Great African Reads discussion

Hi all!

Suzanna is an active member here and has published a couple of books that are getting really good reviews. See this review for The Helpers: An International Tale of Espionage and Corruption and this one at the Africa Book Club for Nightmare Along the River Nile: Abducted by the LRA, which is very timely right now given the return to the international spotlight of the LRA.

Suzanna is happy and eager to chat about her work and books here, so please join the discussion! I hope to read at least one of these soon.

Hello 'Great African Reads' members. My name is Suzanna (as Marieke mentioned above). I was born in Africa and moved to New York as a teenager, where I studied and worked. I now work for the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. For most my UN assignments I work with developing countries in Africa, which I love.

So far, I have written two novels about Africa, which were inspired by realistic historical facts. 'The Helpers' was inspired by colonialism in Democratic Republic of Congo and how it led to corruption and terror - which still goes on. 'Nightmare Along the River Nile' was inspired by actual events that happened to young people in the 1990s at the height of the LRA rebel abductions in northern Uganda. The LRA, led by Kony, is still terrorizing people in central African countries. When I was young I experienced war first hand and I think that inspired the type of books I write.

I will be giving away paperbacks and ebooks to the first ten people who are interested. You can read more about the books on www.suzannaenelson.com and choose the book you would like to receive. You can also read some of the professional reviews from:
Africa Book Club: https://www.africabookclub.com/?s=Suz...
All Books Reviews International: http://www.allbooksreviewint.com/Revi...

Thank you for you time.
Suzanna

Suzanna wrote: "Hello 'Great African Reads' members. My name is Suzanna (as Marieke mentioned above). I was born in Africa and moved to New York as a teenager, where I studied and worked. I now work for the UN in ..."

I would love to get an ebook copy of The Helpers- though both books sound wonderful! Is it still possible?

Thanks, Elizabeth

Hello Elizabeth.
Yes, I still have six copies to give. All I need is the email address that you use on Amazon.
Suzanna

Suzanna wrote: "Hello 'Great African Reads' members. My name is Suzanna (as Marieke mentioned above). I was born in Africa and moved to New York as a teenager, where I studied and worked. I now work for the UN in ..."

Your books sound very interesting. Will check in with your website. I was in Geneva recently and thought of you being there. I used to work with the Geneva Office (as a NGO rep/consultant) but now just go there to visit friends.

I just went to your website and both books speak to me. Will start with one. I would love to read your book The Helpers, Suzanna. If you have more give aways, I read Kindle books on Android. My email address is friederike.knabe@gmail.com. Thanks.

Hello Friederike,
Good to hear from you. Please let me know the next time you are back here. It will be great to meet you and chat about books and life in the field of aid/development.

I just sent The Helpers to your kindle. You should get an email from them anytime now.

Suzanna

Suzanna wrote: "Hello Friederike,
Good to hear from you. Please let me know the next time you are back here. It will be great to meet you and chat about books and life in the field of aid/development.

I just sen..."

Thanks Suzanna. It looks like we have very similar interests... Africa, Human Rights. I try to come to Geneva every year to 18 months. Will let you know for sure next time.

Wonderful. I look forward to meeting you. I have a Human Rights page on FB. You can take a look, and post there if you wish - www.facebook.com/SENBooks.

Suzanna wrote: "Hello Elizabeth.
Yes, I still have six copies to give. All I need is the email address that you use on Amazon.
Suzanna"

elizabeth@pgezambia.com

thanks!! Looking forward to the read!
ETS

Hello Elizabeth.
I just sent you The Helpers. It should be in your mailbox soon.
Suzanna.

Suzanna wrote: "Hello Elizabeth.
I just sent you The Helpers. It should be in your mailbox soon.
Suzanna."

Got it- thanks so much- looking forward to getting started on it!

Cheers, ETS

Hi Suzanna,

Do you have any copies left?

paperbacks?

Regards

Fela wrote: "Hi Suzanna,

Do you have any copies left?

paperbacks?

Regards"

Yes, I do. Which one would you like to read? Please give me the email address you use on Amazon.
Suzanna

Nightmare Along the River Nile: Abducted by the LRA

Leballo@yahoo.com

Fela,
The book has been sent to you. Enjoy.
Suzanna

Thanks very much

You are welcome, Fela.

Suzanna, if you still have copies of any of the books left, could you send one to me? I'll read whatever you've got. Thought of you when we had a long layover in Zurich, as you're the only person I know in Switzerland:) kaitanya@gvsu.edu

Dear Andrea,
I am so sorry that I did not see this message until today. Sure I will send you an ebook. Which one would you like to read? Is this the email on Amazon?
Suzanna

I am grateful to all of you who gave your feedback on my book giveaway. Thanks especially to those who had great things to say about my books. Because of you 120 people have now put 'Nightmare Along the River Nile' on their shelf. God bless you.
Suzanna

Suzanna wrote: "I am grateful to all of you who gave your feedback on my book giveaway. Thanks especially to those who had great things to say about my books. Because of you 120 people have now put 'Nightmare Alon..."

i have not had a chance to read mine, yet. once i do, i hope i also have some influence. :)

Suzanna wrote: "Dear Andrea,
I am so sorry that I did not see this message until today. Sure I will send you an ebook. Which one would you like to read? Is this the email on Amazon?
Suzanna"
Nightmare Along the River Nile would be great, but I'm not particular. I will read either. Looking forward to it.
Andrea

Marieke wrote: "Suzanna wrote: "I am grateful to all of you who gave your feedback on my book giveaway. Thanks especially to those who had great things to say about my books. Because of you 120 people have now put..."

Thank you so much, Marieke. Take your time. I hope all is well.

Andrea wrote: "Suzanna wrote: "Dear Andrea,
I am so sorry that I did not see this message until today. Sure I will send you an ebook. Which one would you like to read? Is this the email on Amazon?
Suzanna"
Nightm..."

Andrea wrote: "Suzanna wrote: "Dear Andrea,
I am so sorry that I did not see this message until today. Sure I will send you an ebook. Which one would you like to read? Is this the email on Amazon?
Suzanna"
Nightm..."

Okay, Andrea. I have sent Nightmare to you from Amazon. Have a good day.

Thanks!

Thank you all for the good reviews on Goodreads. Nothing makes an author happier than getting good feedback from the readers. It's good to get praise from professionals but even better from readers. 204 people have now added 'Nightmare Along the River Nile' to their list of books to read.

'The Helpers' was nominated as Editor's Choice by Africa Book Club for both September and October. Since then 45 people have added it to their reading list and many people have purchased the paperback.

Thank you all for your support. Special thanks to Marieke for creating this thread for me.

Suzanna

Suzanna wrote: "Thank you all for the good reviews on Goodreads. Nothing makes an author happier than getting good feedback from the readers. It's good to get praise from professionals but even better from readers..."

Africa Book Club is awesome. I really, really like them. and I'm looking forward to reading Nightmare...(and Helpers, but later)

Thank you so much, Marieke. I hope you have a great weekend.

Dear Friends,
I just wanted to let you know that we have new versions of the print and ebooks, thanks to the input I received from some of you and other reviewers. If you didn't get a chance to read the books that i send you, you can return them and ask Amazon to give you the latest ones.

Here are the links:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1460942779 (Nightmare Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B006A7S1C6 (Nightmare Kindle)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1460942809 (Helpers Paperback)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B82XRPO (Helpers kindle)

Thank you,

Suzanna

Thanks, Suzanna!

Good news. We now have scriptwriter for "Nightmare Along the River Nile." Thanks to all of you who left great reviews on Amazon. I am sure they contributed a lot since that is where the book was found. I will keep you posted.

Suzanna.

Suzanna wrote: "Good news. We now have scriptwriter for "Nightmare Along the River Nile." Thanks to all of you who left great reviews on Amazon. I am sure they contributed a lot since that is where the book was fo..."

That's really exciting!

Thank you, Marieke. We are in the initial stages and you know how long this stuff takes. All the same, it a story that people should know about.

I started reading it awhile ago but got pulled away so I haven't finished. From what i read, i think it would translate to the screen very well. I really hope this comes to fruition!

Once again, I apologize that you are reading the old version which has a few errors. Nevertheless, you should be able to understand.

No worries suzanna. I was enjoying it but I had to set it aside since I was squeezing it in. I feel badly about that, but I seem to always be juggling too many books.i will get back to it.

Suzanna, that is very exciting news! Best of luck on the new project.

Thank you Andrea. So far so good. Let me know how you like the book.

Grab your FREE copy of "The Street Boy" today from Amazon. It is one of the best books I have read about Africa and life during the conflict in Sierra Leone - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005G5A360