Balogun Ojetade's Blog, page 10
December 17, 2015
The League of Extraordinary Black People Interviews: Black Caesar
“Hey what is taking so long?” yelled the head slaver. Hearing no response he walked out of the back door. As soon as he turned the corner, he was grabbed in a tight choke-hold. Coconut and three pirates held five of the slavers at gun point. Coconut pressed a knife to the neck of the head slaver, and walked him back to the dungeon door.
The other slavers turned to run out of the front doors and were met by Black Caesar and the rest of his pirates.
“You jungle…!” the slaver spat.
His words were cut short by a flintlock pistol ball in the head.
Black Caesar blew smoke out of the barrel of his pistol. “I have heard enough from white men outside of Africa; I will not hear them speak when I’m in my homeland!”
Who are you?
I be Black Caesar, an African War Chief, turned 18th-century pirate. For nearly a decade, I raided ships from the Florida Keys. I was one of the surviving members of Blackbeard’s crew following his death at the hands of Lieutenant Robert Maynard in 1718. Caesar’s Rock, one of three islands located north of Key Largo, is named in my honor and is the present-day site of his original headquarters. Alas, I’m retired now, though.
What is the quality you most like in a man?
A man should have immense size, immense, strength and immense intelligence.
Like you?
Exactly like me!
What is the quality you most like in a woman?
A woman should have immense…I’d better not say, children might read this! Seriously, a woman should possess as much intelligence as a man; as much heart, too. She should be able to hold her own in a fight, while remaining as sweet as honey, I say.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Africa is my greatest love. The Sea often competes with her for my attentions and Adventure is a fine mistress I visit from time-to-time.
What is your most treasured possession?
My freedom. After that, my ship.
What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
There is nothing lower than a man or woman deprived of their freedom; deprived of their culture, their gods and their land.
Who are your favorite writers?
I am partial to the scribe Jeff Carroll. He is writing my memoirs. There are many great writers. My favorites are all in the Rococoa anthology, a great book about my adventures.
Not just your adventures, there are 13 other heroes’ stories in the Rococoa anthology, too.
What?! Jeff Carroll told me different. I’ll have to pay him a visit after this interview.
What is your greatest regret?
That the Rococoa anthology isn’t all about me.
It is still a great anthology, though.
Aye. I have heard much about its magnificence.
What is your motto?
Be hearty, be hardy, rest hardly.
Check out Jeff Carroll’s story The Adventures of the Black Star in the Rococoa anthology. Available now!
December 16, 2015
The Rococoa Anthology!
Rococoa
14 Authors
0991407342
(paperback) $19.25
436 pages
Historical Fantasy
Published by Roaring Lions Productions
Distributed by Roaring Lions Productions
EDITED BY: Balogun Ojetade
Publisher: Roaring Lions Productions
chroniclesofharriet@gmail.com
“Author and Editor Balogun Ojetade (Steamfunk, The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman) brings us tales of Pirates, Patriots, Clockwork Creatures and bigger than life characters facing great ethical dilemmas in this fun and smoothly readable Fantasy anthology, set during the time of the American Revolutionary War, Nat Turner’s Revenge and the Haitian Revolution…Ojetade may well win a major SF award with this superior effort.”
A new anthology by 14 leading Speculative Fiction authors; edited by Balogun Ojetade
ROCOCOA
Where Sword and Soul ends and before Steamfunk begins, there is the Age of Spring Technology and Clockwork.
Imagine an alternate universe where chronomancer Benjamin Banneker crafts a world of automatons, clockwork airships and other marvels; where Nat Turner leads a rebellion, killing hordes of vampire slave owners; where the pirate queen, Black Pitch Pauline joins Jean-Jacques Dessalines in defeating Napoleon during the Haitian Revolution. Think Three Finger’d Jack; the pirate, Black Caesar; the Black Count, Nat Turner, and the Stono Rebellion…that is Rococoa!
Fourteen masters of speculative fiction have taken a new genre, embraced its established themes and refashioned them in surprising ways and settings. The result is an anthology that defies its genre even as it defines it.
The Authors and their Stories
Cane – Milton Davis
Sea-Walker – Carole McDonnell
Fool’s Errand – Gerald L. Gerald Coleman
Bloodline – D K Keith Gaston
An Omnibus Ride in Scarlet (Bonus Story by Surprise Author)
The Adventure of the Silver Skull – Deanna Baran
Fury – Zig Zag Clarence Young
Traveler’s Song: A Pulse Prelude – Kai Leakes
The Adventures of the Black Star – Jeff Carroll
The Bandit King and the Island Of Tears – Shawn A. Cosby
Seven Thieves – Emmalia Harrington
Mkono ya Mbao – Steven Workman
The Crafters’ Cove – D.L. Smith-Lee
March of the Black Brigade – Balogun Ojetade
Balogun Ojetade
Afrikan Martial Arts Master and Babalawo / Olorisa / Elegbe, Balogun is the author of the bestselling non-fiction books Afrikan Martial Arts: Discovering the Warrior Within The Afrikan Warriors Bible and The Young Afrikan Warriors’ Guide to Defeating Bullies & Trolls. He is screenwriter / producer / director of the films, A Single Link, Rite of Passage: Initiation and Rite of Passage: The Dentist of Westminster.
Balogun is one of the leading authorities on Steamfunk – a philosophy or style of writing that combines the African and / or African American culture and approach to life with that of the steampunk philosophy and / or steampunk fiction – and writes about it, the craft of writing, Sword & Soul and Steampunk in general, at http://chroniclesofharriet.com/.
He is author of ten novels – the Steamfunk bestsellers, MOSES: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman (Books 1 & 2) and The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia; the Urban Science Fiction saga, Redeemer; the Sword & Soul epic, Once Upon A Time In Afrika; a Fight Fiction, New Pulp novella, Fist of Afrika; the gritty, Urban Superhero series, A Single Link and Wrath of the Siafu; the two-fisted Dieselfunk tale, The Scythe, the “Choose-Your-Own-Destiny”-style Young Adult novel, The Keys and the Urban Fantasy epic, Redeemer: The Cross Chronicles. Balogun is also contributing co-editor of two anthologies: Ki: Khanga: The Anthology and Steamfunk and contributing editor of the Rococoa anthology.
Finally, Balogun is the Director and Fight Choreographer of the Steamfunk feature film, Rite of Passage, which he wrote based on the short story, Rite of Passage, by author Milton Davis and co-author of the award winning screenplay, Ngolo.
You can reach him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Afrikan.Martial.Arts; on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Baba_Balogun and on Tumblr at www.tumblr.com/blog/blackspeculativefiction.
The Rococoa Anthology Available NOW!
Where Sword and Soul ends and before Steamfunk begins, there is the Age of Spring Technology and Clockwork.
Imagine an alternate universe where chronomancer Benjamin Banneker crafts a world of automatons, clockwork airships and other marvels; where Nat Turner leads a rebellion, killing hordes of vampire slave owners; where the pirate queen, Black Pitch Pauline joins Jean-Jacques Dessalines in defeating Napoleon during the Haitian Revolution. Think Three Finger’d Jack; the pirate, Black Caesar; the Black Count, Nat Turner, and the Stono Rebellion…that is Rococoa!
Fourteen masters of speculative fiction have taken a new genre, embraced its established themes and refashioned them in surprising ways and settings. The result is an anthology that defies its genre even as it defines it.
The Rococoa anthology is available NOW in e-book and paperback formats, so spread the word!
Read, enjoy and review!
December 13, 2015
Cover reveal for the Rococoa Anthology!
Here is a sneak peek at the cover for the Rococoa anthology.
We’re almost there!
The masterful artwork is by Stanley Weaver. Enjoy!
December 10, 2015
Submissions are now open for BLACK POWER: The Superhero Anthology!
Stories of superheroes in film and comic books capture essential truths about human nature. We relate to – and identify with – the characters and themes in these stories; we empathize with the dilemmas and problems that superheroes face, and we admire – and often mimic – their heroic acts.
The definition of a hero is someone who rises above his or her fears and limitations to achieve something extraordinary. A hero embodies what we believe is best in ourselves.
The clearest difference between a hero and what we tend to consider a superhero is that superheroes possess fantastic powers, fight their battles with advanced technology, or possess uncanny beauty, bravery, skill, or luck.
No costume is necessary; but it is cool.
We – Black / Afrikan adults AND youth – need our stories told; and WE need to tell them. We need to read about and see ourselves as superheroes from OUR perspective. We need and want this.
We at Roaring Lions Productions are going to meet that need. Following the worldwide release of the Rococoa anthology in February, 2016, we will release Black Power: The Superhero Anthology in December, 2016!
What We Are Looking For
When it comes to superheroes, we think of sweeping themes that deal with the central issues of heroism and, of course, superpowers. We welcome authors to subvert these tropes, to expand upon what “superhero” means, and to mash-up the superhero tropes with the tropes of other genres under the Speculative Fiction umbrella.
We seek original stories with more depth than simple origin tales or superhero-versus-supervillain battles. Who are these people who have strange and wonderful powers and choose to use them to exact justice? What makes them tick?
We must emphasize that your characters should be original creations. We will not consider work utilizing licensed characters or knockoffs of licensed characters unless your story is clearly a parody or spoof.
Rules
The main character in your story must be Black / of Afrikan descent. The character can be from the continent of Afrika or anywhere in the Diaspora.
The characters can be of any age.
If your story is about a superhero team, the team members should be majority Black / Afrikan descent.
Length: 1500-10000 words. This is firm.
Payment: $25.00 per story.
Type of submissions accepted: Electronic only.
Reprints? No
Multiple Submissions? No
Simultaneous Submissions? Yes
Submissions close: June 30, 2016. This is firm, as each story will have original artwork attached and the artists need time to do the illustrations.
Response time after submission of story: 4 weeks or sooner.
Publication date: December, 2016.
Submission Requirements
Failure to follow these requirements pretty much guarantees your work will be rejected.
Email your submissions to blackscififantasy@gmail.com. Put in the subject line: Black Superhero. Give us a short summary of your story in the email body (no more than two or three sentences) and a short summary of who you are (previous publishing credits, etc.). Include your word count in the email.
Send in .doc, .docx, or .rtf formats only.
Your manuscript should follow standard formatting protocol. Times New Roman or Courier fonts only. Please ensure your story is free from typos, spelling and grammatical errors.
Good luck! We look forward to seeing what you have for us!
Submissions are now open for POWERS: The Black Superhero Anthology!
Stories of superheroes in film and comic books capture essential truths about human nature. We relate to – and identify with – the characters and themes in these stories; we empathize with the dilemmas and problems that superheroes face, and we admire – and often mimic – their heroic acts.
The definition of a hero is someone who rises above his or her fears and limitations to achieve something extraordinary. A hero embodies what we believe is best in ourselves.
The clearest difference between a hero and what we tend to consider a superhero is that superheroes possess fantastic powers, fight their battles with advanced technology, or possess uncanny beauty, bravery, skill, or luck.
No costume is necessary; but it is cool.
We – Black / Afrikan adults AND youth – need our stories told; and WE need to tell them. We need to read about and see ourselves as superheroes from OUR perspective. We need and want this.
We at Roaring Lions Productions are going to meet that need. Following the worldwide release of the Rococoa anthology in February, 2016, we will release Powers: The Black Superhero Anthology in December, 2016!
What We Are Looking For
When it comes to superheroes, we think of sweeping themes that deal with the central issues of heroism and, of course, superpowers. We welcome authors to subvert these tropes, to expand upon what “superhero” means, and to mash-up the superhero tropes with the tropes of other genres under the Speculative Fiction umbrella.
We seek original stories with more depth than simple origin tales or superhero-versus-supervillain battles. Who are these people who have strange and wonderful powers and choose to use them to exact justice? What makes them tick?
We must emphasize that your characters should be original creations. We will not consider work utilizing licensed characters or knockoffs of licensed characters unless your story is clearly a parody or spoof.
Rules
The main character in your story must be Black / of Afrikan descent. The character can be from the continent of Afrika or anywhere in the Diaspora.
The characters can be of any age.
If your story is about a superhero team, the team members should be majority Black / Afrikan descent.
Length: 1500-10000 words. This is firm.
Payment: $25.00 per story.
Type of submissions accepted: Electronic only.
Reprints? No
Multiple Submissions? No
Simultaneous Submissions? Yes
Submissions close: June 30, 2016. This is firm, as each story will have original artwork attached and the artists need time to do the illustrations.
Response time after submission of story: 4 weeks or sooner.
Publication date: December, 2016.
Submission Requirements
Failure to follow these requirements pretty much guarantees your work will be rejected.
Email your submissions to blackscififantasy@gmail.com. Put in the subject line: Black Superhero. Give us a short summary of your story in the email body (no more than two or three sentences) and a short summary of who you are (previous publishing credits, etc.). Include your word count in the email.
Send in .doc, .docx, or .rtf formats only.
Your manuscript should follow standard formatting protocol. Times New Roman or Courier fonts only. Please ensure your story is free from typos, spelling and grammatical errors.
Good luck! We look forward to seeing what you have for us!
December 9, 2015
THE ROAD TO SOBSFIC CON: Accommodations
Below are recommended hotels that are near the SOBSFic Con venue, convenient to public transportation and reasonably priced.
Please, make your reservations early, to ensure the hotels have room.
Howard Johnson Atlanta Near Six Flags
$43 / night
Budget option with an outdoor pool & fitness facilities, plus free WiFi & hot breakfast.
4330 Fulton Industrial Blvd SW, Atlanta, GA 30336
Red Roof Inn Atlanta-Six Flags
$55 / night
Homey rooms in a straightforward hotel offering free Wi-Fi & parking, plus a laundromat.
4430 Frederick Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30336
Sleep Inn at Six Flags
$64 / night
Relaxed lodging offering free Wi-Fi & breakfast, plus an indoor pool & a business center.
125 S Service Rd, Austell, GA 30168
Wingate by Wyndham Atlanta / Six Flags Austell
$71 / night
Relaxed lodging with free hot breakfast & WiFi, plus a seasonal outdoor pool.
65 S Service Rd, Austell, GA 30168
November 19, 2015
HISTORY IN SPECULATIVE FICTION
HISTORY IN SPECULATIVE FICTION
I use history as a source and creative tool in most of my writing. Real world history has heavily influenced my writing since elementary school, since –after English – History was my favorite subject. History has been used as a source of terror in my horror fiction, and speculative history is a major part of my science fiction settings.
Among all spheres of knowledge, History – as a device for storytelling – best rewards our research.
History is not the absolute that it is often treated as, however. From the perspective of the present, the past can not be known with great certainty. Thus, history tells stories of past events, and – like all stories – is told by someone for a purpose.
History can be used to enlighten, educate, entertain, inspire, and influence.
Two history types are very useful for writing fiction: Imaginative History is history that is wholly created. This is the history of most fantasy worlds.
The other type is Speculative History. This includes the “what if” of alternate history, as well as the projection of possible events into the future, which is the history of most science fiction settings.
Both types use historical analysis to generate a plausible set of events. This allows us, as writers, to tap into these created histories to add depth and life to our stories.
By far, the simplest technique is to take a bit of real world history and use it for inspiration. Alter a few things, combine fragments together, and you can create something with depth and character.
Rewriting History
Begin with a change point – a historical event that you want to alter. From there, you can move on, creating changes until you end at the point your story begins. There are two theories with regards to change points. On one hand you can choose a major event, such as Germany winning WWII, the African Slave Trade never happening, or Frederick Douglass becoming President. The other theory is to change one small event and write what happens as a result, such as President Obama choosing Hillary Clinton as his Vice President, or Martin Luther King avoiding assassination.
Whatever you decide to write, the next step is to show how and why the change in history occurred. For smaller changes, this is easier. The larger changes often require a summation of smaller changes, which result in the larger change. The earlier the change point, the greater the ‘snowball’ effect of changes. To be believable, you must do your research. Otherwise, you may make a mistake in some detail in setting or dialogue and readers who have done their research – a common phenomenon in science fiction and fantasy – are going to call you out on it. The readers’ suspension of disbelief will fade; they will close your book; and they will tell the world – via all the social media sites – how much your book sucks.
Although you do not need to be an expert, it helps to be well versed in history. I cannot stress enough that, if you are going to write speculative history, you must research…research…research!
Alternate Reality
You sit down to write a new story or novel. You want your story to be alternate history, with strong elements of fantasy and science fiction mixed. In fact, you want your story to be about Harriet Tubman. You want the world she operates in to be of the steampunk subgenre of science-fantasy and you want her – and others in her world – to possess “superpowers” (by the way, this has already been done – see the novels Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman and The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia). What you are now writing is Alternate Reality – you are going to have to change not just history, but reality itself.
This means adding magic, anachronistic science based on clockwork mechanics and steam technology, psionics, super powers and the like. As with the altering of history, this will cause cascading effects on the timeline that need to be addressed.
If magic is possible, what does that mean to history? How would aether-based physics effect the development of social and political structures? If people can read minds, what does that do to concepts of privacy? If you have people flying around and throwing horses over houses, what purpose does society put these powers to? These are questions intrinsic to certain genres, but they also apply to the alternate history that introducing changes in reality can bring.
One of the pitfalls of altering reality is that suspension of disbelief becomes an issue. The degree to which you convince the reader these things are possible depends – once again – on the degree of your research.
Some of you may say “Research isn’t necessary. After all, I am just writing fiction. A simple ‘it happens’ should suffice.” To that, I say that the reader is more sophisticated than you give them credit for. I also would say that fiction is not the art of just ‘making things up’. In fact, I envision fiction as a turkey drumstick: It is the bone of reality covered by the meat of creativity. Meaning, at the core of good fiction is reality and then you add layer after layer of creativity around that core.
In coming blogs, I will explore techniques to help you with your research and the use of sources beyond the internet, for – indeed – Wikipedia has become the ‘Cliff’s Notes’ (remember those annoying yellow and black books?) of the modern era: the information is often incorrect; it is the literary equivalent of secretly using a calculator on a math test; and everyone knows you used it.
More, later, on that, though.
Until next time – happy writing!
Dream-casting The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia
Set in Freedonia – author Milton Davis’ world, brought to life in the Steamfunk! anthology and fully realized in the Steamfunk novel, From Here to Timbuktu – Harriet Tubman and her friend and rival, “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, chase agents of the vengeful 
Alchemist out of their world and into another, in which Frederick Douglass and a quite different Harriet Tubman govern a country of former enslaved Africans that rivals – and often bests – the United States, England and France in power and technology.
Harriet must fight to stop a powerful alliance of British and American soldiers and the elite and fearsome Hwarang warriors of Joseon (“Korea”) from invading Freedonia. But a wicked force from Harriet’s world has come to destroy Freedonia and all it stands for. Will Harriet and her allies be able to stand against it?
This is the premise of my latest novel, The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia, the final installment in the Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman epic adventure.
I was recently asked to consider developing the Chronicles of Harriet epic Steamfunk series into a feature film franchise. That initiated my dream-casting of the latest book. I would like to share it with you here.
Harriet Tubman: Erika Alexander
Freedom fighter. Psychic. Soldier. Spy. Something…more. Much more.
Harriet possesses fearsome skills and extraordinary powers – “brushed by the hand of God” she calls it – that she uses to combat her enemies and the enemies of her beloved friend and teacher, Baas Bello.
When Baas Bello falls into trouble that can cost his life, Harriet travels to another reality to save him.
“Stagecoach” Mary Fields aka “Black Mary”: Aisha Tyler
Whiskey drinking, cigar smoking, anti-hero with enhanced senses, a hide as tough as granite and strength beyond nearly any beast or man, Mary Fields once had a standing bet at her local saloon: Five bucks and a glass of whiskey said she could knock out any cowboy – or cow – in Cascade, Montana with a single punch.
After the second bull and the third fool tried to take her up on it, nobody ever had the nerve to do it again.
Black Mary – who joined Harriet in Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman in her fight against the Alchemist, Edwin Stanton, the Ghul King, Caleb Butler and other natural and supernatural enemies – joins forces with her again in The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia.
Caleb Butler: Chris Wood
The Ghul King; he is a crazed cowboy with the power to infect humans, turning them into flesh-eating, form-bending ghuls.
Caleb is bent on infecting the world’s populace and turning them into servants in his ghul kingdom.
George Washington Carver: Samuel L. Jackson
The most intelligent and inventive mind in the Freedonia reality. From his laboratories at Tuskegee Institute, Dr. Carver designs and builds the weapons, vehicles and other creations that have helped to make Freedonia one of the wealthiest, powerful and technologically advanced nations in the world.
John Brown: Andrew Lincoln
A man obsessed with creating a utopia in which Black people are free, fearless and under his rule. John Brown feels Harriet Tubman betrayed him when she did not show at Harper’s Ferry and he loathes her for that.
Baas Bello: Idris Elba
The most intelligent and inventive mind in Harriet’s reality. Baas is an immortal and a super-genius who is skilled in most known arts and sciences as well as several African spiritual and magical traditions.
Harriet’s long-time teacher, friend and lover.
Frederick Douglass: Morgan Freeman
President of Freedonia. Along with Vice President Harriet Tubman, he led Freedonia to victory over the United States of America during the Reunion War.
The Alchemist / Professor Kleinhopper: Chiwetel Ejiofor
The Alchemist, genius engineer and showman was once a student of Baas Bello. His greed led him to betray Baas and as payback, Baas crippled him permanently, leaving him a quadriplegic.
The Alchemist wants Baas Bello dead and will pay any price to bring about his demise.
Colonel Kim: Lee Byung-hun
Colonel Kim Kang-min (“Kim” is his surname) is leader of the elite Joseon warriors, the Hwarang and commander of a mighty Geobukseon, or ‘turtle ship’, a heavily armored, submersible warship.
Colonel Kim is a master seaman, martial artist and swordsman.
Connor: Rob Terry
Colin: Rob Terry
Colin and Connor are identical twins from Whitechapel, a district in the East End of London, England, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
These hulking twins are bouncers in a brothel until Caleb turns them and then employs them as his personal security.
There you have it! My choices for the big budget summer Blockbuster, The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman. Who would your choices for each starring role be?
Unfamiliar with the characters? Then, what are you waiting for? Order your copies of Moses: The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman and The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia and immerse yourself in some great Steamfunk for a while.
You can thank me later.
November 18, 2015
The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia available NOW!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Balogun Ojetade
Email: chroniclesofharriet@gmail.com
http://www.roaringlionsproductions.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
THE CHRONICLES OF HARRIET TUBMAN: FREEDONIA AVAILABLE NOW!
Set in Freedonia – author Milton Davis’ world, brought to life in the Steamfunk! anthology and fully realized in the Steamfunk novel, From Here to Timbuktu – Harriet Tubman and her friend and rival, “Stagecoach” Mary Fields, 
chase agents of the vengeful Alchemist out of their world and into another, in which Frederick Douglass and a quite different Harriet Tubman govern a country of former enslaved Africans that rivals – and often bests – the United States, England and France in power and technology.
Harriet must fight to stop a powerful alliance of British and American soldiers and the elite and fearsome Hwarang warriors of Joseon (“Korea”) from invading Freedonia. But a wicked force from Harriet’s world has come to destroy Freedonia and all it stands for. Will Harriet and her allies be able to stand against it?
Get ready for a wild ride with this Steamfunk adventure, the final chapter in the Chronicles of Harriet Tubman epic series.
The Chronicles of Harriet Tubman: Freedonia is available NOW in print and e-book formats.
