Saturday, December 25, 2021

 

What an honour to participate in this powerful anthology, Women’s Issues Vol 2: Women Power edited by International Human Rights Art Festival, NY.
IHRAF gives voice to the voiceless, protects freedom of expression, and uses creativity to highlight human rights and social justice causes around the world. Its Honorary Committee includes Reps. John Lewis and AOC, actors Barbra Streisand and Kathleen Turner, Senator Bernie Sanders, and many other great minds: 
This is my first ever solicited fiction piece; it had to be set in Japan and have positive messages. I wrote this story based on a murder of a homeless woman that happened last year. I was furious about the atrocity because I, for one, as a freelancer and single mom, could imagine myself living on the street someday. I hope my messages reach people who need to hear them.
The other writers are from India, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Bangladesh, the U.S., Mauritius, and Papua New Guinea.

The first ever translation of my short story came from Brazil! This one’s “The Summer with No Mosquitoes” (Great Lakes Review, 2018). Two more stories from my collection, A Perfect Day to Die (Guernica Editions, 2022) will follow: “The Comedian” (Flash Fiction Online, 2018) and “St. Clair West” (untethered, 2016). Thanks to translator Patricia Lattavo; you can read her work on BiblioTechie App.