Author Spotlight: Empi Baryeh

Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Nana. Hi, everyone, and thanks for stopping by to share in my excitement as I eagerly await the release of my debut novel, Most Eligible Bachelor, a contemporary romance set in Accra, Ghana.

I won’t be pompous and say it is the first category romance novel set in Ghana, but I’m confident that Most Eligible Bachelor is one of a select few (sorry, it’s the excitement getting to my head).

A little bit about me. I started writing at the age of thirteen after stumbling upon a Young Adult story her older sister had started and abandoned. The story fascinated me so much that, when I discovered it was unfinished, I knew the task of completing it rested firmly on my shoulders. Amazingly, once I decided to continue the story, the ideas and the words began to pour into her mind. I’ve been writing ever since. However, it wasn’t until another thirteen years later that the romantic in me geared me toward romance. While I also write mainstream stories, my current focus is on heart-warming romance set in Africa with African heroes and heroines. I write the kind of story I like to read – sweet and tender, but with enough passion to enthral readers who want a little sizzle with their romance. That means, yes, I do have sex scenes in my stories, but I like to think they are tasteful (that means I won’t mind my fun aunt reading it. LOL). I live in Accra, Ghana, which provides the exotic setting for most of my novels. If you hop over to my blog (http://empibaryeh.wordpress.com) on 3^rd February (my book release day), I’ll share the story of how Most Eligible Bachelor came into being, some challenges I’ve faced trying to break into the publishing world with this story and what comes next!

Most Eligible Bachelor will initially come out in e-book format only, and knowing how tough it is for those of us living in Africa to buy things online, I’m giving away a free copy of my book to one lucky commenter on this blog post. That’s right – leave a comment or question. I’ll announce winners on my blog on 19^th February.

Here’s a sneak peek at Most Eligible Bachelor.

Blurb

Magazine columnist Chantelle Sah doesn’t celebrate Valentine’s Day—not since her fiancé’s betrayal three years ago—and after botching her first assignment as a feature writer, she’s more than willing to put in a hard day’s work this Valentine’s Day; even if it means going on a date with gorgeous construction Tycoon, Lord McKenzie, and opening herself to an onslaught of all things love.

When Lord—his given name, not a title—sets his sights on Chantelle, it isn’t just work he has on his mind. But even he couldn’t have predicted the magnetic attraction between them when they meet, nor the evening ending with more than an interview. Now he has to convince Chantelle that their one-night stand wasn’t a mistake. Can he win her love without revealing a secret from their night of passion, which could prove fatal for both their hearts?

Excerpt – The First Kiss

He seemed amused by her lack of a response as he took her hand and led her back to the dance floor. The music had turned slow.

She hesitated. Slow music meant being in his arms, their bodies touching. She shouldn’t do this. Yet for some ridiculous reason, she wanted – needed, even – the closeness, to feel like a woman again. Just for a moment. Even if she was certifiably insane for wanting all this in the arms of Lord McKenzie.

He pulled her gently, bringing her body flush against his. A tremor rushed through her. His warm breath on her face sent tiny tingles running over her skin. Heat radiated to her from each part of his body touching hers, his powerful thighs, lean hips and firm abdomen, his hand, pressed firmly on the small of her back.

When was the last time she’d been this close to a man? Her breath quickened as raw need surged through her. Far too long. Not since Martin.

Tears stung her eyes as the familiar loneliness accompanying Valentine’s Day closed in. Old love songs always got to her. She turned away from his watchful gaze, focusing on other couples huddled close together on the dance floor. Yearning pierced her heart. She gave herself a mental shake. She couldn’t entertain such thoughts. Once she did, there would be no salvation.

As if sensing her distress, Lord pulled her closer, his hold tightening around her. Every thought flittered out of her mind as soon as their gazes locked, and she began to drown in the deep pools of his dark eyes.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Chantelle.”

Was it stupid that she liked the way her name sounded on his tongue? She opened her mouth to say something – about how Valentine’s Day had been commercialized to the point of triviality, an occasion for errant lovers to feel better about neglecting their significant others, a day to buy enough credit for another year, one day to make the unloved feel even less loved – anything to hide how hard it was to hear those words, but nothing came out.

His face hovered just inches away. Her heart stutter-stepped; her breath snagged. Without explanation, she wanted to know the taste of his lips. She wanted to erase it all from her mind, her pain, his reputation. She wanted to simply believe he really was just the most eligible bachelor in town, and he had her in his arms.

He smiled, really smiled, not the movie star grins he’d been flashing earlier. His gaze emitted pure heat wrapped around a hint of sadness. What in the world could make a man with his looks and popularity melancholic? Surely Lord McKenzie didn’t have the same kinds of problems as mere mortals.

His fingers feathered her cheek, sending another wave of tremors through her. When his hand reached her chin, he lifted her face. Her mind barely registered what was happening before the space between them vanished. His searing kiss was nothing she could have imagined. It scorched her, inside and out. A soft moan escaped her throat before she could stop it. She melted into him, curling her fingers around his nape.

When he pulled away, her breath came in fast, shallow bursts. In stunned reflex, her fingers came to her lips, which felt swollen, having not been used for this purpose in a while. Weak-kneed and aroused, she sensed she only remained standing because of his strong arms around her.

One of the couples dancing bumped into them, jerking her back to reality.

 

Shoot. This evening would be more difficult than she could have guessed. How was she supposed to conduct a professional interview when she’d just kissed the interviewee, and now her mind insisted on dancing around words like ravished?

***

I hope you enjoyed that excerpt and you’ve marked you calendar to get your very own copy at:

Evernight Publishing: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/most-eligible-bachelor-by-empi-baryeh (will be active from 3^rd Feb)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com

All Romance eBooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/

Where else to find me online:

My blog: http://empibaryeh.wordpress.com

My website: http://empibaryeh.webs.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/empibaryeh

Twitter: @empibaryeh

Thanks again for stopping by and sharing this exciting moment with me. Have a wonderful week!

Empi

Random Ramblings – Mon 23 Jan 2012

About the age of ten, my dad gave his first prophecy about my future career: his son would be an Electrical Engineer. He gave the prediction after observing me move a light fly with a piece of wire. When I was ready to enter secondary school, my dad with the help of  my teacher changed his prophecy: his son would be a Medical Doctor. My headmistress in Ghana National College insisted I studied Biology in sixth form, because of my good grades in the subject in the O Level exams. I chose Mathematics instead. In sixth form, I burnt with the desire to read Computer Science in the University; my mathematics tutor changed that, insisting that I considered a course in Engineering. The main engineering discipline I knew about then was Mechanical Engineering.

 

During my National Service in my holy village of Wasa Akropong, one of my colleagues was Richard Bessah, who was then a graduate from UST, in Physics. Uncle Bee, as we called him, told me about Chemical Engineering. I decided to apply for those two courses: Mechanical and Chemical. I was offered the latter, which I accepted. After the first semester of School of Engineering, and my struggles with Technical Drawing, I thanked God that I wasn’t offered Mechanical.

 

I would go on to do a second degree in Chemical Engineering and to also author books.

 

At dawn today, I was reflecting on what my children would want to be and what they would eventually be, when they grow up. The cycle has started.

 

Listening to the interviews post the NDC primaries elections, especially with those who were successful in unseating incumbent MPs, I had one key question on my mind: Is there any politician who DECIDES to stand for a position, particularly a parliamentary slot, on his/her own accord without having to respond to the PRESSURE/DEMAND of the people? The oft used line that they had to respond to the call of the people brings them across as people without minds of their own. And why do some of them lose elections if the people are so eager to have them?

 

Have a blessed week, y’all.

Random Ramblings – Sun 22 Jan 2012

I was woken up by the sound of rains around 4am today. I love rain. The coolness that the accompanying breeze brings with it, the sound that the drops make on the roofing, like the ‘sound of coins dropping after a payout’. It appears I share this passion for God’s tear drops with Nana Yaw Sarpong, who also blogged about it at http://sarpongobed.blogspot.com/2012/01/rain-in-accra-finally-wash-us-away.html?spref=fb. May this first rain signal good tidings for this nation in 2012.

 

With the rains, I thought of my holy village of Wasa Akropong. After a heavy rain, our suburb of Low Cost Estates, which is a swampy area, is usually flooded, with the waters snaking their way through the grass. The night following the rains, and especially at dawn, one is always assured of a rendition of Handel’s Messiah in F-Major. By the Throaty Philharmonic Choir of Wasa Akropong. Made up of toads. Fat ones. And nowadays, quicy has been added to the description of these amazing voices.

My mum tells me there are lots of Chinese in Wasa Akropong now. Doing galamsey, surface mining. And that the croacking of toads after rains have reduced. Soon this dawn singing of the Throats would be a thing of the past. Unless we launch a special initiative for the preservation of Wasa Toads.

 

I was the MC at the cocktail in honour of my friends Theo and Naomi Tetteh yesterday after their wedding. On our way from the event, my sons asked me when I will wed their mother. I replied that we have have our wedding a long time ago.

“When I was a small baby?” Nana Kwame asked.

“No, you were not born then.” I responded.

“I don’t remember,” he insisted.

Haha, of course, my boy. But they were not done.

“You have to do the wedding again.” That was Nana Yaw. “Because I want to be there.”

Hmm, how do you re-wed your wife? Things that kids get you to think about.

 

Any suggestions for this dad in a dilemma?

Writing Ghana – A Special Afternoon of Literature with the Veep

Thursday 19th Janaury 2012 will remain for me a memorable day. And it was for a number of select Ghanaians as well. Including some heavy weights of African literature like Profs Kofi Anyidoho, Ama Ata Aidoo, Esi Sutherland, Mohammed Ben-Abdallah and Atukwei Okai. In this mix were legends like Kwaku Sakyi-Addo, Alhaji Harruna Attah, Meri Nana-Ama Danquah, Amma Darko and Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng.

Mingling with this august list were two young writers: Kofi Akpabli and Nana Awere Damoah.

The occasion was a special afternoon of literature with the Vice President, and to welcome his Bloomsburg editor, Ms. Nancy Miller as well as introducing her to the literature and authors of Ghana. There were readings by Meri and Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng and a hilarious reading by his Excellency the Vice President John Dramani Mahama from his upcoming book, MY FIRST COUP D’ETAT And Other True Stories from the Lost Decades of Africa, which will be published by Bloomsbury in July 2012. 

What a wonderful afternoon it was!

The Vice President has taken the lead in answering the ever-present request that our statesmen leave us memoirs. May more follow this example.

“My First Coup d’Etat and Other True Stories From the Lost Decades of Africa, which already received critical acclaim from the legendary Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Commonwealth Prize winner Aminatta Forna, and US National Book Andrew Solomon.”(http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/2011/07/republic-of-ghana-vice-president-john.html)

The information below is culled from the Bloomsbury catalogue: http://www.bloomsburyusa.com/books/catalog/my_first_coup_detat_hc_597

My First Coup d’Etat

And Other True Stories from the Lost Decades of Africa

By John Dramani Mahama

An important literary debut from the Vice President of Ghana, a fable-like memoir that offers a shimmering microcosm of post-colonial Africa.

My First Coup D’Etat chronicles the coming-of-age of John Dramani Mahama in Ghana during the dismal post-independence “lost decades” of Africa. He was seven years old when rumors of a coup reached his boarding school in Accra. His father, a minister of state, was suddenly missing, then imprisoned for more than a year.

My First Coup D’Etat offers a look at the country that has long been considered Africa’s success story. This is a one-of-a-kind book: Mahama’s is a rare literary voice from a political leader, and his stories work on many levels–as fables, as history, as cultural and political analysis, and, of course, as the memoir of a young man who, unbeknownst to him or anyone else, would grow up to be vice president of his nation. Though non-fiction, these are stories that rise above their specific settings and transport the reader–much like the fiction of Isaac Bashevis Singer and Nadine Gordimer–into a world all their own, one which straddles a time lost and explores the universal human emotions of love, fear, faith, despair, loss, longing, and hope despite all else.

 

Tales from Different Tails: a review – by Aba Da-Woode

Nana Awere Damoah‘s book is full of short stories you wont forget years after reading. The kind that makes you giggle to yourself anytime you remember a punch line from its humor-filled pages.

For someone who stayed in an out-of-campus apartment throughout my years in the university, Tales from Different Tails vividly captures all the extra-curricular activities I missed on campus. I’m definitely going for a re-read, something I hardly do.

Random Ramblings – Wed 18 Jan 2012

I have been experiencing a block of a sort for months now. Ideas dance like frenzied possessed fetish priestesses in my mind, but somehow, sitting to calm them down and lead them in an orderly manner onto the canvass of my laptop screen – that is the urge I seem to lack. But it shall pass, I am sure.

Meantime, I have  been trying my hands at creating some descriptions of characters, just for fun. Perhaps these will become useful in the days to come.

1. His head was as bald as the bum of a newly born baby. I can imagine this guy’s face, at noon, with the sun directly above  his head, and this plateau of a headtop reflecting the rays of the hot celestial body.

2. When he smiled, he revealed a gap that appeared as if a Kufour bus had made a detour through his mouth. Hehe, that would look like the road that goes under the motorway, from the Spintex road (near Action Chapel) to East Legon. Imagine standing on the road infront of Galaxy International School and looking at the motorway, and seeing that under-pass.

3. This soup looks like a fish pond. My friend Dapaa and I used to think that our soups at Tech had that attribute, fish occupying more space than soup, the combined volume of the solid (fish and/or meat) being more than the liquid. What comes close to this picture is the Fanti woman’s delicacy called fanti fanti, a stew made with fresh fish. When a Fanti girlfriend/wife cooks that for you, and sits by you with her hands drawing delicate symbols in your head…the best pampering session one can get!

4. When she walked, her behind shook like a goat in a jute sack. Now, that is not unusual to see in a typical African country south of the Sahara. Schooling in the UK for a year, I saw how dangerous it was to copy blindly, especially by our beautiful, 300ml Coca Cola shaped ladies. The dresses worn by most of the white girls that didn’t even ruffle my eye lashes, when worn by our African girls, could cause a tsunami in my eyelids!

5. His head was shaped like a box iron. An old line we used when growing up, to irritate our friends.

6. His forehead extending above his eyes reminded me of the Kwahu mountains. Especially when one approached the mountains from Nkawkaw.

Just the ramblings from my mind. Eish, that could be a title in the series after Excursions in My Mind and Through the Gates of Thought.

This year, I intend to do some more of such ramblings. This blog should not have only the well-structured articles and stories. Who knows which of these ramblings would open the floodgates of my mind, and make it a creative one, at last.

As a post-script, I saw a posting by Francis Ocloo this morning on Facebook that cracked me up. Here it is: “What is the world coming to? Just saw a cat running away from a mouse. Incredible!” Yeah, amazing indeed.

Tales from Different Tails on Smashwords!

Tales from Different Tails is now published on Smashwords, for all formats:

 

Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps)

Epub (Apple iPad/iBooks, Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others)

PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing)

RTF (readable on most word processors)

Plain Text (flexible, but lacks much formatting)

…and others!

 

Do share the news.

 

Check out the book and purchase here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123064

 

Excursions in My Mind is also available at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/123160

World Cup History – Funny Titbits

World Cup history – Uruguay 1930

Only 13 nations took part in the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay, with a majority of seven coming from south America, but it proved a huge success.

 

The referee blew the final whistle six minutes early, realised his mistake and then had to call the players, some of whom were already in the bath, back to finish the game.

 

 

World Cup history – Italy 1934

Of the last eight, Spain and Italy required a replay to separate them after drawing 2-2 at the end of extra-time.

 

They played again the next day, with Italy’s Guiseppe Meazza scoring the only goal of the game.

 

On Sunday 10 June, Italian dictator Benito Mussolini called the nation to a standstill in anticipation of a glorious triumph for Italy. Mussolini saw the competition as a chance to spread fascist propaganda, something that cast a shadow over the tournament.

 

World Cup history – France 1938

Brazil and Czechoslovakia’s first match ended in an all-out brawl, with three players sent off and two taken to hospital.

 

Dr Ottorino Barassi, the Italian Fifa vice-president, kept the trophy safe in a shoe-box under his bed throughout the Second World War.

 

 

World Cup history – Brazil 1950

India pulled out because Fifa would not let them play in bare feet.

 

Defeat was too much for the Brazilian officials and they forgot to present the trophy to the winners, leaving Jules Rimet himself to seek out the Uruguayan captain and belatedly do the honours.

 

 

World Cup history – Switzerland 1954

 

There were some incredible scorelines, with 26 matches producing 140 goals at an average of 5.38 goals per game.

 

As expected, Hungary bulldozed their way through their group, beating Korea 9-0 and an under-strength West Germany 8-3, before knocking out Brazil 4-2 in the last eight.

The game ended in an all-out brawl in the dressing room after three players were sent off.

 

Despite going 3-0 up, the Swiss were beaten 7-5 by Alpine rivals Austria in the quarter-finals, a World Cup record for the number of goals in a game.

 

West Germany defeated Yugoslavia in the last eight and demolished Austria 6-1 in the semis to set up a rematch against Hungary in the final.

World Cup history – Sweden 1958

 

Brazil won their first World Cup in a finals that marked the arrival on the world stage of the incomparable Pele.

 

Before the final, Brazil had the Swedish cheerleaders banned from the pitch because they were worried they would give the hosts an added advantage. But, when Brazil won, the entire nation showed the world just how to celebrate.

 

 

World Cup history – Chile 1962

A fan threw a bottle at Brazilian Garrincha, hitting him on the head, after he was sent off during the semi-final against Chile. He replied by parading the Chilean flag after Brazil won the final, but there was plenty of violence involving the teams as well.

It started in the opening round, with the worst trouble occurring in the game between Italy and hosts Chile, which became known as the “Battle of Santiago”.

Italy’s Ferrini was sent off and had to be dragged from the pitch by police when he refused to walk.

Team-mate Mario David was also ordered off when he retaliated to a punch in the face by kicking his opponent’s neck.

World Cup history – England 1966

A dispute over qualification meant 16 African nations refused to take part, but Portugal was among those who did so for the first time.

England beat the South Americans 1-0 but the match was played in a bad spirit. It was held up for 10 minutes when Argentina’s captain, Antonio Rattin, was sent off and refused to go, before he was finally dragged away.

The final match was not without controversy, as a Russian linesman awarded England their third goal after the ball hit the bar and bounced onto the ground.

TV replays failed to prove if the ball had crossed the line, and 40 years after the event it remains a major talking point.

 

World Cup history – Mexico 1970

Brazil took the Jules Rimet trophy home for good after a wonderful display of attacking football helped beat Italy.

Holders England had a difficult build-up to the tournament. They were labelled “thieves and drunks” by the Mexican press and defensive lynchpin Bobby Morre was arrested on trumped-up shoplifting charges in Colombia. He was bailed to play in the tournament.

West Germany came up against Italy in the last four, with Franz Beckenbauer forced to play with his arm in a sling. His courage went unrewarded and the Italians ran out 3-2 winners in extra-time to earn their first final appearance for 32 years.

World Cup history – West Germany 1974

Off the pitch there was little harmony among the West Germans and their players were constantly at loggerheads with the authorities over player bonuses.

Bad feeling remained after the final and the team’s victory celebrations were spoiled when several players walked out of the banquet after officials barred their wives.

World Cup history – Argentina 1978

Argentina won their first World Cup – 48 years after reaching their first final – but the event was shrouded in controversy both on and off the pitch. There was huge opposition to Argentina hosting the event as the country was run by a military dictatorship.

There had been threats of a major boycott in protest at General Videla’s totalitarian regime. But many of the top footballing nations – and first-timers such as Iran and Tunisia – ended up going. However, when a leading tournament official was assassinated en route to his first press conference doubts about Argentina’s suitability to host the event intensified.

World Cup history – Spain 1982

The most bizarre incident came when Kuwait walked off the pitch in their game against France in Valladolid after a row over whether the referee had blown his whistle to stop play. They were ordered back on by Prince Fahid and France eventually won the match 4-1.

World Cup history – Mexico 1986

The Mexico World Cup was dominated by one man – Argentina’s Diego Maradona. He proved beyond doubt that he was the best player of his generation as he helped his country to their second World Cup with a win over West Germany.

But as well as moments of genius he plumbed the depths with his notorious “Hand of God” goal against England.

Colombia was scheduled to host the tournament but had to give up that right for financial reasons.

 

World Cup history – Italy 1990

A tournament dominated by negative, defensive football proved memorable for England’s showing – their best in football’s showpiece event since 1966.

England lost on penalties in the semi-finals to West Germany who went on to win probably the worst final in history for their third title.

They beat Argentina 1-0 courtesy of a dubious Andreas Brehme penalty.

England’s semi-final in Turin produced one of the most vivid images of the tournament as Paul Gascoigne burst into tears after a booking which meant he would miss the final if his side went through. They did not.

World Cup history – USA 1994

There was a shocking postscript to the USA group match against highly-fancied Colombia when Andres Escobar was murdered on his return to the troubled South American country. Escobar had conceded an own goal in a surprise 2-1 defeat.

And controversy followed Argentina’s Diego Maradona who was banned mid-tournament after taking illegal, performance-enhancing drugs.

World Cup history – France 1998

Brazil had required penalties to get past Holland in their semi-final and the game had taken its toll.

And on the day of the final mystery surrounded the “convulsion” Ronaldo suffered the night before the game.

The striker was first left off the team-sheet and then reinstated after rushing to the Stade de France when a hospital check-up gave him the all clear.

World Cup history – Japan & South Korea 2002

French boss Roger Lemerre was sacked after the reigning champions and Euro 2000 winners went out without scoring following shock losses to Senegal and Denmark.

More than three million people took to the streets of Korean capital Seoul to celebrate the defeat of Italy.

“Real, Funny and Beautifully Written” – Amazon Reader Review (HanatAkordor)

 

I am curious about anything African so when I came across this book by an African and Ghanaian writer,I had to check it out.

Nana Awere Damoah has put together a collection of short stories set in different parts of Ghana. He covers stories starting with life on a University campus to students parting ways, a national service chapter, Kojo seeking greener pastures in the city and a hilarious public transport journey amongst others.

The decision to put down or flip along the pages of any book is made from the first chapter and the writer bears this in mind as he captivates the reader from the beginning.

Nana Damoah’s descriptive choice of words and creation of vivid scenery takes you into the lives of the characters making it even more captivating.
The stories are memorable, humorous and thought provoking with lessons to be learnt.

The book overall is an easy read and will certainly lighten up your day from start to finish.

‘Tales from Different Tails launched’ by Seth J Bokpe

A new novel, ‘Tales from Different Tails’ was launched  on 1 December 2011 at the Teachers Hall in Accra.
Authored by Nana Awere Damoah, a chemical engineer, the novel is a compilation of eight short stories published in The Mirror and the Spectator.  Designed and published by Multipixel, the 145-page book walks the reader through intricacies of life and teaches patience, perseverance and love. With its thick plots covering themes including love, betrayal and ambition, the book has one of its stories showing the resolve of married women and the extent to which they go to show or betray love and trust. The book is laced with humour and also tells the intricate story of university romance, its expectation, drama and the lessons that come with it.
Launching the book, Mr Charles Cofie, the former Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Ghana, commended the author for the book, which he noted would add to existing store of African tales. He described Nana Damoah’s vivid description of scenes and his witty sense of telling stories as captivating.
Ms Vicky Wireko-Andoh, Immediate Past President of the Institute of Public Relations and a columnist of the Daily Graphic who chaired the function, described the stories as everyday realism. “Indeed, experiences that we encounter at different times, whether it is at the university, on board a ‘trotro’, falling in love for the first time, cheating in a relationship, or as a young man tasting city life fresh from the ‘kokoase’, Nana brings them all live to us and told in a typical folkloric style.  He engages you the reader and holds your attention throughout.  It is a must-read book to relax you and help you to de-stress.  You will laugh all the way.”

 

She urged Ghanaians to embrace the habit of reading and writing, saying “writing and indeed authoring a book is not the preserve of any one profession.  He has challenged all of us by telling us that it is about time we tried our hands on something else during our spare time.
“Writing starts with putting something down each day.  One day, all that will build up to become a book.  Let us all start to cultivate the habit.  It can start with writing your own biography or racing your family’s history.  Once you can read and write, there is the hidden talent in you,” the former IPR President stated.
Reviewing the book, a Communications Manager of the Newmont Gold Ghana Limited, Mr Kwame Gyan, paid tribute to the writer, saying “Nana carries his reader to a typical scene within the four walls of a typical Ghanaian university and manages to walk you through each setting as though you were sitting around the fires as our fathers used to to hear stories of our ancestors.”
The first copy of the book was auctioned for $1,000. Other books authored by Nana Awere Damoah are ‘Excursions in My Mind’ (2008) and ‘Through the Gates of Thought (2010).’