CENTER STAGE WITH KATHRYN BORN

Kathryn Born... Author

Center Stage with Kathryn Born

We have not had a guest on Center Stage for a while. The reason is quite simple. Sometimes I find that some writers send me their book to read, and I make my honest opinion of how I found the book. It me..me? remember not reading on behalf of millions but sharing my thoughts with hopefully a large section of humanity through the internet. That is where we all meet these days on a virtual world. I was wary therefore when I was invited to read THE BLUE KIND by Kathryn Born. I communicated with Kathryn to get a sensing of the book but al I got was a sensing of a warm person. I did not even realize in time that Kathryn is such a pretty woman until she sent me her picture. But that was after she had replied my questions and I was bowled over by her answers.

It is my distinct pleasure therefore to invite another ‘earned’ friend and Author to Center Stage. But before we read from Kathryn, let me share with you my thoughts on her book ….The Blue Kind

The Blue Kind is a strange story for me. It like reading about the damned and riding past your horror to see some humanity in a collection of wasted humanity. It is like moving sluggishly in a land where it is nightmarish to be alive and awake. It is like I just wrote, being a visitor to a type of hell. It is tough writing and something totally strange to me and to all that I have ever read. I would like to congratulate Ms Born for making a difficult subject readable. Allison's search for her lost soul in the fumes and degradation of her addiction is definitely admirable and I found myself reluctantly empathizing with her. I really could not put the book down because it scared, challenged me and I was half afraid of becoming addicted. It challenged me to see that not all books needed to be happily ever after and it took me on a terrifying dizzying ride on the really dark side of midnight.

Thank you Ms. Born for this opportunity, I am tempered by this book to accept that life is not black or white but whole shades of grey mixed in. Once again my heartfelt Congratulations and warm respects.

1. Congratulations on your book THE BLUE KIND

2. Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you wrote the book.

I started writing the first version of the novel in 1992, when I was around twenty. I guess I felt compelled to write a story like this because, at the time,  my life was so strange and I wasn’t seeing anything like it in the contemporary literature I was reading. Although the version from the 90’s wasn’t publishable, the book and its characters haunted me over a number of years.  In 2007 I re-visited it.  Having become a professional writer and editor I decided it needed a full line-by-line rewrite, and a complete restructuring. I’ve always been influenced by film structure, and the pacing of films. Reading read Syd Fields’ Screenwriting and Maas’ Writing the Breakout Novel helped me take my book to another level. My time away from the story also allowed me to look at it with fresh perspective.

3.You seem interested in death and the after life, is that correct?

I don’t believe in the afterlife, but my life has been mixed with death from an early age. (My birth mother died in an accident when I was a toddler), and since then, I’ve lost others as well. But I also feel like our limited lifespan gives our lives a sense of urgency, and in the novel I play with the idea of immortality being tied in with listlessness - a total lack of motivation.

4, Your book is almost mind bending and you portray very skillfully how one can cross the thin line between reality and fantasy, what do you think?

Thank you for the kind words. Using fantastic elements is the core of my writing style because I love creating imaginary elements the characters have to respond to, it makes things more exciting than ordinary realities. In this book, lawlessness is a central theme - so even “the laws of physics” don’t stand a chance in this place.

5. Have you ever worked with drug addicts?

I’ve been one. So I was squarely “in that community” of addicts.  I personally struggled for over 10 years, and the first draft was written in the early stages of going down the rabbit hole. But I only when I quit did I have the mental strength and discipline to actually make the novel readable and “structurally sound”. But to get back to your question, I’ve lived in that circle, but I’ve also built a lot of bonds with other people who’ve quit “the life” as well, and that is the community I’m connected to today.

6. Do you think immortality can be achieved?

My husband likes to think so, ha ha. “The Singularity” is a big topic in our home. I do think, for young people, our lifespan could average 120, I think there are some huge medical advances on the horizon.

7 What genre can we place this book?

I say “Magical Realism”, although that’s kind of 90’s lingo. It’s really just fiction with fantastic elements and lots of satire and metaphors, I really don’t like most science fiction, so I really avoid that term.  

8 What has been the reception since the book came out?

The way it resonated with readers of the early versions definitely motivated me to get it published.  Now that it’s been released (a week ago) the book criticism jury is still out, but Booklist gave it a great review and people have been enjoying it on Goodreads. It would be great if the novel “takes off”. Either way, I’m writing a new novel and working on it as an indie film.

9. We are bound sometimes by what we write, will you recommend those who might read the book?

I guess just to relax and not worry about things not making sense.

10 Share your typical writing day and format?

Well, I work a lot at day jobs, so I can’t write every day. I have to clear my schedule and write during chunks of time – so I often go a month without writing. Hopefully that will change and I won’t be so swamped with life. 

Thank you for coming on Center Stage

Here is a link to getting copies of the book..The Blue Kind:

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Kind-Switchgrass-Kathryn-Born/dp/0875806821/ref=la_B00785JZT2_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346949054&sr=1-2

CENTER STAGE WITH KATHRYN BORN

Center Stage with Kathryn Born

We have not had a guest on Center Stage for a while. The reason is quite simple. Sometimes I find that some writers send me their book to read, and I make my honest opinion of how I found the book. It me..me? remember not reading on behalf of millions but sharing my thoughts with hopefully a large section of humanity through the internet. That is where we all meet these days on a virtual world. I was wary therefore when I was invited to read THE BLUE KIND by Kathryn Born. I communicated with Kathryn to get a sensing of the book but al I got was a sensing of a warm person. I did not even realize in time that Kathryn is such a pretty woman until she sent me her picture. But that was after she had replied my questions and I was bowled over by her answers.

It is my distinct pleasure therefore to invite another ‘earned’ friend and Author to Center Stage. But before we read from Kathryn, let me share with you my thoughts on her book ….The Blue Kind

The Blue Kind is a strange story for me. It like reading about the damned and riding past your horror to see some humanity in a collection of wasted humanity. It is like moving sluggishly in a land where it is nightmarish to be alive and awake. It is like I just wrote, being a visitor to a type of hell. It is tough writing and something totally strange to me and to all that I have ever read. I would like to congratulate Ms Born for making a difficult subject readable. Allison's search for her lost soul in the fumes and degradation of her addiction is definitely admirable and I found myself reluctantly empathizing with her. I really could not put the book down because it scared, challenged me and I was half afraid of becoming addicted. It challenged me to see that not all books needed to be happily ever after and it took me on a terrifying dizzying ride on the really dark side of midnight.

Thank you Ms. Born for this opportunity, I am tempered by this book to accept that life is not black or white but whole shades of grey mixed in. Once again my heartfelt Congratulations and warm respects.

1. Congratulations on your book THE BLUE KIND

2. Please tell us a bit about yourself and why you wrote the book.

I started writing the first version of the novel in 1992, when I was around twenty. I guess I felt compelled to write a story like this because, at the time,  my life was so strange and I wasn’t seeing anything like it in the contemporary literature I was reading. Although the version from the 90’s wasn’t publishable, the book and its characters haunted me over a number of years.  In 2007 I re-visited it.  Having become a professional writer and editor I decided it needed a full line-by-line rewrite, and a complete restructuring. I’ve always been influenced by film structure, and the pacing of films. Reading read Syd Fields’ Screenwriting and Maas’ Writing the Breakout Novel helped me take my book to another level. My time away from the story also allowed me to look at it with fresh perspective.

3.You seem interested in death and the after life, is that correct?

I don’t believe in the afterlife, but my life has been mixed with death from an early age. (My birth mother died in an accident when I was a toddler), and since then, I’ve lost others as well. But I also feel like our limited lifespan gives our lives a sense of urgency, and in the novel I play with the idea of immortality being tied in with listlessness - a total lack of motivation.

4, Your book is almost mind bending and you portray very skillfully how one can cross the thin line between reality and fantasy, what do you think?

Thank you for the kind words. Using fantastic elements is the core of my writing style because I love creating imaginary elements the characters have to respond to, it makes things more exciting than ordinary realities. In this book, lawlessness is a central theme - so even “the laws of physics” don’t stand a chance in this place.

5. Have you ever worked with drug addicts?

I’ve been one. So I was squarely “in that community” of addicts.  I personally struggled for over 10 years, and the first draft was written in the early stages of going down the rabbit hole. But I only when I quit did I have the mental strength and discipline to actually make the novel readable and “structurally sound”. But to get back to your question, I’ve lived in that circle, but I’ve also built a lot of bonds with other people who’ve quit “the life” as well, and that is the community I’m connected to today.

6. Do you think immortality can be achieved?

My husband likes to think so, ha ha. “The Singularity” is a big topic in our home. I do think, for young people, our lifespan could average 120, I think there are some huge medical advances on the horizon.

7 What genre can we place this book?

I say “Magical Realism”, although that’s kind of 90’s lingo. It’s really just fiction with fantastic elements and lots of satire and metaphors, I really don’t like most science fiction, so I really avoid that term.  

8 What has been the reception since the book came out?

The way it resonated with readers of the early versions definitely motivated me to get it published.  Now that it’s been released (a week ago) the book criticism jury is still out, but Booklist gave it a great review and people have been enjoying it on Goodreads. It would be great if the novel “takes off”. Either way, I’m writing a new novel and working on it as an indie film.

9. We are bound sometimes by what we write, will you recommend those who might read the book?

I guess just to relax and not worry about things not making sense.

10 Share your typical writing day and format?

Well, I work a lot at day jobs, so I can’t write every day. I have to clear my schedule and write during chunks of time – so I often go a month without writing. Hopefully that will change and I won’t be so swamped with life. 

Thank you for coming on Center Stage

Here is a link to getting copies of the book..The Blue Kind:

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Kind-Switchgrass-Kathryn-Born/dp/0875806821/ref=la_B00785JZT2_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1346949054&sr=1-2

CENTER STAGE WITH KATHRYN BORN

Numen Yeye

Chapter Two

Fehintola

Fehintola stayed silent in the other room and cried as she listened to the sounds of passion from the bedroom of her husband. She had stopped attending social outings with her husband because she was afraid of the pitying looks. She could not be angry nor could she make demands so she became a prayer warrior. Fehintola prayed to the Lord to remove the rebuke, and shame the devil that made each pregnancy an agony of nine months wait and a tragedy of birth. She was labeled as the harbinger of sorrow as each time she gave birth, the child never stayed long enough to welcome a younger sibling. She knew what that meant. She was being punished by a spirit child, or in her language, an abiku, which had taken an interest in her. Some of the births were very painful as the child would wait long enough for love to blossom in her heart and then leave very quietly. The child would have a slight fever, and before she could do anything, the infant would be gone.

Her husband was tired of coming to her bed for she knew he was asking himself what was the point of all the passion if he was going to have to bury another child. Some evenings, Fehintola would stare into space unaware of her surroundings, just wishing she would die, and then shiver that such thoughts should come to her.

One morning, a simply dressed young woman knocked on her door, and gave her a beautiful smile. Fehintola stared at the lady wondering who she wanted to see. The lady identified herself simply as a priestess and an usher in the house of the goddess Numen Yeye. Shocked and surprised she stared as she was told by the quiet, unassuming young woman to be at the shrine to respond to the summons from Numen Yeye.

Fehintola blinked and shook her head even as she sent her respects through the young virgin to Numen Yeye. It was an honor to be visited by the priestess of Numen Yeye but how was she going to explain that to Ayo? The young woman who simply asked to be addressed as Yeye, smiled. ”It is to ensure that Numen Yeye, when she comes, is given the right surroundings,” she had finished.

“Numen who?”

“You are to be pregnant again and we have decided that this is the final time Numen Yeye would try to cross the bridge into you. If we do not mend the bridge, she will not come and you will remain barren.”

Fehintola was electrified by the information and tears came to her eyes. She was suddenly resolute—she was going to keep the appointment with Numen Yeye.

Ayo was skeptical when she told him of her encounter. He gave her a long look, Fehintola sensed that he was maybe wondering if she was half way insane. The last death had almost unhinged her and she suspected her husband was not sure of trying again.

“Please, Ayo, I understand it is my last chance,” she pleaded in desperation.

Numen Yeye

Upcoming Title: Numen Yeye, by Biola Olatunde

We are pleased to announce a forthcoming title, which will very shortly be published in print, Kindle, NOOK Book and Kobo formats.

We felt it was important to say a little about Numen Yeye, by Biola Olatunde, because its production has been meticulous and lengthy, and it is very much a novel worthy of mention.

Biola Olatunde is a Nigerian novelist, poet and screenwriter, with a wealth of writing experience. Her foray into novel writing is one of her later efforts, and her first novel, Blood Contract, was published by IFWG Publishing, and has received critical acclaim. We don't publish many non-speculative fiction titles, but Blood Contract captured our interest, not only for its exotic adventure, but because the novel is also a significant social commentary on Nigeria today--village politics, violence, bribery, corruption--and yet it also talks about a people with a strong spirit and a captivating culture.

Numen Yeye is a longer, more detailed work, and to our additional pleasure, is essentially a speculative fiction piece. This novel delves into Nigerian culture to a much higher degree than Blood Contract; in fact, culture is the central theme. And what a culture! Biola paints a complex picture, a complete picture, of the wonderful spirit of the Nigerian people, in addition to the beauty and majesty of the 'old' religion. In contrast, Biola also depicts in detail the darker side of Nigerian culture, including black magic and witchcraft, as well as the negative elements of local Christian churches. All of these powerful themes are viewed through the eyes of two blessed young people, a girl and a boy. The periodic switching to the realm where the old Nigerian gods and spirits reside, and how they are bridged with these two young people, elevates Numen Yeye into a compelling read.

It is important to make a point about the writing style. Biola Olatunde is an accomplished poet, and her narrative has a strong poetic influence, which is well suited to the subject matter of the novel. Additionally, she wrote her novel in Nigerian English, and the conversion of it into US English was a long and meticulous project, the aim being to translate, without losing her style and the 'feel' of the Nigerian language. Readers will understand this careful balance the moment they read the first few paragraphs--we make no apology, we are intensely proud of our achievement.

Here is the early cut of the front cover, depicting a beautiful Nigerian girl.

And now the blurb:

Numen Yeye is about two worlds, inextricably interconnected. Numen Yeye is a princess in the Kingdom of Light, and her spirit is channeled through a young girl called Ife, who lives in a Nigerian village. Ife's awareness of her Light connection grows, but not as quickly as her dismay with the abuse of Nigeria's religious heritage in dark practices. And yet she recognizes what relevance her heritage has to her peoples', and her own, personal lives.

Numen Yeye is a story about Ife's discovery of her meaning in life, despite her growing, special abilities. It resonates with each and every reader. It is universal in theme. Numen Yeye is also about the spiritual lives of the Nigerian peoples, including their village customs and rites. It is a revelation.

Numen Yeye is not a typical contemporary fantasy novel. It was written in Nigerian English and the publisher has taken pains in retaining as much of the idiom and style as possible through its translation, while still enabling Western readers to fully appreciate what is a very different, fascinating world. 

LOVE NOTES

it is not silly,
when you fall in love
and see the sun
in his eyes
and your heart skips a bit
it is happiness
when the air 
feels scented
because somewhere
in the wide world
someone loves you too
make a lace
of each golden thread
that the sun weaves
round your heart
it is not silly
when you know
above all else
you need nothing
to fall in love.

   

love notes

Just Perfect!

We pled love,

he called me a witch,

I tickled his fancy,

I danced to his dandy,

we stayed in a clinch.

In gurgling streams,

a perfect garden,

a troth was made

never to fade

he called me a witch

that stole his thunder!

In flowered dreams,

the years rolled by,

the endearments took a hue,

from the many frets,

when natured served us hets

as lessons of love

his eyes took a shine,

to varied shapes askew,

that taunted our troth.

if only I was truly a witch!

 I would weld his wanderings!

 Just one Look

Across the room

there was no name;

to the emotion;

the air was thin;

my breadth was strained,

my knees became jellies,

took an eternity,

to complete my breadth,

that was lodged between my breast.

He walked away,

as I turned away,

from the darkened door

to my bright happiness

Never saw him again;

each morning though;

I remember with pain;

love notes

the sun that went away at dawn.