Your Author Bio (tell us about yourself)

I am a Christian, wife and mother of two. I was born in the beautiful, hilly countryside of Kari, Muguga, in central Kenya. I enjoy reading poetry and stories, particularly those that explore the question of Utu (a swahili word for being human or acting in humane ways). I live in Mcdonough, Georgia, with my family.  I am also the author of Malkia Short Stories.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

My book is about a man called, Mzee Hekima (Mzee is a Swahili word bestowed to the elderly as a sign of respect, and Hekima is also a Swahili word that means wisdom) and his Rooster called Kelele (a Swahili word meaning noise). Mzee Hekima and his rooster Kelele live in Jata village in a beautiful countryside in central Kenya. Kelele takes great pleasure in carrying out an important task which has earned him the title, “the village alarm clock”. Early one morning Mzee Hekima finds Kelele bleeding and in pain. Who would want to hurt Kelele the rooster? And why? Mzee Hekima will not rest until he finds the culprit/s who hurt Kelele.

 

 

 

This is a story that teaches us the importance of being humane, compassionate and kind with others.  In swahili this is referred to as ‘Utu’, the act of being humane.

What motivated you to write and publish a book for children? Is there a moral or message in your book, or is it just for fun?

 I love children. I was a Sunday school teacher for several years and I observed how well children responded to stories. Also, both my children are under 6 years old, stories have been amazingly effective in teaching them about moral values. Growing up in Africa, my mum told me a lot of fun stories with moral lessons, that were passed down from her mother.  I wrote this children’s book, not only for fun, but to share some values from my culture.

Who is your target audience suited for in this story? What age group of children do you suggest for your book?

This book is targeted for children 7 years and older.

Do you have a favorite character in your story?

I favor all of them, mainly because each character plays an important, and the story cannot be complete without them.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Yes, same genre. A second series of Mzee Hekima and the Boys

Do you find reviews helpful?  Or intimidating?

I find them helpful. They have helped me grow.  The feedback I get from my reviews help me improve my stories.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

Because I wanted to be part of every step of the journey of bringing my story to the reader.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

I used Amazon KDP

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

Can’t think of any right now.

What would you do differently if you were to self-publish again?

I would involve an editor early in the process.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Figuring out if children will relate with the story and characters.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer, what would it be?

I would tell my young self to read more and to write more.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not?

Social media and word of mouth worked best for me. I am learning how to market beyond my social media network.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

I did not market before my book launch. In hindsight this is something I should have done.

How do you use social media as an author? Has it worked well for you, or is it something you want to do more or less of?

I use social media to share my projects. I appreciate social media because it has been a powerful tool to reach people of all walks of life. It is the place where I have gotten constructive criticism and grown.

I would like to do more; possibly turn likes and loves into sales.

Which platform do you use the most?

Facebook