and being the first on call for emergencies.

It was a year of growing and learning on the job. I learned things as they’re often done in the field, as per “This is how they said it in the book o, but do it like this. It’s neater, gets you even better results." I got to suture wounds. I also filled teeth, or extracted them. It was rewarding to see people leave feeling better, or knowing there was a solution to their problem after all. It was also a healthy environment to work in, mostly. Mistake were not met with insults, and I was not afraid to ask most senior colleagues for help.

All in all, I came out of the experience a better doctor. I’m grateful for the friends I made along the way, and the skills I gained

Updates!

While we all wait for the release of my debut, here’s all the new stuff.

I’m on BlueSky! Another place to exist. Click this and follow me if you’re there already, and if you’re not, come and collect your handle o (and follow me)

In publishing news!

“Commensalism, or the Labyrinth’s Vessels” is on its way to the world. My Climate fiction story will be in Issue V of “Will This Be A Problem: The Anthology”, out January 2025.

Commensalism is a story about super intelligent slime mold and the struggling chef it meets in its quest for further enlightenment. I enjoyed writing this story and can’t wait for you to read it.

Till then, we have The House of Old Marian, my story that featured in FIYAH #30. If you haven’t read it yet, check it out?

What I’m Enjoying

I find myself at what feels like a turning point in many things. It showed up in all the work I did, the books I read + the music I listened to. It was also a recurrent theme in the movies and shows I watched.

📖 Reading

Revisions meant my reading ground to a halt, but as I neared the end I was able to read again!

The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez challenged me. It is a story told in this unique way I do not think any other story can replicate. I took my copy everywhere, but I did not rush it. I sat in the words and lost myself in this story that was so many things. I read amazing fight sequences, and enjoyed the incredible details and descriptions. The characters work was amazing, from Jun and Keema to the Terrors and the Empress. Then there was the plot devices!

Just read this book. It will feel weird, but it is meant to. Trust me.

Broken by Fatima Bala was a refreshing read. It was exposure to culture from parts of Nigeria I was happy to learn about, and a romance was the perfect tool cl. I like to think when I’m reading dialogue that feels like I should not be there the writer ate. Also the plot? Once things started moving I couldn’t stop reading. Romance!!

This past week I finally cracked open Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower. The level of imagining of the future she operates on in her science fiction and dystopian work borders on prophecy. Like all her work I’ve read before (Read Lillith’s Brood guys) Parable of the Sower interrogates human nature and how both our best and worst bits rise in crises. It is important reading, especially for the world we live in now (I am looking at you United States of America).

I am scared to read the sequel, but I know I must.

The Saint of Bright Doors deserves every award it has won guys! Vajra Chandrasekera’s prose is so stellar and the characters are so layered and the world is so complex and engaging. It is a subversive story, from the tropes it goes against to but it also finds time investigates faith and the politics that makes our world what it is. It asks questions about erasure, fulfilling destinies and grief after the loss of self. I won’t yap too much, but wow. Also I saw a rainbow while I was reading this and it became my personality for a few days.

I also read a few amazing short stories.

Gabrielle Emem Harry is one of my favourite writers (and an amazing friend). She should be one of yours too. A name is a Plea and a Prophecy won the 2023 Nommo Award for Best Short Story.

Her latest offerings are, in my opinion, on course to reach those heights. “The Girl’s Flew At Night” already won the The Native Mag Horror Writing Competition, but my absolute fav is Faith is a Butterfly Resting on a Rotting Eye (Or the Art of Faith) It is about a man living in his brother's shadow, the gods he learns to hate and the complex art of faith. The story sings and tears at you and it is everything.

The first story by Fatima Abdullahi I read is amazing and gut wrenching. It is not out, but fortunately, you all get to read her work. The Weight of Our Walls is an epic story jinn, grief and friendship. It is storytelling akin to stories told to a multitude gathered to listen in silence. It is good; read it.

“We The People Excluding I” by Osahon Ize-Iyamu held me through the entire read. It is an apocalyptic fantasy about sacrifices that stressed meeee. It takes you on a dreamlike journey, but still feels tangible — concrete even.

📺 What I’m Watching

I’m not allowed to talk about my Dune rewatches, but it has been eight years since the release of Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival, and I will be watching it soon.

I was not ready for how much The Wild Robot got to me. The story is so compelling and it has you on edge all through. Lupita Nyong’o and the other voice actors were amazing in this. It left me very inspired as a story teller. I was so happy to find out it was based on a series of books so if all goes well we’ll get a sequel!

The Legend of Vox Machina S03 had an immense task to follow up it previous season and I believe they did. The How is also very important, and watching this show (not you stranger things ) piqued my interest in Dungeons and Dragons. Critical Role got me — I’m in.

The internet successfully influenced me to watch The Great after years of snippets. I loved the dry humor and how it depicts the reign of Catherine the Great and her husband Peter. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are brilliant in this, and funny too.

Arcane is back! I’ll let the season finish before getting into it, but peak is back guys!

What are you into right now? What books, films and shows are you enjoying? Let me knowww.

On a Final Note

Thank you, as always, for your support.

To stay up to date with my doings, follow me on Twitter (again, their parents named them Twitter) for posts and ramblings outside of here + Instagram and TikTok for other posts and short videos.

See you in December,

Nkereuwem.

I was not sure how to start, but I settled on a spoiler. I have known for longer than the internet, but the cat is finally out of the bag.

I got a book deal! (cue cheers from adoring audience)

In the weeks between the regular email correspondence and the official announcement, I wrote a newsletter — it isn’t my first time, but I hope to reform the habit of putting out my thoughts more. I also wanted you all — those of you who already know me and those who are meeting me for the first time — to join me on this journey as I find my way through this dream.

Fairs. Now that the intro I did not know how to do is done let’s get into it.

Names and Dreams.

Stories are in everything, and growing up, I sought them out.

My mother always encouraged my love for books. I got books as a reward for doing well in school, and read them faster than they could be purchased. Mumsie would often say, ‘If you study as much as you read these storybooks, nobody can pass you’.

Margaret Albert got me any book I wanted, and the times she’d say no, it was probably because she could not afford the expense (but once she could, I got the book). She understood where the reading thing came from because she’d often tell me my father read a lot too. She said she started reading tabloids like City People and Encomium (I hope that is how it is spelt) by his side because “once Uwem starts reading a book you’re on your own.”

Nkereuwem Albert Snr. was killed ten days before my younger brother’s first birthday. I was two years old.

I always listened to my mum talk about the jokes he’d make, and how he was a fun, jovial person. She’d talk about how he was loving diligent, ambitious and strict (he was a Superintendent of the Police). I’d read his letters to my mum from when they were dating, spend hours staring at pictures of him, and wonder if I was doing right by him, and if he’d be proud of me.

I used to be called Uwemedimo, which means, Life is Wealth. My mother changed my name on all my official documents at some point and it was not until I grew up she told me she did not want his name to fade away. Let it not be like he’d never existed.

‘Nkereuwem’ means Thinking about life (get it?) and it was another gift I am eternally grateful for. He also stood in the room and told the doctor who delivered me I would become a doctor.

I like to think my love for books is a gift from him. I also wonder how many of my dreams were born from my loss, and the desire to keep him alive in some way. I took his name, and I learned the way he capitalised his A and E in his letters to my mother. Nkereuwem said I’d become a doctor, so his words became my dream, and I did it.

Here’s the thing; for all those years, I had another dream, one that only grew with each book I read.

Escapism

I read everything!

We moved in with my mother’s sister, so I read my cousin’s school books and novels. I was around eight when I read Mother’s Choice by Agbo Areo and Virtuous Woman by Zainab Alkali. Tim LaHaye’s Left Behind put the fear of damnation in ten-year-old me for like a month till I moved on. I also read all the Harlequin and Silhouette she thought she hid well. I lost her Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban and once, I forgot to disembark from a train because I was lost in Suzanne Collins’s Catching Fire.

I’d also started to write — I filled notebooks with stories that mirrored the stories I read. I wrote and drew a comic in JSS1; the nerds of JSS1 D in CKCC Ijebu-ode will never forget Paraflame — a Human Torch meets Ghostrider (not very inventive). I wrote Percy Jackson fan fiction before I knew what fanfiction was; it was the height of the Greek and Egyptian mythology mania, so I wrote a few chapters of a story where gods reincarnated (because who didn’t?). Still, writing as a profession was not even a thing suggested to us in school, and the writers felt like people who were handpicked by God — revered for reaching this particularly unattainable height. Then I graduated secondary school and as a child of the internet, it was only right that a friend introduced me to Wattpad.

To the young writer I was, Wattpad was amazing. It was this global community of people sharing stories and encouraging each other to read and write. I read a few stories and the writers all seemed like normal people — some even my age. They left us messages at the end of chapters and updated us on their lives

Sorry I haven’t updated guys, I had high school finals.

Writers in secondary school?! I had to get in on it.

In my first month, I uploaded Desolation. It was about a family that lived in Eko Atlantic. They’d just announced the project around the time, and I thought, ‘What if all that dredging and landfilling did not work out? What if the water came back?’ The “disaster” led me to this story that followed the orphaned children as they struggled to survive in this “Lord of the Flies” setting where the entire Eko Atlantic was water. The children regularly dove into a submerged mall for supplies and…I deleted a chapter I’d spent days writing. It was an accident, and I could not bring myself to write it again, so I left the whole story. My two fans were distraught, but I promised I would do something else, and I did. I wrote a story about a teenage time traveller who hid out in 2015 in Lagos, Nigeria. The story was not as important as the fact I was writing again, but it was as good as I could make it (in my humbleee opinion SCEPTRE: I and PRIMORDIAL: II should’ve been bigger)

Writing on the internet for a few people to read had become my escape.

On Wattpad, I made lifelong friends and learned a lot; like using HTML to advertise on the community platforms and writing regularly to meet often unreasonable self-imposed deadlines. I engaged with readers and got to be a writer, with no obstacles; I only had to post and gbam! the chapter was out. A year into writing on Wattpad, I wrote a psychological thriller that was a retelling of Red Riding Hood. It was challenging to write, but it was also very rewarding and then the most interesting thing happened — I won an award.

So you see; you may not have known me o, but according to my analytics on Wattpad, mralbertnk was a known name in households in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was happy, but omo, my work was not yet reflective of my reality; the characters were those I’d seen in those settings — not me or my people. The city was not Lagos, even if I said it was.

I moved to Calabar, where I would spend the next phase of my life studying to become a dentist. I should probably dedicate another newsletter to talking about the city that inspired me so much, but even there, I never stopped reading, especially fantasy and Sci-fi.

In 2017, I discovered Nnedi Okorafor’s work. In Akata Witch and Akata Warrior (or What Sunny Saw in the Flames & Sunny and the Mysteries of Osisi), I saw the stories I didn’t know how to tell be told and accepted; a pure version of what I’d always wanted to do. I devoured the books and they inspired me to get back to writing fantasy and science fiction with characters that looked like me.

The Crucible

Inspired by Afrocentric work in my genre, I began to write stories that felt familiar. I wrote a crime thriller with names I heard every other day, and it felt real, genuine even. I balanced writing and Uni until 2020 my pursuit of the doctor thing was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the confinement, I found purpose in literature. I read everything I could, and I wrote all the things that gnawed at my mind. I wrote short stories — a story of an alien invasion over Watt market was followed one about a girl running from the spirits that dwell in Calabar’s rivers, and a romance in Satellite Town. I wrote a story about a mother doing everything in her power to keep her ogbanje child alive.

I wrote two children’s story books and saw my work published by someone other than me for the first time. I edited an anthology of stories by writers I knew that followed our shared dilemma as writers stuck at home, and like any rational person, I decided I would write a novel

In the Mourning was a coming-of-age novel following young people in University and their trauma. I challenged myself and by July I had a novel; It had all the roads I’d walked for years in the pages of the manuscript and I recognised the characters. It was happy and sad and heavy and I learned a lot about myself in writing it.

I let the work breathe and returned to edit it in November, and the word count was like 60k words. I will say this — as much as I cherished the work, a part of me knew I was jumping the gun, trying to reach for something I was not yet ready for. Still, I did some research and submitted it to a few publishers and got rejected. I never did query for representation, so with the end of the pandemic I let the novel be and got back to med school.

In the years that followed, I also discovered ghostwriting. I got a load of practice working on fantasy and sci-fi novels, and my work was paying me, but the downside was never getting credit for the amazing things I did. I also had to let go of amazing characters I worked on. The cons outweighed the pros so I decided to stick to writing for myself.

The Bone River.

In 2022, another opportunity presented itself — a strike. ASUU, the bane of public university students all over the country, did their thing. For almost a year I had nothing to do but write.

I had an idea for a short story, and as I kept writing, those I shared it with kept asking me if I was sure this story was meant to be short form. I had a lot to say, and I was way beyond the conventional word count. I still wanted to write the “short story” and I did. Despite my best efforts, it still read like a chapter of a book, but I carried my coconut head and submitted to magazines and anthologies. I got rejections; not one or two, but a thousand! (Okay closer to twenty)

I took what everyone said, and started to think of the work as a larger body, to allow me to explore the characters properly, and with the room to move, I planned a thing that drew on all the stories I’d been writing over the years. I felt ready, I had a fair idea of what did well from my time as a ghostwriter. I also had my taste abi? How hard can it be?

I’d started The Bone River in 2022, and I would not write “END” until 2024.

I did write the short story though. My friend/editor suggested I write where I wanted the characters to be by the end of the book, and I tried to. “The House of Old Marian”, followed a young necromancer and a magician with which she shared a dark past. It was this story that changed everything for me.

After a year of submitting to mags and entering the story for competitions, I had gathered quite the bag of rejections. You never get used to it, and you know it is not an indictment of your abilities (abi?) but you can’t help but feel down. I kept writing other stories, as I wrote the novel, and then there was the issue of my finals.

I worked hard and it came to an end. I was a doctor.

Finals meant I’d still not finished the larger body of work, but then I got an email; “The House of Old Marian” was a finalist in the 2023 Dream Foundry Contest for Emerging Writers. I was over the moon, and I dared to imagine a world where my story won something. I kept the hope buried deep inside so I wouldn’t be disappointed, but it niggled. It was a good story no? Solid prose, engaging plot and all the boxes ticked abi? Surely the machinations of the universe would tilt in my favour.

When I got the congratulatory email I just sat there, staring into nothing. First place? Me? I dreamt and didn’t get burned.

I celebrated the win and decided to finish the novel. I had a lot of help along the way. My friends always took my calls to ask me questions about the scenes I couldn’t wait to write and the plot. Publishers opened their submission window, and I was 80% of the way to an okay draft, but I worked on my query package and started to submit it to agents and publishers. I told myself if I was rejected, it was fine, but if anyone was interested, I should be done by then.

After many late nights and weekend writing stretches, The Bone River was almost done. In January 2024, I was writing the last bits when I got my first full request from a publisher. I nearly shouted when the email came in at work, and after the initial excitement, I finished up the book and sent it in. I did not hear from them for a few months, but I reminded myself that as much as I loved the work, the first draft was me telling the story to myself. I tempered my expectations and focused on finding “The House of Old Marian” a home.

After over 40 rejections — so many I started to feel them in my chest — I finally got my first pro-sale. The House of Old Marian was featured in Fiyah #30, and my short story was finally in the world. The full request was also followed by rejection, and I would have been gutted if I had not gotten another full request (as I am a big name). The second request became an acceptance, and true true the machinations of the universe had done their thing for me.

Storytelling has always been a source of solace for me. I read worlds beyond my own and found myself in books. My father has been gone for twenty-five years, and in that time, stories have kept him alive; from my mother’s stories of her time with the great love of her life to the nurse who saw me at work and told me everything she could remember about him because she remembered his name after all these years.

It’s hard to see a way up a mountain — to see something as possible — unless someone has walked a path before you. The journey I’m on does not happen without every book I’ve read and every story I’ve been told. So I am thankful to every writer who has ever written a word I’ve read.

Thank you for the stories of my life.

On a Final Note…

Seeing as this is the first of many newsletters here, I figured I’d answer some questions you didn’t ask.

How often will thinking about life be sent?

Third or fourth week of each month, often on Tuesday or Wednesday.

What will it contain?

Mostly my notes on craft and updates regarding my books & publications, works-in-progress, upcoming appearances, etc. Also notes on what I’m currently enjoying (reading, watching, listening to, playing, etc) and what else is on my mind at the time. 

Is it a paid or free newsletter?

100% free and unlikely to ever change.

Where else can I find you?

Follow me on Twitter (their parents named them Twitter) for posts and ramblings outside of here + Instagram and TikTok for other posts and short videos.

See you soon!