KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.
AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.
Dear Reader,
It's a sweet, relaxing story. You won't want to miss today's guest column, written by author Nayomi Munaweera.
Born in Sri Lanka, Nayomi Munaweera grew up in Nigeria. She immigrated to the United States in her early teens and now lives in Oakland, California. Her first novel, Island of a Thousand Mirrors, won the 2013 Commonwealth Book Prize for the Asian Region, was long-listed for the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize, and short-listed for the 2013 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. Her newest release is What Lies Between Us.
There are 10 copies of What Lies Between Us waiting to send to readers. Simply send an email hello to: nayomunaweera@gmail.com and you'll be entered in the drawing.
Welcome to the book club, Nayomi...
I'm from Sri Lanka but I grew in a small village in Nigeria where my childhood was sweetened by the presence of several dogs, a dearly loved tortoise and a flock of ducks.
I fell in love with cats later, as an adult in America. But they have come to occupy such a place in my life that I'm starting to think I'm related to the ancient Egyptians who put these creatures in temples, draped them in precious jewels and gave them the adulation they deserve.
The current feline queen of my heart is called Kitty. Her real name is Salome Bastet Munaweera but this is such a mouthful that no one needs to say it. Anyway, people look at her and immediately know what to call her.
Kitty came to me a decade ago. I picked her out of a pile of kittens at the shelter and took her home where I had scrupulously adhered to the shelter's rules of building her a small, safe space from which she could observe the comings and goings of the house. I put her in the little pen I had built. This lasted exactly five minutes. With a look that can only be called determination, the little fluff-ball clawed her way over the barrier and out of confinement. After that she made it quite clear that she would be ruling the house, that she was not afraid of anything and that she was a cuddle-monster bar none.
These days we live in an apartment in Oakland. She's an indoor-outdoor cat and I always leave a window open for her. At about 5pm each day Kitty goes out of her window and sits by the front door of our apartment building. When someone comes in she also enters the building and then she sits on the common stairs. From here she greets everyone coming home from work. Writing in my apartment, I often hear various endearments as people stop to pet her. She has so many friends and admirers I'm starting to feel like the human friend of a famous cat. This is a very nice thing to be.
Kitty often sits on my lap when I write. She helps me get through the rougher parts of the work. I like to think of readers out there, cuddled up with a book and their own sweet animals. These creatures give us so much joy and love. They are truly a blessing.
--Nayomi Munaweera
Email: nayomunaweera@gmail.com Say hello and you'll be entered in the book giveaway.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
AUTHORBUZZ: RUSH (Fiction) by Robin Covington
Rush and Olivia are polar opposites--a foster kid from Baltimore and the daughter of an English Earl--who fell in love and blew apart with explosive passion. I loved exploring the dynamic of "will they, won't they?" as they worked together to save a missing girl. It was quite a..."rush."
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on RUSH to find out more about the book and the author, Robin Covington. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.
Comments