Here's her press release (blog posts count as press releases, right?):
A few months ago I wrote a post about a project I was working on: an online community for reading, writing, reviewing, and sharing Nigerian fiction.
It's been a whole lot of nights spent drawing till dawn and peering at my computer and typing until my eyes threatened to fall out of my head. The amount of work that I put into this is unbelievable (considering how lazy I am) it's been a long time coming but building a website from scratch not to mention hand-drawing all the graphics doesn't happen fast, not in this universe or in any other ones out there.
There have been a few hiccups along the way, some small like code gone wrong, and some pretty huge like the past few days, but I think overcoming them is what matters so thank you everyone that encouraged me to continue with this in spite of everything.
Just in case any of you haven't been here in a while, let me just reiterate what Nigerian Fiction is about:
It's an online community where Nigerians and everybody else can write and upload their stories chapter by chapter. Anyone can read the stories (but you have to join to comment on/review the stories or to write/publish your own stories). People can review or comment on each chapter as it's published as well as favourite authors and stories they like.
Periodically, we will have awards to encourage people to write and to give greater visibility to really good writers that emerge or become popular on the site. Site members/readers/ you guys get to nominate your favourite writers and favourite stories.
I encourage everyone to write if they can. You don't have to be a literary superstar, all stories about Nigerian characters or set in Nigeria are welcome at Nigerian Fiction and the site is embracive of every genre so if you're coming because you want to write Nigerian horror or Nigerian smut, or Nigerian fantasy, or Nigerian erotica, or even just poetry, there's a place for you at Nigerian Fiction. And if you're coming because you want to write amazing work and hold court over your legions of adoring readers, we'll be glad to have you. If you didn't come to write but to read, or if you come to read but end up staying to write, we'll love you all the same.
I suppose for a blog post announcing the launch of a website that I've been working on for forever, this post could have been more upbeat but it's 5 in the morning and I've been up all night so I'm fighting to not fall asleep over my laptop and electrocute myself via drool.
Nigerian Fiction is now officially live!! Please check it out and sign up and upload all your old stories and poems that you've been keeping in that dusty box under the bed until now. Also, while you're at it, you might want to follow us on Twitter, fan us, or pick up one of the site badges for your blog. They're super cute. How do I know? I drew them myself.
I will be working hard each day to make sure the site is as much fun as possible for everybody and that things run smoothly. I am totally open to suggestions so if there's something you're wondering about, or would like to see on the site, please let me know!
Read | Write | Rock On
*Note: Sugabelly designed the website but that doesn't mean Igbo people are suddenly computer literate. I still stand by my claim...lol
This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
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