Monday, October 27, 2014

#Quote of the Week


Friday, October 24, 2014

New Release!! - BETTER




Carla Foster is still reeling from what she calls “the ultimate betrayal” of catching her husband in the midst of his infidelity. Now, seemingly stuck in marital limbo, she finally decides to move on with her life only to find herself face-to-face with a monster. As her life begins to crumble, she wonders if things will ever get better. Will Carla be able to find healing and eventually, love? 

This is a follow-up to the international best-selling novel, Your Love Is King







Purchase Links:





Monday, October 20, 2014

Terra Cotta Beauty #Book Tour

NRCPHTERRACOTTABEAUTYBANNER2 (1)



Book Title: Terra Cotta Beauty #TerraCottaBeauty
Paperback: 142 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 12, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1491271671
ISBN-13: 978-1491271674
Genre: Fiction



About The Author

_jola_naibi


Jola Naibi was raised in Lagos, Nigeria and studied in the United Kingdom. She enjoys writing and blogging as a way to satisfy an extremely eager imagination.



About The Book

PP Native Cover.4388980.indd


Follow the daily lives, loves, and hopes of an entire community in Jola Naibi’s moving debut, Terra Cotta Beauty. A carefully crafted selection of short stories, this collection examines life in Lagos, Nigeria, during the era of military rule. It reveals the struggles, loves, and hopes of a disparate group of people whose lives always manage to intersect—sometimes in the most devastating of ways. With each brief conversation and split-second decision containing consequences that reach further than anyone could ever imagine, each of the book’s seven tales is a delicate thread that helps form the social fabric of a nation divided. From a woman whose journalist husband is jailed for criticizing the government to a young man’s reluctant descent into crime, Terra Cotta Beauty acts as a carefully crafted ode to the essence of Lagos itself: its people.




Review

In Terra Cotta Beauty, Author Jola Naibi has penned captivating tales expertly woven together and steeped in Nigerian culture. As I traveled from story to story, I found it hard to put this book down as the undeniable connections of humanity unfolded before my eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a different culture and human experience. Naibi has a way with words and is a wonderful storyteller. (I was provided with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

4 Stars




Social Links
connect-with-the-author
facebook image
website
twitter1



Buy Link
amazon




Tour Hosted by WLN Book Tours
jpg

Saturday, October 18, 2014

#Quote of the Week


"Love life and life will love you back. Love people and they will love you back."
~Arthur Rubinstein

Friday, October 17, 2014

#Vote For Me!!

Photo by bredmaker via www.freeimages.com


Please Vote For Me!!!


I am excited to announce that the members of the Building Relationships Around Books (BRAB) online book club have nominated me in the categories of Breakout Author, Best Interracial, Women's Literature, and Christian Fiction for their Reading Warrior Awards!! I am truly humbled and thankful and I wish to congratulate all of the other nominees!!

If you have enjoyed my work, please consider casting a vote for me. I’d truly appreciate it!!




***Voting ends October 24, 2014***

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

#WriterWednesday - 5 Things That #ProjectRunway Has Taught Me About Writing

Photo by KayPat via freeimages.com




As a creative person, I love to watch other creative people at work. That’s why Project Runway is one of my all-time favorite shows. I don’t always agree with the judges—to the point that it actually upsets me sometimes—but the aggravation is worth the thrill of seeing the designers make something out of nothing. To me, there’s nothing better than that!

And while the show is about creating clothes, I've learned some things that have helped me with my literary journey. I’m a nice person, so I thought I’d share. Here goes:




1. You CAN be creative under pressure.

On Project Runway, the designers are tasked with creating entire dresses or outfits in mere hours. They are also responsible for the head-to-toe styling of their models. They can’t sit around and wait for inspiration to hit if they are going to meet the challenges set before them. If they want to stay in the game, if they want a chance to win the prize, they have to, as their mentor, Tim Gunn, would say, 

“Make it work.”






They’re in a crunch. They don’t have time to second guess, and while thoughts about whether or not the judges will like what they create do plague them, they have no time to stew on those concerns. They have to get it done. Some people seem to believe that one can’t create when under pressure, and this rings true for many people. But if you want it, I mean really want it, you’ll reach down deep inside of yourself and pull out your own inspiration. For some people, they do their best work while under pressure. That’s a great trait to possess, because life is, more often than not, full of pressure. And if you don’t possess that trait, craft it within yourself. Set your own deadlines and stick to them. Be accountable with your craft and to your audience. Treat writing as a career and watch it become one.



2. Your point of view (voice) matters.

Trends matter, what people like matters, what critics think matters, but nothing matters more than your point of view, your aesthetic, and your voice. A designer or writer who has something to say is someone who is very hard to silence and ignore. Time and time again, I've heard the illustrious Project Runway judges tell designers that they want to see more of them in their work. They are interested in seeing their point of view. Why? Because you are what breathes life into your work! Your stories would not and could not exist without you! Anyone can write a story, but no one can do it precisely the way you do.

Your voice is what separates you from everyone else, and ultimately, it is what can contribute to your longevity. Being different is a vital key to being successful. Just think about the successful authors of our time: James Patterson, Stephanie Meyer, Terry McMillan—they all have a strong point of view and a unique voice. These authors are successful for setting trends, not following them. Wouldn’t you just love to experience that?



3. Forget about your comfort zone.

On Project Runway, the designers are sometimes expected to construct garments using such items as candy, plants, paper, and so on and so forth. The unconventional challenges are always my favorite. I mean, talk about having to step outside of your comfort zone! But here’s the thing, not only are they expected to create garments from these materials, they are expected to create wearable garments. These challenges separate the men and women from the boys and girls. And in writing, if you are only willing to keep your work in a small little constricted space with no room for growth, all you can expect is for it to suffocate and die.


Try new things, learn about new subjects, think about things from a different point of view, and incorporate it all into your writing. My bestselling book to date (Been So Long) is about a love triangle between a Pakistani man, and an African American man and woman. The main character is not really that likable and she makes some horrible decisions, but I like her and I like the story, and so do quite a few readers. Don’t be afraid to challenge the norms, even if they are your norms.



4. You can’t predict what people will like. So don’t even try.

I can’t tell you how many times I've watched a designer confidently present their work to the judges, only to have it torn apart verbally. It’s a hard thing to watch, and it’s especially hard when you, as a viewer, actually liked what the designer created. Opinions are subjective. What you absolutely love and are 100% confident will sell tons of copies, might be panned by a majority of the reading public. There’s just no way to tell. What I do find is that the designers who create something from their soul, and are willing to stand by it no matter what, can face failure with their heads held high, because they stayed true to themselves. Even if they are sent home, they often state that it would've been worse to be sent home over something that they didn't love. So, if you love what you've created you've already won. Write the story you want to read. Trying to predict what others will want to read is not only impossible, but it’s a waste of time and energy—time and energy that could be better spent writing.




5. One day you’re in and the next day, you’re out. Auf Wiedersehen!

The title to number six is comprised of two of Project Runway host, Heidi Klum’s, signature phrases, and let me tell you, this super model knows what she’s talking about. The world of entertainment is fickle, people. Very fickle, and make no mistake, authors are entertainers. One day, everybody and their mama might be rushing out to buy your book. The next day, you might be forgotten, replaced by the next big thing. Also, let’s not forget that our time here on this planet is limited. My advice? Enjoy the ride while the wheels are still turning and the motor is still running. Nurture your craft, and write while the writing is good. But most of all, smile and have fun!


Thanks for dropping by! Until later... be blessed :)

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Welcome to my new blog!!






Welcome to my new blog where I'll be sharing insights about writing and publishing and keeping you up to date on what I'm working on. I'll also be featuring other authors and their books!!!

I hope you'll enjoy my posts!!