SENTINEL NIGERIA.ORG has published its 7th Issue. This issue features fine editorial by Richard Ali, and short stories by prolific authors such as Chuma Nwokolo, Esien Ekpe-Ita, Conquer Tukokumo Igali, and Chiemerie Nnamani Okenwa. This issue also features a single dramatist, Jerry Alagbaoso. There are poems by Obemata, Ibrahim Sambo, Giwa Abdulazeez, Anietie James Okuku, Osayi Osar-Emokpae, and Enuka Chimezie. In The Sentinel Nigeria interview, EC Osondu, Caine Prize winner and author of Voice of America talks to Eghosa Imasuen. There also interesting essays, reviews and Literature in Tongues. Click to read the 7th Edition of the sentinelnigeria journal.
Judy Croome is a wonderful writer. I am currently enjoying her new novel Dancing in the Shadows of Love. On Tabouleh, she guest blogs about making the most life and handling pressure. Here’s a snippet from the refreshing treatise: ‘Life is not a series of separate balls to be kept in the air by a human juggler. Life is more like a river running from its source, high in the pure mountain air, sometimes calm, sometimes slow, often filled with hidden currents and rushing rapids that tend to knock us off-balance until, finally, the water sweeps back into the ocean from which all life originally emerged.’ Read full article HERE.
Helon Habila’s latest short story published in the guardian.co.uk magazine 9/11 series is another interesting read. Here’s an excerpt: “Whatever it was, heroin or cocaine, it had changed everything about him. We were somewhere near Dupont Circle; Martin had chosen the place. The little Italian restaurant was empty – the lunch crowd wouldn’t be here for another hour. Martin was wearing a ridiculous zoot suit and a tie, like something out of a 1930s movie. All that was missing was the felt hat and the pointy shoes. The suit was old and unwashed, the stitching was going on his Doc Martens – the heels were so worn he rolled from side to side as he walked. And this pudgy, time-worn face. Could this be the handsome, sardonic young man I had met many years ago? CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story.
Nze Sylva Ifedigbo’s Call Room, published in Story Time is another interesting read. Call Room is a short story from his recently published collection, The Funeral did not End. Here’s an excerpt: “It nauseates me that she is standing at my door so early this morning. I should have known that those two quick knocks were hers. Those two quick taps that formerly got me springing to the door with a smile dancing on my lips. Today, unfortunately, such enthusiasm has known death. I shouldn’t have opened the door to find her standing there and telling me we need to talk — with eyes darting up and down the corridor like a burglar breaking into a room and watching to see if any eye is watching. She looks dressed for work, her perfume uninvitingly fills up my lungs. I look at her and wonder if I should just slam my door on her face or flatten her chubby nose with a punch. I can feel the urge in the muscles of my right arm. I am sure I wouldn’t regret either.”To read CLICK HERE
Organizers of the Cecilia Unaegbu flash fiction contest have started publishing the winning stories on Jeff’s Blog. Well, I won first prize, and my story has been published on the blog. Here’s a snippet: “My bride price has to be paid to my father and to no one else. Uzonna, a surgeon at the university teaching hospital, was a man who loved to abide by tradition. When we first met at a medical conference, it was his neat, starched and ironed clothes that drew me to him. His clean shaven chin smelt like overripe pineapples. The first time we kissed, he’d held my thin waist gently as though it would break like a twig if he didn’t. We had agreed not to go beyond mild petting. No premarital sex. We wanted to have a special experience to anticipate in marriage. We were anxious to be married .“ To read the rest, CLICK HERE.
Ginosko Literary Journal has also released its 11th issue. I admire the quality of the published works. To download a FREE copy of this journal. CLICK HERE.
Or go to http://www.ginoskoliteraryjournal.com/