Nothing compares to holding the first copy, hot off the press, of your new book in your hands. No matter how many times you publish a book – and I’m now on my sixth – that rush when you see the culmination of all your hard work is like nothing else.
I was at the printer on Wednesday last week (23rd November) to collect the printed copies of Silencing Anna. I decided to wait to share this news with you all until after I posted the video of the unboxing, which you can watch on my YouTube channel. The video went up today. Here is the link.
The book launch is on Saturday and I can’t wait. After months of planning and hard work to ensure we published the book in time, it’s great to see all the pieces coming together finally.
My other books (except Duel in the Savanna, which you can read right here on this blog), were published by East African Educational Publishers (Eaep). This is my first time self-publishing a book and it’s been an interesting experience.
I will be sharing the highs and lows of self-publishing and how it compares to traditional publishing on this blog and also on my YouTube channel (@WanjiruWaithaka). So please head on over there and join the small community of book lovers we’re building. I talk books, writing, making money from the arts and also share snippets of my life as a published author based in Kenya.
As I mentioned in my last post, there is a Giveaway for those who pre-order Silencing Anna. It runs until 2nd December so you still have five days to grab a copy and stand to win a gift bag, 17 of my favourite books or the top prize – Ksh17,000.
It has been 17 years since I published my first novel, The Unbroken Spirit, in 2005. So the Giveaway is a celebration of that milestone. The novel won third prize in the adult fiction category of the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for Literature two years later, the biggest and most prestigious literary award in the country.
Quick question, would you rather receive a gift voucher and if so, from where? Or would you rather I put some cash in your Mpesa? Let me know in the comments.
Also would you rather receive 17 of my favourite books or pick the titles yourself? Again, let me know in the comments. I want to make sure I gift someone books that they will actually read.
I will be announcing the winners of the giveaway before Christmas. So for one lucky reader, Christmas has come early. Here is the link to pre-order the novel from Nuria. The price is Ksh 1,200 only.
Have a great week! See you soon.