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As a publisher, it would be my joy to wake up one day to the fully realised great Kenyan novel — one that is not identified with just one particular ethnic community or written by a non-Kenyan. I’d like to read a story, not of an exoticised equatorial country teeming with flora and fauna, but of a society with characters recognisably based on real but archetypal individuals.
I imagine an epic work of fiction that encompasses generations and captures the immense backdrop of history of which Kenya is rich. I want to see how its heroes emerge and how its villains fall away. I want to read a narrative that galvanises the nation into action to preserve itself and not just to survive but to live.
I’d like to believe that the time is soon coming for this to happen because Kenya needs to take its rightful place in the company of nations that inspire.
Really whenever one conceives of a book that isn’t out there yet, but that has a defiinite and valuable place such as the one you’re thinking of, that probably means that you’re the one who is going to have to write it. This author you think you’re waiting for may be you. At least, that’s my thought on the matter.
TOG
Believe me, I would. I’d get started right now. I just don’t see how I, as a naturalised Kenyan rather than a born Kenyan, can have the credibility to write it. It will, however, be my joy to publish it.
it not as easy as it sound,i have finished writing my novel. But i would say writing was easy . I had been contacting several editor but its just too expensive. I thought it would be east but now i even don’t want to dream that my novel will be one day in the book shops. Because if i start dreaming so,then i will die waiting
Hi, Teresia. We encourage everyone to try sending their manuscripts anyway, regardless of how daunting things could be. The worst thing any publisher could say is no. We also hope you can have a look at your writing/editing skills. Go back to the fundamentals. They can stand a bit more polishing.
how do i get my novel published?
Like our FB page at http://www.facebook.com/thecandocompany. There should be information under our Notes tab to get you started on the process.