Monday, February 16, 2015

Press Release February 16, 2015

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‘Mangrove Roots Chronicles’ tells story about rising above adversity

Wanjiru Uhuru shares her struggles about growing up in Belize to inspire people that they can change any situation
LOS ANGELES – Mahatma Gandhi said that one ought to “be the change we want to see in the world.” These words encompass author Wanjiru Uhuru’s goal as a human being. One way to affect such change is to bring hope and inspiration. In “Mangrove Roots Chronicles” (published by Xlibris),  she writes of her life experiences of growing up in Belize to inspire people with the knowledge that they too can change the situation in which they were born to be whatever they choose to be.

“Mangrove Roots Chronicles” is a book about Belizean cultures and traditions that offers a brief overview of the history of Belize and the country’s relation to the Latin American and Caribbean cultures of neighboring regions. Uhuru wrote this with the intention of bringing hope and inspiration to readers who find themselves in oppressive conditions through no fault of their own. It is also meant to invoke memories of a time long past to people who can relate to the setting in which the book takes place.

The book also provides a demographic breakdown of the various groups of people in Belize, including the Creole, Maya Indians, East Indians, Garifuna and Mestizo, an overview of their culture along with a brief history of how they arrived in the Caribbean and ultimately Belize. This makes the book a good way to gain insights about this beautiful country that is currently trending as an exotic tourist destination.

A book based on personal experience and education, “Mangrove Roots Chronicles” tells a gripping true story of overcoming adversity as Uhuru’s family struggled to survive. It is Uhuru’s hope that her story will prove to be an inspiration for others and bring hope to those who struggle with their own trials and tribulations.

“MANGROVE ROOTS CHRONICLES”
By Wanjiru Uhuru
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 349 pages | ISBN 9781453566909
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 349 pages | ISBN 9781453527818
E-Book | 349 pages | ISBN 9781453527825
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Wanjiru Uhuru is the pen name of Kharlene (Kaya) Matthews, who was born in Belize and migrated to the United States with her family in 1978. She is a writer, teacher and philanthropist. Uhuru is the Founder/CEO of a charitable adolescent girls’ intervention/leadership program, as well as a healing and wellness retreat program. Her favorite hobbies are: reading, writing, spoken word/poetry, and watching movies. She also loves wilderness hiking, walking and swimming. She dedicates time to community service as much as possible.  Her main desire is to become a successful author, so that she can carry on her teaching ministry through this media, while she continues to grow the programs she founded. 



Letter from Publishing Company

Dear Wanjiru Uhuru,

Promotion of your book is now underway.  Your press release has already been sent to newspapers, radio stations, magazines and television stations, which are listed on the attached pages.  Generally, when reviewers are interested in a book, they will contact us requesting for a copy of the book or an interview with the author. Whenever these requests are received, we will contact you so that you can follow-up with the media who requested them, ensuring better coverage.

Requests must come from members of the working media, either a staff or freelance journalist reporting for a newspaper, radio station, television station, magazine or online news/literary source. Review copies will also be granted to professors if they are reviewing the book (or overseeing the review) for a university publication or if they are reviewing the book for possible inclusion in their coursework.
Sometimes a media outlet is not listed on the recipient list because our distribution service was unable to contact them.  We make our best effort to contact all the media outlets in the areas that you chose, however we cannot guarantee that any particular media will be contacted.
If there are other media you believe might be interested in your book, you may send out a copy of your personal press release with your contact information.  Our contact information must not appear on the press release.

Of course, we will be happy to provide free review copies, background info, interviews, etc. to any member of the working press who inquires, whether they respond to releases sent by us or those sent by you. However, please remember, because editors have final say on a books coverage, it is impossible for us to know exactly where and when a story will appear.
We are working hard to get the word out about your book and encourage you to do the same.  Experienced authors recognize that promoting books is an on-going process, rather than a one-time event.  The steps outlined above have already proven effective in gaining initial publicity for many of our titles, but they are not a substitute for your own efforts.  Authors who are serious about reaching a broad readership should constantly build their list of contacts and continue to spread information about their books on a regular basis.  Working together, we are confident that we can achieve good results.
If you have other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,


Thursday, February 12, 2015

Marketing of Mangrove Roots Chronicles - Press Release

Currently Mangrove Roots Chronicles is available online at Xlibris Publishing company (www.xlibris.com), Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.  Invariably I would have an inventory of books so you can reach me by email at mrchronicles@gmail.com.  My publishing team is in the process of sending out a major press release blast to 500 media sources in the U.S.  We are also preparing to launch the book in bookstores around the country and in Belize in the coming weeks.

‘Mangrove Roots Chronicles’ tells story about rising above adversity

Wanjiru Uhuru shares her struggles about growing up in Belize to inspire people that they can change any situation
LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Mahatma Gandhi said that one ought to “be the change we want to see in the world.” These words encompass author Wanjiru Uhuru’s goal as a human being. One way to affect such change is to bring hope and inspiration. In “Mangrove Roots Chronicles” (published by Xlibris),  she writes of her life experiences of growing up in Belize to inspire people with the knowledge that they too can change the situation in which they were born to become the individual they choose to be.

“Mangrove Roots Chronicles” is a book about Belizean cultures and traditions that offers a brief overview of the history of Belize and the country’s relation to the Latin American and Caribbean cultures of neighboring regions. Uhuru wrote this with the intention of bringing hope and inspiration to readers who find themselves in oppressive conditions through no fault of their own. It is also meant to invoke memories of a time long past to people who can relate to the setting in which the book takes place.  

The book also provides a demographic breakdown of the various groups of people in Belize, including the Creole (Kriole), Maya Indian, East Indian, Garifuna and Mestizo, an overview of their culture along with a brief history of how they arrived in the Caribbean and ultimately Belize. This makes the book a great vehicle to gain insight about this beautiful country that is currently trending as an exotic tourist destination.

A book based on personal experience and education, “Mangrove Roots Chronicles” tells a gripping and sometimes pain-staking true story of overcoming adversity as Uhuru’s family struggled to survive. It is Uhuru’s hope that her story will prove to be an inspiration for others and bring hope to those who struggle with their own trials and tribulations.

“MANGROVE ROOTS CHRONICLES”
By Wanjiru Uhuru
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 349 pages | ISBN 9781453566909
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 349 pages | ISBN 9781453527818
E-Book | 349 pages | ISBN 9781453527825
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble           

About the Author
Wanjiru Uhuru [given name Kharlene (Kaya) Matthews] was born in Belize and migrated to the United States with her family in 1978. She is a writer, teacher and philanthropist. Uhuru is the Founder/CEO of a charitable adolescent girls’ intervention/leadership program, as well as a healing and wellness retreat program. Her favorite hobbies are: reading, writing, spoken word/poetry, and watching movies. She also loves wilderness hiking, walking and swimming. She dedicates time to community service as much as possible.  Her main desire is to become a successful author, so that she can carry on her teaching ministry through this media, while she continues to grow the programs she founded.



Tuesday, January 20, 2015

SOME OF MY FAVORITE BELIZEAN DISHES


SOME OF MY FAVORITE BELIZEAN DISHES 


I love Belizean food!!! I always feel like we are so lucky to have such an eclectic range of foods to serve up in my country.  My mother was a great cook and she loved to prepare different dishes for her family.




GARNACHES (LATIN ROOTS)

Garnaches is simply a fried corn tortilla with refried beans (usually kidney beans), onion sauce, grated cheese, and the garnish on top may vary based on the taste buds for hot, medium or mild cuisine.  This is something that we had very often and many  restaurants carried them since they were such a favorite with everyone.  


PANADES - (LATIN ROOT)
(Courtesy of Little Belize Restaurant in Inglewood, CA)

Panades is a variation of the infamous empanadas that all Latin countries throughout Central America and South America make with their own traditional twist.  In Belize, panades are made from fresh corn flour mashed and stuffed with either fish or refried beans then folded over and fried.  Again this is another favorite food that almost everyone from Belize love.  Mama established a little food business and she made panades, garnaches and Belizean tamales for sale after we had all grown up and left home. 



CRAB STEW  (CREOLE ROOTS)




HUDUT (GARIFUNA ROOTS)

Hudut is a simple meal to prepare, consisting of generally fish cooked in two variation of sauces.  The white sauce pictured above is basically a coconut milk base seasoned deliciously to taste with an habanero pepper cooked in the sauce for that special flavor.  Of course the pepper is not broken in the sauce and it is only cooked for a short time to ensure that the food won't be too hot to eat.  The other sauce is a red sauce, which is not pictured here.  This sauce is eaten with fufu made from green and partially ripe plantain beaten into a sticky starch using the mortar. (Pictured below)


My Father Preparing Plantain Fufu for Hudut Meal in 2010




TAMALES (LATIN ROOT)




DUKUNU - (MAYAN ROOT)


DUCUNU SERVED UP WITH STEWED CHICKEN




BELIZE CONCH STEW (CREOLE ROOT)
(Courtesy http://mybeautifulbelize.com/)



CONCH FRITTERS

Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Belizean Anthem in Creole and English



Belize Anthem in Creole:  (Leela Vernon)
“O, Lan a di free.”
O, Lan a di free bai di Kyaribeeyan See
Wi korij wi plej fi kip yu free
Unu tairant kyaahn stay ya; unu despots hafu goh
Fahn disya plays a demokrasi.
Wi ansesta blod don bles disya grong
Dats wai wi wahn free; nohmoh slayv wi wahn bee.
Koaros:
Git op – aal weh kohn fahn di Baymen klan
Put aan unu aama; difen disya lan
Jraiv bak di enimi; unu enimi hafu goh fahn ya!
Fahn wi lan a di free bai di Kyaribeeyan See.
Naycha don bles – mek yu rich rich rich
Oava mongtin ahn vali weh graas ron gud
Wi ansestaz, di Baymen, schrang ahn brayv
Jraiv bak di enimi; kip dehn weh fahn ya.
Fahn prowd Rio Hondo tu oal Saastoon
Chroo koaral reef, oava bloo lagoon
Kip wach wid di dehn aynjel, di staarz ahn moon
Kaa freedom wahn kohn sotay tumaaro noon.
(Ripeet Koaros)


Belize Anthem in English
O, Land of the free by the Carib Sea,
Our manhood we pledge to thy liberty
No tyrants here linger, despot must flee
This tranquil haven of democracy
The blood of our sires which hollows the sod,
Brought freedom from slavery oppression’s rod
By the might of truth and the grace of God.
No longer shall we be hewers of wood.
Chorus:
Arise! Ye sons of the Baymen’s clan,
Put on your armors, clear the land!
Drive back the tyrants let despots flee-
Land of the free by the Carib Sea!
Nature has blessed thee with wealth untold,
O’er mountains and valleys where prairies roll;
Our fathers, the Baymen, valiant and bold
Drove back the invaders; this heritage hold
From proud Rio Hondo to old Sarstoon,
Through coral isle, over blue lagoon;
Keep watch with the angels, the stars and moon;
For freedom comes to-morrow’s noon.
Chorus

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Purchase your copy of Mangrove Roots Chronicles here


Hardcover, Soft Cover and  eBook available. Click image to buy book.


This is a new phase for me as I venture to market this book.  As far as I am concerned, I would like everyone to get a copy, and particularly those whose lives seem to parallel mine in myriad ways.  I am so grateful for e-books during these times.  E-books makes it possible for many to purchase a copy without feeling too much of a pinch on your budget.  Please feel free to make comments and give feedback.  I hope you enjoy it.

Volume II is scheduled for publishing in December 2012. Join me in as my journey continues into adulthood and encounter situations that made a significant impression in my life.  High school was my first  milestone completed.  But without family members or close associates to help me with making decisions for my future, where do I go?  The struggle continues as this family sage forges through serene and humble times and heroically march into the years of the nationalistic movement with unfettered zeal.  A time when patriotism and a love for the country of Belize country is born. Get a birds-eye view of repetitive generational cycles at work in the life of this African decent family. Enjoy the memories of time gone by, and learn of the changing cultures and traditions that were forged with this nation. 

The upcoming volume delves into personal situations as the protagonist sought to create a life for herself and small children.  (To be continued)

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Reviews on Mangrove Roots Chronicles - Volume I

A New Dawn

It's been a long road. I am grateful for all the support I have been getting from my family and friends as I delve into marketing my book.  I am currently planning a few book signing events around the United States and Belize. Such an exciting time.  It's seems almost surreal.  So much time has passed since the conception of this project.  I still can't believe it is really out.

Personally, I tend to be very critical of anything I do. Subsequently, I feel a bit nervous about hearing what my readers have to say about Mangrove Roots Chronicles, Volume I...even though, I really want to get the feedback.  I will use your comments and critique as constructive criticism to
 modify my techniques in order to enhance my presentation. Please leave comment.

"I never read a book twice, but I have to read Mangrove Roots Chronicles again. Very interesting book."
- David Coates, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

"A well written book, Kaya. I never knew very much about Belize, but after reading your book, I feel like I have been there. Great job!"
-William Dewey, Castaic, CA

"I'm on chapter five and I can't put your book down.  I only read one other book that  captivated me as much as Mangrove Roots Chronicles."
- Robbie Gordon, Marina Del Rey, CA

"Your book is wonderful, Kaya.  It took me through so many emotions.  It made me laugh and it made me cry. Mangrove Roots Chronicles is engaging, entertaining, and interesting reading."
-Ian Noel, Esq., Inglewood, CA

"Kaya I can't stop reading!"
-Anonymous




Thursday, January 26, 2012