I was attracted to a novel with three letters: PYM. Picked randomly in the mystery section. Since I was in search of mystery works, I thought it would do. One other thing I did remember to consider was reading the first sentence: “Always thought if I didn’t get tenure I would shoot myself or strap […]
About MKB
Mildred Kiconco Barya is a North Carolina-based writer, educator, and poet of East African descent. She teaches and lectures globally, and is the author of four full-length poetry collections, most recently "The Animals of My Earth School" released by Terrapin Books, 2023. Her prose, hybrids, and poems have appeared in Shenandoah, Joyland, The Cincinnati Review, Tin House, New England Review, and elsewhere. She’s now working on a collection of creative nonfiction, and her essay, “Being Here in This Body”, won the 2020 Linda Flowers Literary Award and was published in the North Carolina Literary Review. She serves on the boards of African Writers Trust, Story Parlor, and coordinates the Poetrio Reading events at Malaprop’s Independent Bookstore/Café. She blogs here: www.mildredbarya.com
Exploring Jeanette Winterson’s writing
Reading Jeanette is like embarking on a poetic body-heart-mind journey trusting that there will be a destination. Even if none surfaces, there’s so much pleasure in the reading process because of her style that defies form and traditional plot lines. Quantum physics is thrown in, and there’s great joy finding Newton and Einstein decoded on […]
Poetry Book Launch moments
Thought I’d feature some pics of Give Me Room To Move My Feet poetry book launch in Kampala, Uganda. Pics taken by Masaani Art. So grateful to friends, family…who made the occasion memorable. Time to pack up and change station. All my love. To see more pics click here.
Speak, Memory Revisited
The book that’s been on my mind as I revisit home and other once familiar places is Vladimir Nabokov’s memoir, Speak, Memory. Time is playing tricks on me, or places. I have particular memories of things/objects and incidents in particular places, cafes to be specific, that I find have been turned into carpentry workshops and […]
Loving the writing & poetry passion in Uganda
I greatly enjoyed meeting my friends, writers and poets during the Author of the month session at Femrite on Monday 19th December 2011. It’s always exciting to find that a love for poetry does exist amidst other things going on, and the poets are utilizing time and whatever opportunities available to gather together and discuss […]
Author of the month
So happy to be home–Ug. Now that I have many places I call home I have to specify. And the place am at now–Femrite–is home to my writing. It’s where I did a lot of growing as a writer, so full of passion and hunger to write. Coming back feels so good; meeting new writers, […]
‘Give Me Room To Move My Feet’ Book Launch in Uganda
I’m excited to be going home, catch up with family, friends, read and launch my poetry book: Give Me Room To Move My Feet in Uganda. Two years ago I launched this book in Senegal where it was published and where I was based. It gives me great pleasure that copies are now available in […]
As The Crow Flies: the Red Earth. Veronique Tadjo
French and Côte d´Ivoire: Veronique Tadjo’s novella, As the Crow Flies, led me to her poetry book: Red Earth, first published in French as Laterite. The novella opens and ends like a long poem, is a love-betrayal and migration story, and at the heart of it are personal urban life affairs. But the search […]
Meet Prartho Sereno, the fantastic poet
Coming closer to Thanksgiving makes me think of Prartho Sereno’s imaginative and fascinating poetry book: Causing a Stir: The secret lives and loves of kitchen utensils. Food is involved, you see. And love. The wonderful poems are complemented by paintings, also done by Prartho. What I love about these poems is Prartho’s child-like grace, angelic and […]
The Needle Poems of Jennifer Grotz
I’m excited about introducing Jennifer Grotz, who is coming to read as part of The Raymond Carver Reading Series. A year ago I discovered her poetry book, Cusp, accidentally really, when I was in Bird Library randomly looking for interesting poetry books. I removed the book from the shelf and read a few poems and […]
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MKB: Thank you so much! I would love to read yours too ...
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Brenda C Wilson: Congratulations! I hope to get a chance to read yo...
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Kwasi opoku: Why did Nana usually say that Adjoa did not know t...
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