How Ify Iroakazi, an African student, defied odds and self-published his fantasy novel ‘Flames’

The price of Ify Irokazi thrilling new fantasy novel is about 15 dollars excluding shipping, a cost that makes it unobtainable for many Nigerians, including the author himself, who is at present a student at the University of Nsukka.

The story about how the book was published is therefore the story of two people meeting in a Facebook writing group, Michael Henrik Wynn (born 1973), the idealist editor of the literary blog and net-radio Historyradio.org and Ify Iroakazi, at that time a talented manual laborer in central Nigeria with literary aspirations. It was a process spanning almost a whole year, exposing many hurdles that self-publishers in the West do not face.

There were all sorts of strange problems connected to payment. In Nigeria, there are a lot of people who live a sort of semi-official existence. They either do not have identification papers, or they simply have local papers. Only those registered in the national registries have access to full banking services. Payment from Amazon to Ify Iroakazi therefore had to be secured through one of his older relatives who had an account where dollar deposits were allowed. You cannot deposit dollars into any account in Nigeria.

The book cover:

The book itself is 410 pages of action, court intrigues, magic and mighty armies on the move. Ify Iroakazi relocates the fantasy genre from the cold reality of medieval Europe to the stifling heat of the lush jungles and the wide African savannas.

The blurb reads:

“Drez, the Royal Sorcerer, has sworn to give King Bonimus a taste of his majesty’s own medicine. The bitter pills of deceit, betrayal, and ruthlessness. Bum, the seat of Bonimus’ empire, must fall. And the entire household of the evil despot would follow Bonimus to the funeral pyre, if Drez has his way. The king has stepped on too many toes. Not even the gods have been spared. To stop Bonimus’ next plan – to destroy the city of Shasha – the spirit Maspiano is even returning to the land of the living. What follows is a story of court intrigue, of war and of boundless revenge. As always, things never go as expected.”

You can read an excerpt from the book at Amazon by making a search for “Flames by Ify Iroakazi”.

Or enter this in your browser: https://www.amazon.com/Flames-Ify-Iroakazi-ebook/dp/B08JKZZMYB

Additional information:

Ify Iroakazi is an African writer from the eastern part of Nigeria. He is interested in African history and thought, and their potential influence on fantasy literature. Ify currently studies theater and film at The University of Nigeria (UNN). Email: ifeanyiiroakazi@gmail.com

Historyradio.org is the non-profit brainchild of former Norwegian English and history high school teacher turned academic translator. Michael Henrik Wynn started the net radio stream over 3 years ago, and it now broadcast old time radio drama, audiobooks and documentaries relating to history and literature 24/7.

About historyradio.org

historyradio.org net radio is present on most major streaming apps online. The channel features old time radio and other public domain educational material: radioplays, readings, discussions and documentaries relating to literature and history.