Africa Online Bookfair: A Word from the Founder ~ The Start of a Dream by Inge Saunders

There are times when I get these vivid dreams, ideas…inspiration. When I know, just know the path that I’m supposed to take. An idea I’m supposed to embark on. It doesn’t leave me, it haunts. It paints a picture so gripping that I can’t let go. And usually it has nothing at all to do with me.

That’s how the Africa Online Book Fair: Romance Authors & Books came to me. It started out as this idea that took shape into something that I hope will grow beyond what I can imagine for it.

Africa & African authors (especially women of color) in romance publishing to me was always hard to find, I saw this gap on the internet and publishing world for the author who can’t necessarily get to a traditional romance author book fair. Who is limited in resources and time.

I also, selfishly I might add, wanted to see romance authors from the continent, who writes love stories set here, abroad or other sub-genres of romance like paranormal & fantasy showcased for the world’s readers to find. This vivid dream came to me at a time when I felt on the fringes as a romance author of color from Africa. I don’t write the type of literature that’s expected of an author of color from Africa. I don’t wax lyrical about oppression and Apartheid (I’m from South Africa), nothing about a scorched earth and its inhabitants…dark Africa… but Africa isn’t as dark to me as the picture often painted in the international media. People here also love. And we also write romance novels.

So last year we held our first online book fair. It was nerve wrecking but worth it. Not only did I get to meet some awesome authors, but my booklist grew, filled with novels written by authors who love the genre.

This year it’s no different, the lineup is filled with veterans in the romance industry from traditionally published authors to e-published and self-published authors. Each of them offering either giveaways, free or discounted books, Amazon GCs, Q&As, games and competitions, and even a Rhino Clock *smile* That’s awesome right, a Rhino Clock. I want one now!

So without further prattling from my side, here’s the link and schedule for the fair:

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/215209169033746/?ti=cl

Book Fair Schedule:

Friday 1 June 2018:

TM Clark 10:00-11:00 Am

Unoma Nwankwor 12:00-13:00 PM

Francine Beaton 14:00-15:00 PM

Beverley Eikli 16:00-17:00 PM

Alison Stuart 19:00-20:00 PM

Dani Rene 21:00-22:00 PM

*Day winds down after 22:00 but competitions, offers & sales/discounts are still open. Readers can still enter by following the author’s instructions/guidelines.

                                       

Saturday 2 June 2018:

Eden Walker 10:00-11:00 AM

Amaka Azie 13:00-14:00 PM

Gaeille Vanderspek 15:00-16:00 PM

Stella Eromonsere-Ajanaku 19:00-20:00 PM

Linzé Brandon 21:00-22:00 PM

*Day winds down after 22:00 but competitions, offers & sales/discounts are still open. Readers can still enter by following the author’s instructions/guidelines.

Winners of giveaways, competitions & gift cards will be announced on the event page by the authors on Sunday 3^rd June or Monday 4^th June 2018.

Connect with the Africa Online Book Fair: Romance Authors & Books

Facebook Group Page: https://tinyurl.com/ka3ucvl

Twitter: @AfricaOnBookFr

Instagram: @africaonlinebookfair

Inge Saunders is the founder of the Africa Online Book Fair: Romance Authors & Books and also a member of the Cape Town Chapter the Romance writers’ Organization of South Africa. Currently she has three works published with Decadent Publishing, two sweet contemporary novels and a spicy paranormal romance.

For more information about the fair you can contact her at africaonbookfair@gmail.com

You can also find her on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1defI54

                                                           Twitter: @saunders_inge                 

            Blog: https://ingesaunders.wordpress.com