Ok…Ok…for all the many who’ve asked (at last count 0), I’m attaching the pitch that got me through Round 1 of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Contest.
RAIN ON MY LEOPARD SPOTS
Abena Adu is not quite sure if she is white or black. She was born black, in Ghana, but the three short childhood years spent in England, have surprisingly left an indelible mark. What precipitated this move back to Ghana? Now Abena has to learn how to eat fufu (with your fingers, not a spoon!), trap lizards for fun in 30-degree temperatures, and watch the only TV in the entire village, with thirty other people. She wakes up one morning to find that a military coup has destabilized the nation, making school attendance a privilege, and daily survival, an unfair lottery. What will the loss of daily sustenance mean for a family once capable of feeding the entire village? Nana has the answers.
In a culture where women are expected to find their identities in the men they marry, Abena’s grandmother, Nana is an anomaly – married twice and loving neither man, this family matriarch seems to have nine lives. Sixty years older, Nana tries to teach Abena the essence of place and self, assuring her that rains may fall hard but the leopard’s spots never wash away. In later years, successful at work, Abena is still haunted by unfulfilled dreams, making her wonder if Nana told the whole truth. Can you ever lose who you are? And if you do, how can you get it back?
Rain On My Leopard Spots is a coming of age story, filled with angst, humor, self-reflection, and African proverbs…. an African Wonder Years. It will appeal to fans of Alexander McCall Smith’s #1 Ladies Detective Agency in the way the author depicts aspects of African life you never knew existed.
The author, born in Ghana is a university professor with passion for teaching. She lives with her family of five in Toronto, Canada.
Rain on my Leopard Spots is without any bias quickly becoming one of my favourite reads. folks grab copies for yourselves
Mary,
I thought I would drop by your blog to check it out. Your book sounds absolutely fabulous. From the above comment I’m assuming you self-published. I’d love a copy and will check out the rest of your blog to see where I can pick one up.
Thanks for visiting my blog! All the best, Lisa
Thanks so much Lisa! I do appreciate the visit…always lovely when someone drops by. I am now in that weird place where I’m trying to decide what’s best to do – self-publish or continue doing the query thing. I’ve had two requests for the full manuscript – one rejection and the other is still thinking about it. I’ve had interest from an African publisher which is an angle I hadn’t considered before. Now it’s looking quite possible so we shall see. All the best too!
What a great pitch! I’m hooked. The first part is especially strong. I hope you do get an agent or contract.
Could I make a suggestion? Break up the text a bit. Right after Nana has the answers. (I even say Abena’s grandmother has…) Then again when you describe what the book is about. Break right after “Can you ever lose who you are? And if you do, how can you get it back?” This statement is really strong and beautiful.
Love the title. All the best.
Thanks so very much Janet! I have followed your suggestion and broken up the text…does look much better! I will let you know once I hear back from the two agents who are currently looking at it!