Innocent Chizaram Ilo (The Yassification of Chinua Achebe)

Bridge Gringo

Breaking my hiatus on here with the announcement that my story "Bridge Gringo" had been published by Adi Magazine. You can read it here:
adimagazine.com/articles/bri...

"Every year, the Nigerian government, through the Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC), spends taxpayer money to sponsor Nigerians to pilgrimages in Jerusalem to keep this idea of Jerusalem as home alive." ~ @etherealilo.bsky.social in @proteanmag.com

proteanmag.com/2021/09/01/t...

When A Woman Renounces Motherhood Innocent Chizaram Ilo’s ‘When a Woman Renounces Motherhood’ is the 2020 Commonwealth Writers Short Story Prize regional winner from Africa.

Nwakaego's mother decides to renounce motherhood. Tired of her ungrateful husband and endless thankless work of rearing & feeding 4 children, she's eager to go through the renouncement ritual.

Piercing use of spec fic by @etherealilo.bsky.social in @grantamag.bsky.social

granta.com/when-a-woman...

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "Bridling" by Nadia Davids. This is weird and beautiful and poignant. It's one those stories that transforms you after reading. The irony is bitting, the juxtaposition floors, and the magic is eternal.
www.thegeorgiareview.com/posts/bridli...

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is
‘The Umbrella Man’ by Siddhartha Gigoo which explores loneliness, identity and mental health. Sidd expertly poses the question of; "What are we without all the things that make us who we are?".
commonwealthfoundation.com/the-umbrella...

I Cleaned the – | Kanya D’Almeida | Granta Overall winner of the 2021 Commonwealth Writers Short Story Prize, as well as winner for the region of Asia.

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "I Cleaned" by Kanya D’Almeida. This is beautiful and haunting and interrogates class and disability. The narrator has such a keen eye that one can only acquire from being unseen for too long.
granta.com/i-cleaned-the/

I wrote something and I want you to read it:
open.substack.com/pub/audacity...

Light | Granta ‘When Enebeli Okwara sent his girl out in the world, he did not know what the world did to daughters.’ 2015 Commonwealth Short Story Prize – regional winner for Africa.

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "Light" by Lesley Nneka Arimah. This is one of Lesley's few ultra-realisms. We watch the story unravel along with the seams of girlhood Vs parents Vs the world.
granta.com/light/

Blood Is Another Word for Hunger - Reactor Anger is an energy. A young girl, a slave in the South, is presented with a moment where she can grasp for freedom, for change, for life. She grabs it with both hands, fiercely and intensely, and the ...

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "Blood is Another Word for Hunger" by Rivers Solomon. Mx. Rivers' story is a bold and ethereal recount of slavery through the lens of speculative fiction. This story will keep you on your feet.
reactormag.com/blood-is-ano...

“Tiny, Meaningless Things” “He’s only a little boy, but he’s managed to unsettle her. It has been so very long since she was unsettled.”

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "Tiny, Meaningless Things" by Marisa Silver. Marisa utilises and utterly tranquil narrative voice to explore grief and aging. It's almost magical "watching" how this story builds up.

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

I can finally let slip that I have a story coming out in the next issue of Omenana Speculative Fiction Magazine! And look at that ToC! Some awesome names there.

“CATERER, CATERER” by Pemi Aguda Pemi Aguda writes short stories and flash fiction. Her stories have appeared in The Kalahari Review, Black Fox Literary Magazine, Prufrock Magazine, The Wrong Quarterly and the TNC anthology ‘These…

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "Caterer Caterer" by Pemi Aguda. This is my first introduction to the stupendous brilliance of Pemi Aguda's fiction. This story is remarkable in the way it transforms the seemingly mundane into something magical.
munyori.org/writivism-20...

the CEO of United Healthcare died and they started the investor meeting on time anyway.

He died thinking of claim denial percentages. Powerpoints. His contribution to society while denying claims to stage 4 cancer patients.

Work doesn't matter. Your contribution to humanity does. Remember that.

The Husband Stitch | Carmen Maria Machado | Granta Magazine ‘I have heard all of the stories about girls like me, and I am unafraid to make more of them.’ Carmen Maria Machado’s ‘The Husband Stitch’.

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "The Husband Stitch" by Carmen Maria Machado. This story perfectly straddles the line between realism and speculative fiction to deliver a raw, unadulterated version of how women experience marriage and motherhood.
granta.com/the-husband-...

Honored to have co-edited this exciting anthology alongside @dontcallmeliv.bsky.social and the @_WTBAP team. Working with these brilliant writers from all over Africa was utterly inspiring, and I’m grateful they trusted us with their work. These stories will stay with me—and you—forever✨

I'm totally OK with being called woke. It just means that I'm showing off my green flags. Happy to follow others with green flags.

#woke

Opinion | I wrote about a future American dystopia. But in real life, I’m full of hope. Over and again in America, we've learned that the frightening changes that initially seemed to be permanent turned out to be temporary.

Now is the time to remember that we've been here many times before. Hope and determination are the key to preserving everything we hold dear.
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...

“The Englishman” “His eyes travelled up my bare leg as it emerged from the sleep-twisted sheets. I pretended to be asleep.”

The #ShortStoryoftheWeek is "The English Man" by Douglas Stuart. Douglas explores a topical issue of (economic) power and age dynamics in gay relationships. You can read it here:
www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

Hi all, I created a Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction Studies starter pack. This is for the academic study of SFFH :) The list is still tiny as I don't know who is here. Please let me know if you'd like to be added!

go.bsky.app/TDrfKpu

YouTube video by Peter Stefanovic 🚨Millions of people are living in poverty, destitution & using food banks - It’s barely mentioned

🚨Millions of people in this country are living in poverty, destitution & using food banks. It’s barely getting a mention.

I’m joining forces with @bigissue.bsky.social in calling for a POVERTY ZERO LAW - a statutory duty for every gov’t to set POVERTY REDUCTION TARGETS

youtu.be/uAr58YqXW7I?...

book Mary W Shelley He sprang from the cabin window as he said this upon th ice raft which lay close to the vessel. He was soon borne away by the waves and lost in darkness and distance. Written in pen is As he drifted away I could just make out his final words "its ok if you call me 'Frankenstein' instead of 'Frankenstein's Monster' I really don't mind" The end

Trump Nods Vacantly As Elon Musk Rattles Off 10th Consecutive Video Game Recommendation -The Onion

Trump Nods Vacantly As Elon Musk Rattles Off 10th Consecutive Video Game Recommendation
theonion.com/trump-nods-v...

Took this on the Space Needle in Seattle.

Funny meme: you're not the fuckface whisperer

What @bsky.app needs is a clearer verification process for organisations and media. Strongly suspect that is what is stopping those big beasts coming here - but if that is provided I can totally see this App eclipsing Twitter for good.

A 13-year-old with autism got arrested after his backpack sparked fear. Only his stuffed bunny was inside. Disability rights advocates said kids like Ty should not be getting arrested under Tennessee’s school threats law.

Ty, a 13-year-old with autism and an intellectual disability, put a bunny in his backpack to show his friends.

Scared his toy would be confiscated, he told his teacher the school would “blow up” if anyone looked inside his bag.

He was arrested and charged with a felony — @propublica.org

GET ALL OF YOUR VACCINES NOW PEOPLE.