Dear Friends & Supporters,
It's been close to a full 7 months since I last wrote to update you. It's a new time, it's a new year - Happy New Year to you all.
When I say it's a new time, I say that with all the optimism I can muster, because the launch of this project came at a time when there was major upheaval on the horizon for me. Of course, I did not know that at the time, but soon I was spending my hours reviewing correspondence, writing witness statements and waiting for court dates to be allocated. It feels like a miracle that I have even able to reach 40% of my fundraising target - especially as the end of that process (with a happy outcome, thankfully!) only came in April 2019. By that time, I had got used to seeing £0 raised 90% of the time I got a weekly update from Unbound and I fell into a kind of lethargic stupor. In fact, by August 2019 I considered pulling the plug on the project, but I decided to take some time to reflect.
One of the things I did to distract myself when I was in the grip of all the turmoil 2017-2019 threw at me was take photographs (this one of a religious tower crane was taken in Belguim). Although I'm an amateur working with no client commission, I'm selective about the images I keep. Sometimes I'll take a picture ten times to get the right angle, sometimes I have to wait for clouds to shift... but if I do, if I put in the time, I generally get the shot I want. The trick is not to give up.
That takes me back to my reflection. When I think of the journey that I've embarked on here, what it means in terms of correcting the imbalances in a timid publishing landscape, what faith all of you have put in me by supporting me, I can't bring myself to pull the plug. Also, I worked damned hard on these stories and I've already put work into getting it on the Unbound platform. My dear friend Inua Ellams has invested time in designing a cover for The City Will Love You and I definitely want to share these stories with the world so I'm not giving up on myself. I'm NOT. So, I'm sorry that it's taken so long to get this done, that you've been waiting two years for this book to come out. But...
We're doing this! New year, new energy, new fire, new readers, new supporters, new doors to open, new paths to walk, new conversations to have, new cities to live in, new cities to love in. We move forward in love. I appreciate you. I thank you for sticking by me. The City Will Love You.
May the year bring you good things!
Nii
P.S. Don't be afraid to share this :) Thanks!