“MEET OLIVIA, SHE’S A BOOK BLOGGER”

 

I sat comfortably at the Marquee, Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt on Wole Soyinka Day excited about the events about to unfold. My phone was fully charged and twitter ready. At the Atlantic Hall just across, an International Literature and culture exhibition was ongoing, later in the day there would be VIPs Read to Children, cultural performances and a play. It was my ideal environment. I was in my elements.

Events commenced at 10 that morning but it was when Wole Soyinka delivered his keynote address minutes later that fingers danced across keyboards feverishly all across the room. It was an electric address and we were sharing it all on twitter. Someone on my TL was posting identical tweets with me. Every pause I missed he caught. I was intrigued. I had to meet this person. A few DMs later we did. At a spot overlooking the stunning pool at Hotel Presidential at the main opening ceremony of the Port Harcourt World Book capital 2014.

‘Hello, my name is Olivia. Olivia Ndubuisi’ I said

I would remember that smoky accent for long, I loved it, ‘hi Olivia, I’m Richard Ali’

From that moment, we did that thing book readers do; overlook every other boundary (religious, geographic, ethnic) and unite under a common book denominator. Richard Ali,@richardalijos, writer, publisher with Parresia Books would go ahead and introduce me as a ‘book blogger’

We met and networked with other writers-Molara Wood, Igoni Barrett and a host of other book lovers; I appreciate environments like the one above, where the ‘Book leads us forward’, I try to create it where it doesn’t exist .I do love to read and coordinate talks about issues raised in books. Yes I have remained friends with @richardalijos , looking forward to events that promote reading, writing, literature and interactions arising from same.

Open a discussion with me and my team here @openbooknigeria

Or me directly @ndubuisithe5th

Good to have you .Thanks for your time. Hope to see you regularly here.