Nigerian author Chukwuemeka Famous is among a team of 12 writers from different corners of the world who co-authored a newly launched collaborative novel titled The Poles. The novel is curated by Tanya Mir and published by Bulgaria-based Libra Scorp Publishing, with cover design by Calin Bota.
The book was launched on 7th March 2024 at the Capital Library in Sofia, Bulgaria. The launch event was very well attended, with some of the authors in attendance while most others including Chukwuemeka speaking virtually.
According to Chukwuemeka: “Tanya Mir, the project lead, and her publisher wanted to write a novel where characters travel to different countries exploring magnetic fields with the aim of utilising them to manufacture the world’s deadliest weapon. So, she reached out to us to write a chapter each. She started by writing from Bulgaria in the first chapter. In the second chapter, another author took over and took the characters to her own country. So, in each chapter, the characters moved to a different country. Mine was chapter twelve where the characters visited Afikpo in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. In total, the book has 13 chapters as against 11 authors who wrote it. In the last two chapters, the characters return to Bulgaria where the conflict of the story is resolved.”
Other co-authors of The Poles are Graham McQuade (United Kingdom), Erik Ehrnst (Sweden), Tatiana Felix (Ukraine), Andrey Bontsevich (Russia), Samia Aziz (Pakistan), Shashank Kumar (India), Katsuya Watanabe (Japan), Jennifer Jensen (USA), Sue Nyathi (South Africa), and Tanya Mir (Bulgaria).
Chukwuemeka Famous’s involvement in this international collaborative novel highlights the changing terrain of literature and the ability of writers to unite across borders to create something genuinely exceptional.
Chukwuemeka is a JAY Lit contributor (Issue 6). His debut novel We Will Live Again was published in January 2023 by Griots Lounge.
