So Many Precious Books, So Little Time: Giveaway and Excerpt: Thread of Gold Beads by Nike Campbell-Fatoki

Thanks to Amy Bruno of Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I am giving away one copy of Thread of Gold Beads.

Book Description:

Publication Date: November 16, 2012
Three Magi Publishing
Paperback; 412p
ISBN-10: 0988193205

Amelia, daughter of the last independent King of Danhomè, King Gbèhanzin, is the apple of her father’s eye, loved beyond measure by her mother, and overprotected by her siblings. She searches for her place within the palace amidst conspirators and traitors to the Kingdom. Just when Amelia begins to feel at home in her role as a Princess, a well-kept secret shatters the perfect life she knows. Someone else within the palace also knows and does everything to bring the secret to light. A struggle between good and evil ensues causing Amelia to leave all that she knows and loves. She must flee Danhomè with her brother, to south-western Nigeria. In a faraway land, she finds the love of a new family and God. The well-kept secret thought to have been dead and buried, resurrects with the flash of a thread of gold beads. Amelia must fight for her life and what is left of her soul.

Set during the French-Danhomè war of the late 1890s in Benin Republic and early 1900s in Abeokuta and Lagos, South-Western Nigeria, Thread of Gold Beads is a delicate love story, and coming of age of a young girl. It clearly depicts the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversities.

Praise for THREAD OF GOLD BEADS:

"A highly competent contribution to the growing genre of popular historical fiction in Africa" - Sefi Atta, author of A Bit of A Difference, Swallow, Everything Good Will Come. Winner of Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

"At the heart of Thread of Gold Beads stands Princess Amelia, an intelligent, courageous young woman who loses everything when the 1892 French invasion of Dahomey forces her to seek refuge in South-Western Nigeria. Following a series of unexpected twists, Amelia's journey mirrors that of her Nigerian-born mother as secrets and betrayals threaten her hard-fought peace of mind. Through a cast of distinct characters, Campbell-Fatoki presents an intriguing coming of age story that captures the majesty of a 19th century African kingdom."-Yejide Kilanko, author of Daughters Who Walk This Path Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yc6V8nM7k2k

Read the Excerpt:

Our compound, surrounded by a tall mud wall, was fairly large. Comprised of ten huts, father’s hut was strategically located in the center, and the others surrounded his in a fetus position. Today, I wished that the huts were organized differently to allow for privacy. I circled the communal kitchen wall to the back, pausing to look around to make sure I was not followed. As I bent to enter Na Zevoton’s hut, I felt eyes on me.

“Amelia, is that you?” Her voice was low.

“Yes, Grandmother. How did you know?”

She cackled loudly. “You are the only one that visits,” she said matter-of- factly, warming her feet by the small fire burning. She always complained of cold and aching bones. She grinned, happy to have some company.

“Come here. What trouble have you gotten yourself into? Are you hiding from your mother?” she asked, her black eyes twinkling in amusement. I could imagine her as a young girl up to some mischief, too.

I sat beside her and patted her hand. “I don’t ever get into trouble, Grandmother! I’m here to see how you are doing,” I said, hugging her.

She chuckled, giving me that knowing look. “Of course you are.” She looked around the room. “Call me the help to get us something to eat.”

I tried to explain that I wasn’t hungry, but it fell on deaf ears. I had more important things to do.

“You’re not? Well, that’s surprising. You always ask for those little meat appetizers, but not today?” she sounded disappointed.

“Well—”

“Come here, Boy!” She called out. A slave boy of about seventeen harvests appeared. He had been selected for her, because of his physique. Grandmother needed to be carried around sometimes because of her failing health.

“Bring that tray of roasted meat for me,” she ordered.

As he moved about to get the food, I watched him. He was expressionless, moving about almost in a mechanical manner. He placed the tray of roasted meat in front of us and left quickly. I immediately turned to Grandmother, feeling for the box under my wrapper.

“Eat, my child.” She was already munching on a juicy piece of roast meat. I hurriedly dropped a piece in my mouth and swallowed. “Grandmother…”

“Yes, my child.”

“I was wondering…have you ever come across something like this?” I laid the plain box on the mat between us. There was silence.

Grandmother stared at the object for a long time. “Amelia,” she finally said.

“Yes, Grandmother?” I noticed she hadn’t touched it.

“Where did you get this from?” she asked

“I found it.”

“On whose body?” she asked. Her dark eyes shot up, flashing in anger. I sighed in resignation.

“Kamlin,” I muttered.

Nodding, her eyes flashed as she patted the box. “This is a reading box. Kamlin is a sand reader.”

I gasped. “She can read sand? What exactly does that mean?” I asked, my heart racing faster.

“She can read people’s future using the sand,” Grandmother answered softly.

“Like Father’s? Can she tell he’s going to be the new King?” I asked excitedly.

Grandmother grabbed my lips and held them tight. “Amelia, you talk too much.” The quickness with which she had grabbed my lips gave me the impression her ill health was all pretense. She refused to let go.

I finally pulled free from her, holding my scarred lips. “Sorry, Grandmother.” I grabbed the box, ready to run. She held my wrist.

“No, you cannot take this back with you. If anyone sees it, you will be in a lot of trouble.”

“You will keep it for me?” I asked hopefully, happy to have a confidant.

“No, dear child, I will return it to the owner. I will tell her it was me that found it,” she said curtly.

I thanked her, getting up quickly to escape.

“Amelia?” She called to me.

I turned from the doorway to look at her.

“You’re not like most children your age…”

I nodded, stepping closer to her and knelt down. “You are hungry for knowledge. Just be careful how you go about acquiring it.”

“Thank you, Grandmother. Thank you,” I said, leaving with more questions in my mind than I had come with.

About Nike Campbell-Fatoki:

Nike Campbell-Fatoki was born in Lvov, Ukraine to Nigerian parents. She spent her formative years in Lagos, Nigeria, listening to stories and folktales told by her maternal Grandparents. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Howard University and a Master of Arts degree in International Development from American University, Washington, DC. Presently, she is a Budget and Finance Manager in the municipal government in the Washington DC area. She is an avid reader. She loves traveling, watching movies and listening to music. She is also the Founder of Eclectic Goodies, a party favors and gifts packaging company. She lives in the Washington DC area with her husband and three sons.

For more information please visit Nike’s website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ or follow the Facebook page for the book.

This giveaway is open to Canadian and U.S. residents and ends on October 10, 2013. The winner will have the choice of print or ebook. Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Buy Thread of Gold Beads:

Author Website: www.nikecfatoki.com
Amazon US:http://www.amazon.com/Thread-Gold-Beads-Nike-Campbell-Fatoki/dp/0988193205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375617256&sr=8-1&keywords=thread+of+gold+beads
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Thread-Gold-Beads-Nike-Campbell-Fatoki/dp/0988193205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353952597&sr=8-1
CreateSpace: https://www.createspace.com/3958444