MAKING BOOKS WORTHWHILE IN TWENTY FIRST CENTURY: Sound voices in Uganda Literature; Conversation with Beverly
The Mt Kenya Times 
Beverly
By: Paula
1) Briefly who are you?
I’m a creative, conscientious and courageous individual who inspires individuals and organisations into creative communication. As a Creative Communication Educator, through my company Rich Diction Enterprises Ltd, I train, with a team, in public speaking and Rich Diction. I’m a published and award-winning poet, founder of the Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation that promotes African poetry through awards, festivals, publications and recently, entrepreneurship. A mother of four, Ugandan and long-distance swimmer who adores travel.
2).What inspired you to write?
The enchanting way stories took me to wonderful places. The capacity to create something out of nothing. The joy of witnessing how my imagination moved mountains.
3).Do books yield income?
Yes, they certainly do. It’s important for every author to engage in book marketing, either hire a marketer, publicist and constantly use suitable and workable channels to share personal stories of their journey. Marketing. Business models. Entrepreneurship. All are possible routes to make money through books.
4).Literacy in Africa, do people read in general?
Yes, they read a lot. There are so many great online literary resources where Africans engage. There are countless book clubs by Africans. Authors are making great sales from their books. They read.
5) What can one do to increase sales in Africa?
Conduct audience surveys. Create a workable marketing plan. Engage an effective online and physical sales and publicity team. Engage in stories of your personal journey.
6).Do you feel fulfilled when people buy your books?
Yes, I do. Especially when afterwards, they share their own interaction and interpretation
7).Can you encourage upcoming authors to write? Do you see a future for authors?
There’s a future for authors. They need to read a lot, train with other professional writers, engage professional editors.
8).Alliance française movement and Toast masters how did they help in promoting your work?
Toastmasters is a space that shaped my professional journey as a speaker and communication specialist. I use those skills in numerous ways during my reading tours and trainings. With Alliance Francaise, I sharpened my French skills.
9).Do you have any endorsements? What’s the importance of networking in book world?
I’m often called upon by renowned Professors globally recognized, in African poetry work. Most recently, November 2022, it’s Professor Kwame Dawes, who’s invited me to participate in an important discuss on poetry profiles.
10).Ebooks vs hard copies do you think technology has come to kill the traditional hard copy or e books are simply continuation of the reading culture?
It’s a continuation of the reading culture
11).You parting shot!
Just do it! Practise hard. Read hard. Just do it. You’ll thank yourself that you started. God bless!
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About the Author
