Dear subscribers of “Yeseni and the Daughter of Peace",
Thank you for ordering my book. I hope this message finds you enveloped in the enchanting world of our beloved tale, transporting you to 1748 in the heart of West Africa where Elewa, ‘the Daughter of Peace,’ navigates delicate threads to maintain harmony amid warring factions.
The path to bringing “Yeseni and the Daughter of Peace” to life has been as unique as the tale itself. In 2019, amidst my move from the UK to Canada, I embarked on this literary endeavor with very little professional writing experience but an abundance of determination. The manuscript, initially sent to numerous publishers, received minimal response until three years later when a publishing deal materialized. As the journey unfolded, I sought support from the Ontario Arts Council, winning a grant that became instrumental in further refining the manuscript. Facing limited responses from literary agents, I explored crowdfunding, connecting with Unbound that expressed interest in the manuscript, leading to a significant fundraising effort. Amidst the crowdfunding journey, an unexpected opportunity arose when Unbound announced a new imprint for authors of colour. Though initially not selected, a twist of fate saw ‘Yeseni and the Daughter of Peace’ eventually finding its place in this exciting imprint, setting the stage for a rigorous editorial process, numerous edits, and refinements. The final copy you hold in your hands is not just a narrative on paper but a testament to the diverse paths a novel can traverse on its way to publication.
Whether you’re deeply engrossed in the pages of “Yeseni and the Daughter of Peace” or contemplating the adventure within, I’m genuinely thrilled to have you as the book’s first readers.
If you’re enjoying the journey, I’d be grateful for your thoughts in a review. Your unique perspective adds so much to our community. If you can head to Goodreads or Amazon or any major retailer where you’ve bought the book, and leave a review. Your words mean the world to me, and the more reviews we gather, the greater the chance that major bookstores will order physical copies of ‘Yeseni,’ allowing it to find even more readers.
Thank you for being a vital part of my literary journey.
Solange Burrell