Mangrove Roots Chronicles Sent to Publishers

Finally!!! I sent the manuscript off for publishing today, November 27, 2011.  I am satisfied with the corrections I made, and feel that it is time to get this book out to readers.  I will keep you posted to let you know when it will be available in the bookstores and online.  Since it is already layed out for printing, I should have a book in my hand for proofing within the week, and approximately one week later, they will be made available for sale.  This means they should be ready for my readers before the middle of December.

Mangrove Roots Chronicles - Release Update.

I have returned to my manuscript, doing most of the editing and correcting myself. The last year has been quite harrowing for the most part.  Completed some college courses that I needed for my professional certification for teaching. A woman has to work. Right? :-)  Nevertheless, I know quite a number of people are waiting for the release of this book.  I plan on having the book in bookstores by October 15, 2011.  Nothing can stop me now!  Providence is really amazing - allowing me the privilege of writing during these changing times.

The plan is to publish the first edition of parts one and two in Volume I, and later, publish a second edition with other changes.  Volume II will be in the bookstores by June 2011.  May God give me the courage to fulfill these projections.

Awww...this has been a most challenging season for me, and I know for many people.  I ran into some financial difficulties that seem so ridiculously unnecessary.  I will make an effort to enroll more people in the process of publishing this book.  I can really use an editor...not only for this book, but for the next volume due to be released before the end of this year.

As I once again painstakingly went through the process of reading and reading the whole book, I found so many corrections that I became uncertain as to whether I was even ready to publish when I initially submitted the manuscript in August.  I have about thirty more pages to correct at this time.  Feeling better now, even though I have been a very hard critic during this whole process.  As the saying goes, we are our worse critics.

Nevertheless, I will be able to submit the final corrected inlay of Mangrove Roots Chronicles this month, and expedite the publishing process.  I have a new nine to five teaching honors biology at a high school that I think I will like a lot.  Yayyyyy.  Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from the book.  Have fun reading...

Pen Name - Wanjiru Uhuru

The pen name I am using for all of my published works is Wanjiru Uhuru.  When I initially made my name change from Kharlene Matthews, I changed it to Kaya Wanjiru Uhuru.  This change came after relentlessly seeking a suitable name for my impending name-change, which I had already decided to make.  I was reading a book by Barbara Wood called Green City In the Sun, and there I found my name.  Kaya is Kikuyu word for an unshakable type of faith.  Wanjiru is Kikuyu for black, and Uhuru is Swahili for Freedom Fighter.

After much contemplation, I decided to use Wanjiru Uhuru as my pen name.  In doing so, I am hoping that I can maintain my career as a writer separate from my other activities.  This name represents the essence of who I am...a Black Freedom Fighter.  I will always strive towards the freedom of all humanity.

Wanjiru Uhuru aka Kaya Matthews

New publishing date due to setbacks

The publishing of Mangrove Roots Chronicles has been rather challenging, given the economic times, and personal challenges I have been handling.  The book was set for publishing on Sept. 15, 2010, with the hopes of meeting the 29th year of commemoration for the independence of Belize. 

I was financially unable to obtain professional assistance with editing, so I took on the challenge in order to meet my release date.  However, after I started the process, I realized that I had more corrections to make than I had figured.  I have now completed the corrections, and I'm working with the author representative from my publishing company, to have the book available for purchase during this month of October.  I don't have a specific date, because I have to make some payments before the company submits the corrected inlay for printing.  I am working on taking care of this no later than October 10, 2010,  after which the book will be released for printing. 

Thanks for your support and patience during this challenging process of writing and publishing Mangrove Roots Chronicles - Vol I.

Sincerely,

Kaya

Cockscomb Range

I was born in Stann Creek Town and lived in Pomona Valley in a small community overshadowed by the Cockscomb Mountains to the west.

A Mayan Family in Belize

The Mayans were the first known people to live in Belize (British Honduras).  Although in they are described as extinct in many academic reports, many indigenous Mayans can still be found in South West Belize, as well as other locations.  I remember visiting Xunantunich Maya ruin for a high school field trip during my teens, while attending St. Hilda's College, and was astounded to see indigenous Mayans that stuck closely to their ancestral cultures and traditions.  How foreign it was to see topless women washing their clothes on the rocks at the river side, and little Mayan children playing nearby.