Trending
Ber Anena's Avatar

Ber Anena

@beranena

THE LIES WE TELL FOR AMERICA, a memoir, out on Nov 10, 2026 from Flatiron Books. PhD student @ University of Nebraska-Lincoln ll Author of A Nation in Labour πŸ“š ll Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa πŸ†

72
Followers
37
Following
67
Posts
15.11.2024
Joined
Posts Following

Latest posts by Ber Anena @beranena

Post image

The Weganda Review is looking for creative nonfiction for our next issue. We publish essays on any topic highlighting Ugandans and Africans all over the world. If you have a solid essay, send it to us and we’ll consider publishing it. We pay. Check our website for #guidelines & how to submit.

12.03.2026 15:37 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1

Special gratitude to the women friends & sisters who have held me up when life took me to another corner of the world; the ones who make me believe that friendship, sisterhood & connection can survive anything if we want them to. I see you, I appreciate you & wish you boundless joy & fulfillment.

08.03.2026 22:14 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Happy Women’s Day, daughters of the universe, for all you do to sustain life through every means imaginable. May the world be gentle with you, acknowledge and reward your every sweat.

08.03.2026 22:14 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

COVER REVEAL!!
I still can’t believe this memoir is almost here.
Out on November 10, 2026.
You can now #preorder at the link below:

us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Huge gratitude to my publisher, Flatiron Books and Macmillan.

17.02.2026 21:54 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

GOOD AND MAD by Rebecca Traister on women’s anger (in the US). I loved that the author provided historical contexts of anger, what role anger plays in securing and undoing women’s positions in politics, who gets applauded and punished for being angry, and more. A necessary read.

01.02.2026 18:31 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

THE EDGE OF WATER by Olufunke Grace Bankole. A protagonist’s dream for America, a prophecy that spells doom if she leaves home, a deadly storm & a family bond at stake. Beautifully rendered. It made me think of the reward society bestows on abusive men & the cascading impact of violent acts.

01.02.2026 18:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

What I #read in #Jan2026 #Booksky

ONE DAY EVERYONE WILL HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AGAINST THIS by Omar El Akkad. Beautifully written, powerful and intelligent reflection on the war in Gaza and all the attendant issues β€” who gets to be human, geopolitics, what language can do & more.

01.02.2026 18:26 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Giving Tuesday - Hope for Haiti As one of the most trusted organizations working to reduce poverty in southern Haiti, Hope for Haiti is focused on providing support and partnership to the Haitian people every single day.

You will receive a lot of entreaties today, all of them worthy. I just want to bring your attention to Hope for Haiti, which does amazing work. My dad is on the board and one of the best things about HfH is that in the ground it is run by Haitians hopeforhaiti.com/givingtuesday/

02.12.2025 16:12 πŸ‘ 274 πŸ” 78 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

3. DEATH DOES NOT END AT THE SEA by Gbenga Adesina. I’m so glad this poetry collection exists. So much depth and beauty in the language, stories and craft. Such a gift!

02.12.2025 22:49 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

2. HANDS IN CLAY by Mildred Kiconco Barya. It’s been a while since I read a poem or poetry collection that made me laugh. There’s humor here, and heartbreak too, fantastical worlds and real ones too. As a fellow Ugandan, I resonated with the country-specific poems. Exciting!

02.12.2025 22:49 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

#Read in #October & #November

1. THE LION WOMEN OF TEHRAN by Marjan Kamali. A story of friendship, immigration, social class, and how women navigate cultural and political hurdles. A deeply moving novel. Thanks for recommending it, @tryphenayeboah

02.12.2025 22:49 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Cover image of the Fall 2024 issue of the Schooner, featuring a photograph of a hallway lined with autumn leaves. Text above and below the cover reads "New Issue."

Cover image of the Fall 2024 issue of the Schooner, featuring a photograph of a hallway lined with autumn leaves. Text above and below the cover reads "New Issue."

Volume 98
Number 3
Contributors

Brenda CΓ‘rdenas
Nina C. PelΓ‘ez
Bruce Parker
Clare Rossini
Natalie Scenters-Zapico 
Amy Nolan
John Kinsella
Dana Fang
Hajjar Baban
Page Hill Starzinger
iheoma uzomba 
Preeti Vangani
Amber Flora Thomas 
Urvi Kumbhat
Kyoko Uchida 
James Scruton
Glen Vecchione
ire'ne lara silva
Sonja Livingston 
Matthew Daddona
Tsahai Makeda 
Laura Wetherington
Michael Loyd Gray 
Michael Imossan
Emily M. Green
Rachel Neve-Midbar
Lena Khalaf Tuffaha 
Daniel Millar
Kat Finch
Swati Rana
Divya Mehrish
Gabriel Houck
Katie Hartsock
Marcia Lynx Qualey
Catalina Ocampo LondoΓ±o

Volume 98 Number 3 Contributors Brenda CΓ‘rdenas Nina C. PelΓ‘ez Bruce Parker Clare Rossini Natalie Scenters-Zapico Amy Nolan John Kinsella Dana Fang Hajjar Baban Page Hill Starzinger iheoma uzomba Preeti Vangani Amber Flora Thomas Urvi Kumbhat Kyoko Uchida James Scruton Glen Vecchione ire'ne lara silva Sonja Livingston Matthew Daddona Tsahai Makeda Laura Wetherington Michael Loyd Gray Michael Imossan Emily M. Green Rachel Neve-Midbar Lena Khalaf Tuffaha Daniel Millar Kat Finch Swati Rana Divya Mehrish Gabriel Houck Katie Hartsock Marcia Lynx Qualey Catalina Ocampo LondoΓ±o

Our latest issue is now available for purchase! Featuring work by @bcar.bsky.social, @lenakt.bsky.social, @ninacpelaez.bsky.social, @pagestar.bsky.social, @preetivangani.bsky.social, @michaelimossan.bsky.social, and more.

Order the issue here: prairieschooner.unl.edu/issue/fall-2...

01.08.2025 15:16 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 2

THE MOTHER OF ALL QUESTIONS by Rebecca Solnit. Always a big fun of Solnit’s mind! Totally enjoyed this one.

01.08.2025 00:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

WOMB CITY by @tlotlotsamaase. I’ve never come across a novel with such brilliant, creative world building! Gosh! And she’s my friend πŸ˜‰

SPEAK TO ME OF HOME by Jeanine Cummins. I struggled with this one but glad l finished it. As someone who writes about home, l appreciated that overarching theme.

01.08.2025 00:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

What l #read in #July
1. THEY CAN’T KILL US UNTIL THEY KILL US by Hanif Abdurrakib. A master of words. Brilliant thinker. The poet in him shines through the prose. I love music and the way he writes about music and performance is just…breathtaking.

01.08.2025 00:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image Post image

What l #read in #July

#BookSky

01.08.2025 00:09 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

❀️❀️

12.07.2025 14:51 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Beautiful poems! I love the conceit of the kidney tree and how you connect it to your father. So brilliantly done

11.07.2025 21:03 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The Kidney Tree & Other Poems - Arao Ameny | Lolwe Three poems by Arao Ameny

It’s July 11 β€” my birthday.

Happy to announce that my poems are published in Lolwe Issue 11 alongside Loic Ekinga (DR Congo), Frank Njugi (Kenya), Susan Goffe (Jamaica), David Emeka (Nigeria) & Amanda Nechesa (Kenya).

Many thanks to editor Nadia Bongo (Gabon) for her guidance.

bit.ly/KidneyTree

11.07.2025 11:59 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

Brunel University of London is hosting a series of writing workshops and publishing webinars for aspiring writers.

Sign up for the free online workshops here: bit.ly/4evXE6M

06.07.2025 05:40 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Book Review: β€˜King of Ashes,’ by S.A. Cosby In S.A. Cosby’s new book, β€œKing of Ashes,” an investment banker returns home to protect his family from a local gang.

"A gripping roller coaster ride of escalating danger"

King of Ashes is on sale now!! πŸ”₯

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/10/b...

11.06.2025 12:51 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

BEHOLD THE DREAMERS by lmbolo Mbue. Loved the storytelling here. Lots of relevance for this novel today.

AFTERLIVES by Abdulrazak Gurnah. Loved this one for its world building, vivid characters and moving portrayal of Tanzania

31.05.2025 18:59 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Post image Post image

What l #read in #May

ON EARTH WE’RE BRIEFLY GORGEOUS by Ocean Vuong. Started reading his new novel but put it aside to try this one and Gosh was l moved! I’ve never read a book with such beautiful language. β€œSometimes being offered tenderness feels like the very proof that you’ve been ruined.”

31.05.2025 18:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

One of the books l read as a child was by Ngugi wa Thiong’o. He was among the authors who stirred my love for writing. I’m sad to hear of his passing today. What a loss to the world and to literature. May God receive him with mercy.

Photo: UCI Podcast

28.05.2025 19:48 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Aww! It’s a sob inducer for sure

08.05.2025 15:18 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

You’re very welcome πŸ₯°

08.05.2025 15:17 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

6/6: GIOVANNI’s ROOM by James Baldwin. I love Baldwin’s mind, and his intellect is quite visible in this novel. He doesn’t try to impress because he doesn’t need to. Totally enjoyed this one.

02.05.2025 00:28 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

5/6: THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING by Joan Didion. She’s an expert in interiority. How she intellectualizes her storytelling, even one about the death of loved ones, elevates the nonfiction genre in a great great way.

02.05.2025 00:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

4/6: THE NAMESAKE by Jhumpa Lahiri. Had only read her short stories. This novel reinforces Lahiri’s great great storytelling. So much world-building. So much details! So much immersion! This is one to reread.

02.05.2025 00:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Post image

3/6: PHASES by Tramaine Suubi! I loved the idea of exploring various emotions and experiences while anchoring them to the phases of the moon. Brilliant poems!

02.05.2025 00:25 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0