9 Writers, 4 Cities: The Book Tour

Witty Sayings in Pidgin English

1. He who fights & runs away....Na fear catch am.

2. Pikin wey no sabi em mama boyfriend....Dey call am brother.

3. A rolling stone no just dey roll....Na person push am.

4. He who lives in a glass house....Na im pepe rest.

5. A stitch in time....dey prevent further tear tear.

6. Birds of d same feather....na d same mama born dem.

7. One good turn.........na correct power steering be that.

8. A bird in hand....wetin e wan be again if no be barbeque/Suya.

9. Half bread....is better than buns or puff puff.

10. D journey of a thousand miles....Ol' boy e beta make u carry okada.

11. The patient dog....Na hunger go kill am.

12. All work & no play....Na Banker be dat.

13. He who laughs last........na mumu, y im no catch d joke d 1st time

Writers Beware!

The Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) site Writers Beware was maliciously targeted by hackers who used it to send a Trojan virus to visitors of the site. The affected pages have now been cleaned up but this is a timely reminder to all of us to ensure our computer firewalls and virus protections are kept up to date. Click here for more information...

WHY DO YOU READ?

Questioning is one way to knowledge and I've always asked myself questions. Last week, the question for me was: why do I read? I came up with a couple of answers and quotes and thought I should share. For me:

I read to escape into unknown worlds to meet known and unknown people...

I've traveled the world twice over,
Met the famous; saints and sinners,
Poets and artists, kings and queens,
Old stars and hopeful beginners,
I've been where no-one's been before,
Learned secrets from writers and cooks
All with one library ticket
To the wonderful world of books.

~ Anonymous ~

Reading is a path into history unknown: past and future...

Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to

mankind, which are delivered down from generation to
generation as presents to the posterity of those who are yet unborn,
~ Joseph Addison ~

To be called vast, well read...to know a bit of everything...

If you read a lot of books you are considered well read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you're not considered well viewed.
Lily Tomlin

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted;
nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.
Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed,
and some few to be chewed and digested:
that is, some books are to be read only in parts,
others to be read, but not curiously, and some few
to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention
~ Francis Bacon ~

Books are faithful friends...

He that loves a book will never want a faithful friend,
a wholesome counselor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter.
By study, by reading, by thinking, one may innocently
divert and pleasantly entertain himself,
as in all weathers, as in all fortunes.
~ Barrow ~

A book is good company.
It is full of conversation without loquacity.
It comes to your longing with full instruction,
but pursues you never.
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

To view reality and escape from it...

All the best stories in the world are but one story in reality -- the story of escape.
It is the only thing which interests us all and at all times, how to escape.
~ Arthur Christopher Benson ~

When we read a story, we inhabit it.
The covers of the book are like a roof and four walls.
What is to happen next will take place within the four walls of the story.
And this is possible because the story's voice makes everything its own.
~ John Berger ~

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away,
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry.
~ Emily Dickinson ~

To read is to live and to live is to read...

To read is to empower
To empower is to write
To write is to influence
To Influence is to change
To change is to live.
~ Jane Evershed ~

Read in order to live.
~ Gustave Flaubert ~

Let us hear from you: why do you read? Also share your favourite 'reading' quotes (would love quotes from Africans too)...

Les Brown and MTN

Exactly seven days ago, we waited anxiously and with bated breaths to hear world renowned motivational speaker Les Brown talk courtesy of MTN...it was uplifting and life changing. In three sentences, this is the gist.

M-Make your dreams come true.
T-Total commitment is required for success.
N-Never ever give up!

So what can we learn? In as much as he came to motivate us in achieving our dreams, it was still his job. MTN brought him and he tailored them in nicely into his speech.

So...

For writers out there if you're thinking of copy writing and copy editing, remember in as much as you want to show your skills, the client is No. 1.

By the way...we aren't getting paid for this! Just thought you should know.

Bula Mbungue Releases Poetry Book

Caxito — A poetry book entitled "Pétalas D'Amor" of the Angolan writer, Bula Mbungue, will be released on April 28 in Caxito, capital of northern Bengo province, under the commemorations of the 29th anniversary of this city to be marked on April 26.

Bula Mbungue was born on 17 July 1980 in Saurimo city, north-eastern Lunda Sul province, and started writing poems in the 90s, having enrolled into the Literature Youth Brigade of Angola (BJLA) in Luanda, where he learnt techniques of the art of literature.

The book, which comprises 44 poems written in Portuguese, reflects the problems of Angolan youths, in particular, and the society, in general. It has 59 pages and 1,000 copies will be released in a first phase.

According to the artist, the poems also portray aspects related to moral and civic education and include messages of approximation and union among people, belief in the existence of God, as well as mutual love and fighting against changing of minds.

Mbungue is a journalist of the Angola Press Agency (ANGOP) at the provincial delegation of Bengo, and he is a student of the first international relations course of the Wanhenga Xitu University.

Don't judge a book by its cover?