A little piece of me (2)

1) Is the weather really always that nice or are those just good days:
Most of the pictures were taken on bright and sunny days some as recent as last week. The weather in Seattle can be very fickle and temperamental. Summer was fantastic, over a month with no rain. Sunny skies but not run-out-screaming hot, except on two or so occasions. Now we’re in fall, it’s dry one minute and wet the next. It rains even when the sun is out. LOL, and it rains almost every other day.

2) As a writer, does all the art in the city inspire you or you don’t actively think about it:
I don’t actively think about it. I love going to museums and art events but more to relax. What inspires my writing about the city is the sense of serenity. There are trees all over the place and beaches when the weather is nicer. These are the things that get my muse in the right mood.

3) Who is your favourite author?
I love various authors and cannot narrow it down. The names that stick are; M&B, Cartland, Rivers, Sheldon, Ludlum, Uris, Grisham, and Critchton. And in Africa; Pacestters, AWS, Nwapa, Emecheta, Ekwensi, and Achebe. Recently I read more by how I like the preview or reviews of a book than who wrote it. However, I always try to buy a Nigerian author each time I shop.

4) How did you decide to self-publish your book?
I sent out the manuscript to about three publishers, but I always knew I might go the self publishing route. I’m not the literary author type that is more acceptable to mainstream publishers and the genre publishers may not be comfortable with the Nigerian setting. However, I wanted people to read my story and hope it leads to bigger things. I also own the rights and if a good offer comes in later, I will accept.

5) How long have you lived in Seattle? I have lived here for going on a year now.

6) What are the pros and cons of living there?
One big pro of course was being able to join SO, LOL. OK, Seattle is a slow paced city which I prefer and the weather is manageable. It’s close to the Canada border and to California so easier to visit these places (I like travelling). The cons are that the weather can get depressing at times. It is three hours behind the rest of the country time-wise and 8hrs behind naija and UK, making it harder to call friends and family. It is also far from the South, Midwest and East coast, and very far from naija with more expensive flights.

7) What did you study in college?
I studied Applied Biology for my first and Public Health Research for Masters. So what am I doing writing? Search me…LOL, the research comes in useful sha.

8) Are you a writer for real?
Who is a real writer? LOL...well I’ve been writing since I was little. I did sciences all through and still kept on writing. Now it is my 9 – 5 and hopefully more people are reading me now and will be reading in future. I’ll be very fulfilled when the first book is out in print I can tell you.

9) Other than writing, what else do you enjoying doing?
I watch a lot of TV and movies, listen to music, and chat with friends. I enjoy the outdoors with good weather and a long hike somewhere; beach, wood park, walking and hill climbing. I also love travelling, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. Of course reading is the easiest and cheapest way of doing this and some of my best days are curled up with a book while it’s rain-drenched outside.

10) I always wonder how you manage to sit and write an entire story without throwing your laptop out the window. I have a big issue with over-editing my stuff.
It’s both a fault and a blessing. I cannot tell a short story unless I’m forced to. So it’s something I enjoy, writing long stories about people in my imagination. Now that I’ve made it my 9-5, you don see my life finish. LOL. I edit a lot while writing so that at the end it’s minimal. Still I appreciate fresh eyes to help me proof and then I force myself to move to the next project. “A heart to Mend” took me about 6months.


>>>>>That’s it my friends, some questions were answered in the previous comments. The details for those that want to contribute will be ready tomorrow with the first installment and poll. Thanks again…

A little piece of me (1)

So the theme of this blog will be changing in the next few weeks, at least till the end of the year. As most of you know, I have submitted the manuscript for Edward and Gladys' story to the publishers and the process has started. Now I have started research for the next book, it has to do with twins and of course romance in Nigeria. Some of you on twitter already know where it is set. LOL. It's gonna be partly in Benin-City.

Anyway I digress. The blog is gonna change a little to give me time to get my flow on the new one and till "A mended heart" premieres. So while we wait for the washing, SO has agreed to take some of the load off. He is a blogger though he rested his spot some time ago. Some of you may recognize him. Yes leggy, that is the person responsible for all the mushy poems so blame him when he comes oo.

As I was saying, we want to start an interactive story with the commenters. It will have a poll driven storyline and interested bloggers can contribute as well. Before the end of this week, I will have the details ready.

For now I was tagged by Scomiss to talk about the hype in my city. This ties in with my idea to celebrate my over 100 followers. I realised my blog doesn't share a lot of myself, though I leave a few pieces here and there on other blog's comments. So to share more of me, I have made a video of the city I live in with one or two pictures of me thrown in.

Look at the pictures, ask any questions you want in the comments section and I will answer as much as I can. My next blog post will be dedicated to answering those questions so look out for it too.

Thanks for following and thanks for the comments. I really appreciate it. I even think that without you guys, it would have been more difficult to finish the book so quickly. You're all the best. If you're not following, join now and keep commenting/ voting. Giveaways are coming again soon...

ps...I will take down the video once I have 10 questions I want to answer.

Sweet things you do to me. (Poem)

Sweet things you do to me
You make me feel so fine
In the press of a mobbing crowd
The way you look into my face
And hold on to my hand

Sweet things you do to me
You treat me like I’m a queen
The most important thing to you
You do all in your power
To see that I’m always happy

Sweet things you do to me
You point out those things
That you know I love to see
You cause me to smile at you
And make me laugh out loud

Sweet things you do to me
You show a real sense of depth
In times of pain and sorrow
Which I cherish as much as
Your arms of comfort around me

Sweet things you do to me
You can spin the silliest jokes
Just to tease and thrill me
Your warm and tender smile
Is a lighthouse in the storm

Oh! Sweet things you do to me
For in this ever–changing world
Long as you're always near
Most sweet is your love for me
It always sees me through

Precious (Poem)

Your eyes flash with a fire
That shames that of sapphire
Your skin is from the mould
That poured the purest gold

Your hair is of a glory
Darker than the finest ebony
Your charm will never fade
Like that of an Indian jade

I need no tear in a pond
To compare to a diamond
Because your lips are ruddy
Redder yet than any ruby

Your smile glows so silvery
It cannot be rivaled by ivory
You’ve been made more perfect
Than the best crafted garnet

So like the jewels of the bold
Much too valuable to be sold
You have been made to be
Very very precious to me

I'm well and truly loved (Poem)

Update: Just to say that I'll soon get back to posting excerpts of the Gladys and Edward story. I have just signed the contract with my publishers and want to finalize things first. Hopefully things will be clearer by the end of the week. In the meantime, enjoy the poem...


Your love is music in my heart
In the midst of the silent desert
Your love is the warm blanket
Over me in the coldest season
In a dark and heavy sky
It is the brightest star
Your love is a guiding light
In the blackest of night
Through the hardest famine
It feeds me with food and wine
Even in the hottest weather
It cools my lips with water
Your love springs up to fill me
When drought seeks to kill me
So I'm not going to be moved
Because I’m well and truly loved

Expectations II (Poem)

I’ve known you for over a year
Seemed there was naught to fear
You were more than a listening ear
So I told you that I care

Alas I was not left alone to fare
Tis a burden I no more have to bear
We have come together to share
Times of love, pain and cheer

My heart is open and bare
With you as a king without peer
I promise our love will not be mere
When you become my pair

You will be forever near
Others will have to go to the rear
It will no more be there and here
When I call out you will hear

Because you’re to me most fair
You’ll be all I hold dear
I’ll give you tender repair
Just reach out and I'll be there...

The Selected Readers.

Hey all, thanks for all the interest. I have selected some people who expressed interest as follows. They're all in my top 20 commenters.

1. Leggy

2. Ttlola

3. Azazel

4. Histreasure

5. Jabez

Thank you all. I will also send to Neefemi and Fabulola because of their enthusiasm. Please you should all send your email addresses to mulan.mine at gmail. I'll send out the manuscripts this evening.

Afrolivehealthy, you can send me you address too.

You'll have a nice evening now...

Thanks and Giveaways

My blogsville family, thank you all once again for the great wishes you left on my birthday post. I really appreciate it. Those that asked about the template. I got it from YummyLolly blogspot and it's called 'Change me'. My SO helped me to customize it to the colors I wanted and to move the previous blog. He's a real darling.

Now to the giveaways. Do you want to be the first to read the complete Edward and Gladys story? Please leave an Expression of interest with your comments. The first five people who express interest and are in my top twenty commenters will have the chance to read for free. The only thing I will request is that they point out any typos or inconsistencies in the story and send me back a reviewed document. The story is about 180 pages and still in word document.

What does this mean? It means the story is complete. YAYYYY!!!! I have polished and re-polished with the help of my my writing group, my dearest SO, and another wonderful blogger who took an interest early on. I now need fresh eyes to check it out. I have decided to publish the book myself and hope to send it to the publishers (AuthorHouse) by the end of the week. If all goes well, it will be in print by Christmas. Those who prefer an e-book will be able to buy that by mid November.

I will keep publishing excerpts of the novel until the e-book is ready. Then I'll move to the next story I have been thinking about. I'm excited by all this and hope you are too. I remain loyal and thanks again for all the feedback I got in the last three months that have helped me in polishing up the story. When the book is ready, the top three commenters will get free copies of the novel. Those that said they want to see it in print and will buy, please stand by ooo. LOL

Please keep reading and commenting. Thank you all...

My birthday, a new blog template

So today is my birthday but it started yesterday since we're on this corner of the world behind everyone else. Many many thanks to SO who started it off with a bang (no pun intended oo...LOL). So now my blog has a new look though I'm no techie and nothing was lost, whoopie. I love the new look. Let me know what you think please and if I'm missing something.

I have attached some pics of a romantic dinner out we had and may take them down later or at least the one of me. We went to Sky City, a restaurant at the top of the Space Needle here in Seattle. The views were fantastic but the company was better hehehe.

So the gifts are already rolling in. If you need my details to send in yours, let me know. LOL. Permit me to say a MASSIVE thank you for making this blogging adventure and my writing a pleasure to look forward to. Have a glorious week my lovely people, take care.

Saving my all (Poem)

This was written for my SO as a wedding gift


I’ve been saving my words
For the one I love
Now I finally found you
I’ll speak of no other

I’ve been saving my eyes
For the one I love
Now I’ve finally seen you
I’ll look at no other

I’ve been saving my dreams
For the one I love
Now I’ve finally know yours
We can share our dreams

I’ve been saving myself
For the one I love
Now I’ve finally met you
I’ll give it to no other

I’ve been saving my heart
For the one I love
Now I’ve given it to you
It will beat for you alone

I’ve been saving my love
Specially for you
Now you're in my life
We'll be together forever