Hello wonderful folks, I have been gone for so long that I almost forgot I had a blog. :-). I miss you all I must admit. 🙂 But my absence was a for a good cause. I needed time to finish my works in progress. Thank God I have been able to complete one of them (only one oo! Hmm!) A collection of haiku, Haiku Rhapsodies.
To say I’m excited would be an understatement. At the same time, I am humbled that my work, Haiku Rhapsodies, is going to be out there. Incidentally, I’m the first Ghanaian to have a haiku anthology published in my country. That fact sunk in only yesterday when a colleague mentioned it. That rather humbles me and make my heart goes ziiinnnnng! :-). I give all the glory to God. 🙂
On Saturday 23rd April, 2016, I will be launching Haiku Rhapsodies at PAWA (Pan Africa Writers Association) House, Roman Ridge, Accra Ghana at 1.00 pm. As a member of the Ghana Association of Writers, (GAW) which is under the PAWA, I get to use the venue for free. 🙂 I wish to invite you all lovely folks to the event. I know you will all be there with me in spirit. 🙂 The journey has not been easy, especially as an independent publisher. I had to edit and edit and re-edit the collection after it had gone through series of reviews. I particularly thank Kristjaan, the host of Carpe Diem Haiku Kai for his invaluable support. I’m also grateful to Adjei Agyei Baah, editor of the Mamba Journal and the African Haiku Network for his critique and great support. Special thanks go to Hamish Gunn for his lovely forest photo, and to Roxi St Clair for permission to use her quotes. And I know I could not have made it without your beautiful heartfelt support over these years of blogging. I thank you all sincerely from the bottom of my heart. 🙂 I shall soon post the links to where you can get copies to buy. 🙂 🙂
God willing, I shall soon join you on the blog. I have over a 1000 posts in my inbox and I simply cannot keep up. Pardon me for deleting and starting afresh. Thanks so much. 🙂
Shalom! 🙂
Reading Pleasure 
Congratulations Celestine… am so looking forward to reading it. And awesome work on being the first Ghanaian to get a haiku book out as well!
Thank you so much, Thotpurge. Yes, its is daunting I tell you, to know that I hold that position. 🙂 Working hard towards getting the book out on Amazon 🙂
Celestine, I am so happy for you. Hugs to you from me. 🙂 Congrats on the book and for staying in there through it all to the publishing. I’m still here, but also bit by bit add, re-edit or revise parts on my book project, which is fiction, but at times I am in a limbo seeking the Lord in showing me His will and not mine alone. I love the encouragement and support from family and friends like you and other Christians writers. I have found such good friendships in other bloggers and writers like you, Celestine and count that as another blessing from God. Be blessed and stay in touch here. I am still following. 🙂 Love you, sister in the Lord.
Joyce, thank you so much, mys dear sister 🙂 Indeed the support has been overwhelming and yes a bit daunting. My heart thumps hard anytime I think of the marketing as I am doing self-publishing. I have been praying over it almost everyday and I know the Lord will do it because when I started this I started on faith. 🙂 With little or no money but the Lord has been good. 🙂
I dedicated some of the pages to haiku with Christian themes. And they are a joy to read. 🙂
I am not going back now, Joyce and I pray hard that you complete your book and put it out there. 🙂 God bless you my sister. 🙂
I love you too. 🙂
This is awesome!! I’ll try and make it to the book launch and get a signed copy! Congrats 🙂
Ow Darkowaah, I will be so happy to see you. 🙂 Than you my dear. 🙂
congratulations, Celestine – I am thrilled for you
Thank you so much, Paul. 🙂
Very well done, Celestine. Brilliant news.
Ow Tish, it’s not been easy. But believe it or not, I’ve always had your encouraging words and deadline you set for me some time back at the back of my mind and it urged me to forge on. 🙂 Only then, the deadline was for my novel in progress. 🙂
That, my friend is the next stage. 🙂 Thank you Tish for everything. 🙂
Gosh, Celestine. Am touched I was able to provide a little spur to your endeavour. But it’s all down to you, my dear. Great effort all round. Now roll on with the novel (I’m not really a cruel taskmaster).
I sure will. 🙂
well done, Celestine 🙂 so happy for you ❤
Thank you so much Ladylee. 🙂
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Congratulations! 🙂
Thanks a million, Diedre. I appreciate the reblog 🙂
Oh boy, am I glad to see you around Celestine! I wondered where you disappeared to. I’m super delighted that you’ve managed to complete a project. I can’t wait to get my hands on your collection but I want a signed copy, is it asking too much:). Congratulations! This is not only wonderful news but inspiring as well. All the best for your book launch:)
Khaya, how I miss you. 🙂 I will definitely get you a signed copy, hook or crook 🙂 Thank you so much for your lovely words my friend. 🙂
Hooray Celestine, that’s great news and its lovely to see you x 🙂 x
Gilly, thanks a million. It’s great to be back. 🙂 I miss you. 🙂
Congratulations, Celestine. Fabulous news. You must let me know when it’s available and where I can grab a copy.
Ow Kiru, thanks so much. Yep I will do so right after the launch. 🙂
wow!!! Congratulations, congratulations. I am looking forward to reading it:)
Jazzy, thanks so much. Planning to have it on Amazon. 🙂
Looking forward to it. Is it all new material or did you include stuff from you blog as well?
There are new materials with some from my blog, tweaked, edited and modified to meet standards. At least I hope so. 🙂
Fabulous, because you do have a way with the pen! 🙂
Pat
Ow, thanks, Jazzy. So do you my friend 🙂
Sounds like a lot of work, also sounds like you had GOOD help. Wel, time to hit the road, have a great day
You too, Jazzy. It’s been good talking to you. Take care. 🙂
Congratulations! I’m excited for you.
Ow thanks Nana. Hope to see you at the launch. 🙂
Congrats Celestine!! That’s pretty cool!
Thanks a million, Zeezee. 🙂
Oh I’m so delighted to see you back–have missed you terribly!! Big Congratulations on your success!!!
Azul, have missed you too. Thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂
Hope to see more of you 🙂
Congrats on publishing your new book! Keep it up. 😀
Thank you Khorhmin. 🙂
Congratulations Celestine! And a most deserving title to claim for your country. Your Haiku are brilliant. Wishing you much success.
Susan, thank you so much for your lovely words. 🙂
When you get a post up with purchase links I will promote it by reblogging. That way people can buy right away.
Ow Susan, thank you ever so much. I appreciate this. 🙂
Congratulations!
Thank you Otterblossom. 🙂
That’s fantastic news, I love the book cover. It is awesome you are the first person in your country to have a Haiku anthology published. I wish I could come over and join in with some generous applause, you’ll be awesome my friend!
Ste J my friend, I’ve missed you. Thanks a million. It is daunting you know, to be the trailblazer in something. But I try my best not to even think of it.
My main concern is to popularise the genre in my country, for poetry lovers to appreciate haiku. I realize haiku is quite unheard of here so I have a big hurdle ahead. 🙂
Thank you. 🙂
Well from the reception you get on the blog, I think that is a good indicator of how talented you are my friend.
You are indeed a trailblazer and I think once people see what you can do, they will be encouraged to have a go themselves. Not only do you popularise something but you help people be creative and that’s a wonderful thing.
Congratulations again Celestine. Facebook did not get back to me about that issue we talked about. I’m on the tablet and not everything is visible. I will continue to look into it and when I do I will share. So very happy for you hugs
Kimmy thank you. 🙂 Hugs back my sis. Grateful for all the help you are giving me. Take care. 🙂
You are so talented and great. ❤
Congratulations!
Thank you . 🙂
Huge congratulations dear Celestine 😆 Do you know how long I have waited for this day? I’m so proud of you. Thank God 👏
Post the links asap. Enjoy your book launch. I pray for abundant success in all you do.
Hugs xxx
Stella, thans so much for your support and good thoughts about me. Funny enough, I’m low key on the excitement level. I guess I will be over the moon after the launch. Right now the preparation has taken over my life. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Thank you again, dear friend. I will post the links asap 🙂 when I’m done on Amazon.
yahhhhhh Congratulations!!! you deserve it!!!
Thank you so much, Charmingyellow. 🙂
Congrats, Celestine. So happy for you, and all the best. 🙂
Thanks a million, Sharifah. Much appreciated 🙂
Congrats, Celeste! Publishing is definitely not for the faint-hearted! Well done x
Thank you so much, Joanna. 🙂
Congratulations, Celestine! I’m very happy for you 😀
Thank you so much, Isi. 🙂
Congratulations Celestine. I am so happy for you and I wish you all the best.
Many thanks Marva. 🙂
Congratulations, Celestine!! I’m so happy for you. Your work is fantastic!!
Noora, thanks a million. 🙂
Congratulations … this indeed is great news … wishing you all the best 🙂
Thank you so much, Amrit. 🙂
Wonderful news! I feel great happiness for your success! 😀
Ow, thank you so much. 🙂
Reblogged this on purehaiku and commented:
one of Pure Haiku’s contributors, Celestine Nudanu, has had a book of haiku published recently! please check it out!
I appreciate the shout out, my friend. 🙂
congratulations Celestine! that is brilliant news! am adding it to my “to buy” list!
Thank you Freya. It’s not yet on Amazon though. 🙂
Congratulations Celestine!!
Tiny, thank you. 🙂
Most wonderful news…so glad you were featured not far from my post at ‘pure haiku’ – Freya’s place. I had missed you – but I read somewhere that you needed time for yourself. And what a joy it is to know you and what you have accomplished!
Continued success. And visit at your own speed. Be well and continue to be blessed.
Your friend, Jules
Ow, thank you so much, Jules. It’s been so hectic I hardly have time for anything else outside work and family. even the family suffers at times.
After the launch of my book which was highly successful, I’ve had to market it nationwide. Since I published on my won, marketing has not been easy. More so, haiku is relatively unknown in Ghana. Infact, I am the first person to publish haiku in hard print. 🙂
But so far, I cannot complain. Sales have not been bad. As much as possible I attend poetry events and other creative arts events where I sell some. I also make sure I use social media a lot for adverts which is also not bad in terms of sales.
I’m working hard to have it on Amazon soon since the demand has also been up.
Pretty soon I shall come back to full time blogging. 🙂
Pretty soon, too soon I shall have a ‘free summer’ to investigate maybe submitting pieces. But so far blogging works for me. I’m not sure how ‘public’ I would want to be. Though I know it is necessary. I knew a gal here who published her own poetry book…she became her own publisher but it was expensive and not too easy. May your success continue! Remember to stop and breathe. 🙂
LOL, I shall stop and breathe for sure. Publishing on your own here is also expensive. I just managed to meet the expenses incurred in the printing. Then refreshment, (finger foods and drinks) and logistics took their turn at the proceeds. But I had friends helping me along the way. 🙂
It is well. 🙂
Congrats! I’m happy and glad to know! Keep going! All the best!
Thank you so much, Sakthi. 🙂
🙂
Congrats Celestine! What an accomplishment XD
Thank you so much, Candice. 🙂
I want someone to buy it for me from Ghana. Where can he grab a copy for me in Accra
Thank you Pastor Gyamfi. 🙂
The person can contact me on +233 206266081. I also have copies in my office at University of Professional Studies, formerly Institute of Professional Studies. (IPS). It cost GHC20.00 per copy. 🙂
Pastor, just had a call from your contact person in Ghana. He has promised to pick up the book by close of day. Thank you once again. God bless you. 🙂
I got your book. It’s loaded with great inspiration. Am quickly learning how to write haiku
Thank you Pastor. Glad you like Haiku Rhapsodies. I would love to read a haiku from you soon. 🙂
What wonderful news!! Congrats and blessings!
Thank you Brenda. 🙂
Oh wow. I just came upon your blog and this is so amazing. Congratulations! I will definitely be coming back 🙂
Kate @Read and Dream
Kate, thank you so much for stopping by. By all means do come again. I appreciate your visit and comment. 🙂