It is not everyday that a girl who grew up in the ghetto gets to launch a book especially when she is the first person in her family and her circle. Having people near and far pre-ordering at least a hundred books was so motivating. It’s been a year since but I still remember how I almost did not do it. The research I was doing was showing that most self published authors would have online launches where they would create momentum and then do a post to signify the launch.

Now if you know me in this season I am in, you know I would have a party for just anything if I had all the money in the world. I enjoy bringing people together to eat and make merry and celebrate life. I love life, even when it has sometimes not shown me love right back, it is a beautiful life.

So this day, a small group of friends came together to celebrate with me birthing my first title – Hope Made A Way. The decor went so well with the colors of the book and by chance, my dress looked like the butterfly backdrop we had for photos. It was a short and sweet even where my friends and colleagues shared where we had come from and what a joy it was to be part of this.

Doctor, who features in the book as an instrumental person in my growth shared how he took a chance on me and I run with it. If you have read the book you know he shared the enterpreneurship course that saw my true essence come to life. After winning the best business plan, I started Red Row Hotel which was a small restaurant which we call kibandaski. It employed young mothers since I could not get a job where I would go with my child when I was a young mam. This is when I knew for sure that community development was my thing. He also gave me transport to take my son to the hospital when I had completely nothing. On this day though, he kept looking at me as how I envision a proud father looks at his daughter which was so wholesome.  

My Mayah also mentioned how happy she was her mummy was an author and how blessed I felt. My friend Judy mentioned how I told her I would now write a book after reading Viola Davis Finding Me together when she had the opposite reaction. My love became a philosopher mentioning how we owed it to ourselves and children to be better than our previous versions.

We ate, took photos and drank wine. The people outside my circle bought books and one year down the line, I am so so happy that I took a chance on myself. That I wrote and launched this book, going totally naked for all people to see my scars and flaws. And maybe just maybe, inspire someone to go for their dreams despite their start in life, despite the discouragement and being undervalued. They too could win at life just like I keep doing.