Author Empi Baryeh's Blog

I've done a lot of promos and spotlight posting lately, but today, I'm returning to posting something non-promotional. Book covers. It is said often enough. Don't judge a book by its cover. As an author and a reader, though, I've learnt that books are judged by their covers on a daily basis. This post is not about bad or ugly covers, though. Nope. It's about the model on the cover. I experienced my first 'culture shock' as a writer in July 2018 when I participated in the AfricaWrites Book Festival. I had my books Chancing Faith, an interracial romance, and Forest Girl, a contemporary African romance. While I sold a few copies of Forest Girl, I didn't sell a single copy of Chancing Faith. Among the reasons readers gave for not selecting Chancing Faith was that it had a White guy on the cover. Wow! I can't say how many ways that stung, because it wasn't about the story on the inside or even the blurb at the back. In fact, one thing I was de...

I've always wanted to be able to share a what's-coming-up post, and now I find myself in a position to do so. As some of you know, I took a break from writing to start a family in 2012. If you read my post on, 10 Things I Didn't Know About Motherhood , you'd know that I discovered how much time and energy a husband and two kids take. However, in 2017, I finally managed to find a routine that allows me to write regularly, and I finally got my two WIPs completed and another project started. Here's what's happening with me and what to expect over the next 6 or so months: April - June A Princess Story announcement (multi-author series):  My friends Kiru Taye and Nana Prah  persuaded me to join them in writing a 3-book royal series, and we'll be having our official title announcement and cover reveal on 18 April! The series is set to be released in May 2018 . Forest Girl : This was supposed to be my next release until the release date for ...

Hi folks! Happy 4th of April. Today, I'm taking part in a special cover reveal. Keeping Secrets by the fabulous Kiru Taye is coming out on 12th May, 2014, and I am helping her celebrate her brand spanking new cover! *drawing curtains* Tadaaa! Keeping Secrets By Kiru Taye Series: The Essien Trilogy, Book 1 Genre: Contemporary Romance, Multicultural Length: Full length novel Release date: May 12, 2014 The Essien Trilogy - Series Blurb Secrets, Scandals, and Seduction under the African skies. The Essiens are the kings of African finance. A close-knit family, their father is the patriarch of a finance dynasty that ranges from retail to investment banking spanning the African continent. Yet all is not as it seems as the three brothers—Felix, Mark and Tony—soon discover when their family is rocked by secrets and scandals. Blood ties or not, family is family. If you like your book boyfriends to be tall, dark and handsome billionaires, then say hello to the Essien b...