₦airaland Forum

You are probably looking for an elegant prose narrative on romance.
Then check out the story of Lauretta and Julius. Calamity falls upon every man who gets intimate with Lauretta seven days after the act. Julius didn't know this, but only to find out when he had fallen in love with Lauretta, a lady of irresistibly charming femininity. What would you do if you were Julius? Such is the story in 'SHADOWS AND NOTHINGS'. Get it at okadabooks

Or maybe you're not exactly into the genre of full romance or love. But would wish to read about the enduring willpower of a woman. A woman who suddenly finds herself in a new land with strange customs. Then to worsen the situation, she loses her husband. How does she handle all the pressures of the situation without compromising her self esteem or dishonoring her womanhood? That is the story in 'MOUNTAIN OF YESTERDAY'. Get it at okadabooks.

Good evening, distinguished literary minds. I am delighted to announce that the University of Lagos will be hosting me to a reading of my book, Shadows and Nothings, on Thursday 20th February, 2020 at 11.00 a.m. Kindly find time to come around if you'll be in Lagos at that time. I believe it will be an exciting time of literary interaction. Shadows and Nothings is a riveting love story with all the elements of human frailties, hopes and perseverance. Thanks and best wishes.
Dr. Tony Nwaka.

SHADOWS AND NOTHINGS.

https://okadabooks.com/book/about/shadows_and_nothings/30984


For some years you had stayed away from romantic relationships. Then you suddenly fell in love with a lady but only to find out that strange calamities usually befell her lovers just seven days after they had gotten intimate with her. At this same time, your ex came pleading that you take her back. What would you do in such a situation?

Such is the story of Julius, Lauretta and Evelyn in 'Shadows and Nothings'. It is a riveting love story with all the elements of fear, betrayal, family secrets, vengeance, and cultural inhibitions.

An excerpt from the book is presented below.

She turned her face away and looked down at the floor. In a calm and resigned tone, she asked, “Do you really love her, Julius? Do you love her the way you loved me then? Or are you simply attracted to her because of the air of beauty and affluence around her? Remember that with time such fascinations fade, with the
fluctuations of fortune.”

“You know how I felt for you, Evelyn, but you trampled and spat on the love we shared.”

She stood and went to him. She took his hand and knelt down. “It was the biggest mistake of my life. I was too young to know what my mother was dragging me into. I haven’t had peace ever since. Please forgive me, Julius. You are the only man that can restore joy to my life. The more I stay without you, the more I live a life of emptiness, a life plagued by a guilty conscience. The kind of love and peace you gave me were such that I haven’t found again ever since. I know my irresponsible act is not deserving of forgiveness, but please find it in your heart to free my soul from this torment. Remember how we were then, Julius, the joy we shared in spite of the challenges we encountered. I know it will—”

“Please stand up, Evelyn. You shouldn’t be kneeling before me.”

Tears had begun to stream down her face. Julius too was becoming overwhelmed with sadness. Indeed, he remembered all the good times they had and the obstacles they jointly surmounted in those early days of his in Gramond.

“My standing is not the issue, Julius. I could stand and yet be at the rock bottom of life. I don’t want to continue living a life of self-deceit, pretending that things are okay, when I know my life is floundering in a muddle.”

Julius stood and pulled her up. But she could barely stand on her feet. She was sobbing. He hugged her and she placed her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair and began to speak in consoling whispers.

“It’s okay, dear. Yes, I said I’ll never make you cry. I promised I’ll always be there to guide you. But you didn’t keep your side of the bargain. You created all this problem, Evelyn.”

“I know,” she muttered through the tears. “Forgive me, please. I’ve made my mistakes. We can put the past behind us, Julius.”

“It is not going to be as easy as you’re seeing it. As I said, I’m already in a relationship. I can’t just break it up.”

“I understand. But we can start from somewhere. I know you may not love me the way you did then, but if only you could show me half the affection you once gave me.”

Julius was quiet for a while. He held on to her and stroked her hair, an odd spicy scent wafting into his nose. “I love you, Evelyn.” He wasn’t sure if he had said that out aloud or it was just the silent expression of his heart. He didn’t know if his suddenly softened stance was owing to the raging lust of the moment, or deep empathy, or simply the case of long-muzzled affection that was let loose by a forgiving heart.

She pushed closer and held on tight to him. This could be the happiest moment of her life. Those last words from Julius were the sweetest things she’s heard in years.

“Thank you, my love. I’ll always treasure you, Julius. I’ve learnt my lessons. You are the man that God had long destined for me. Never again will anyone divert my attention from my destiny. I’ll ever love you, Julius. I’ll never let you down again.”

He tried to disentangle from her. But it was a miserably feeble effort. “O my God, we really shouldn’t be doing—”

She muffled him with a....

SHADOWS AND NOTHINGS.

https://okadabooks.com/book/about/shadows_and_nothings/30984

N500

If you fell in love with a lady and later found out that strange calamities usually befell her lovers just seven days after they had gotten intimate with her, what would you do?

Such is the story of Julius and Lauretta in 'Shadows and Nothings'. It is a riveting love story with all the elements of fear, betrayal, family secrets, vengeance, and cultural inhibitions.

An excerpt from the book is presented below.

Mummy was in the second half of the living room. She was seated on the couch behind the blue settees, clad in a brown wrapper that was draped over her night gown, her legs crossed over a wooden stool. Beside her, on the brown rug, was the Sunday Vanguard. Although the 42-inch TV was on, it was obvious she was more focused on the expected entry of her daughter.

“How was church today?” Mummy asked.

“Fine, Mummy. Ekasan, ma! Reverend Ade sent his greetings. He said he hasn’t seen you in a while,” Lauretta said as she knelt and greeted her mother.

“Kasan! It’s all right. I’ll be there one of these days.”

Lauretta chuckled. “Hmmm! Mummy that’s what you always say.”

Mummy waved indifferently. “By the way, how’s Julius?”

Lauretta’s face began to radiate with smiles. “Oh, he’s fine. So, now that you’ve seen him, what do you think about him?”

Mummy gave a worried sigh. “Hmmm! He looks okay. You say he’s from Calabar?”

“Yes, Mummy.”

“Did you speak with him?”

Lauretta understood the question. She had known it was going to come sooner than later. “No, I’ve not.” She unfastened the belt on her yellow gown and sat at the other end of the couch. The smiles had begun to drain from her face.

“Why? Don’t you think the earlier you did that, the better?”

Lauretta sat back and folded her hands. “Mummy, telling him these things is not as easy as you think. I mean, how can I just sit him down and say that my last three boyfriends left me in strange circumstances? That could just scare him away.”

“Yes, I know. But you are not going to simply throw it in his face. You’ll look out for a convenient moment in your discussions to introduce the issue. You could start by asking to know his past, his own relationships. C’mon Ebun, are you still a baby? I shouldn’t be telling you something like this at this age.”

“I know, Mummy, but—”

“Look, my daughter, a man who loves you will still love you and even go ahead to marry you not minding what your past was. Provided he heard the true story from you first. It’s not for him to first hear the distorted version from the lips of gossips. Meanwhile, you never can tell the angle from which solutions can come. If God says Julius is your husband, then the young man may as well hold the key to resolving all these problems. You cannot remain silent and be suffering the sins of your father.” Her face was contorted in agony. “Only God knows all the things politics may have pushed Oni into that has brought all these misfortunes on his family.”

Lauretta pursed her lips and looked at the floor. “Mummy, we can’t be too sure that Daddy’s past has anything to do with this.”

Mummy hissed and looked away. “Of course, you’ll always
defend him. Daddy’s girl. Please don’t delay in speaking with Julius.”

“It’s okay, Mummy. I’ll talk to him when next we meet.” Her eyes had become misty. She stood, greeted her mother again and began to head for her apartment.

Lauretta knew her mother well enough not to engage in any further argument. Right from the time her parent’s relationship began to strain about five years ago, her mother would always attribute any unusual happening around herself or Lauretta to the ripple effects of evil spells that may have been cast on her father in the course of his political activities. If she did not trace the root of such misfortunes to the camps of political enemies, she would locate it at the doorstep of Chief Alaba’s first wife. Although Lauretta would dispute all such superstitious beliefs, the bizarre turn taken by her recent relationships had caused her to start wondering if her mother was right after all.

* * * * *