How to navigate the world of indie publishing
Masterclass
Friday, 8th May
02:00 pm – 04:00 pm
Yaaay! You had an idea. Your manuscript is almost done (even if only in your head). You know it’s the next best thing after ugali and nyama choma…But now comes the real question: how do you get your first reader? And then the next…and then, of course, the awards. In this workshop, Ciku Kimeria will take you behind the scenes of indie publishing—what it actually takes to move from manuscript to a book that lives in the world. The session will cover the practical steps (editing, cover design, distribution, pricing), alongside the less talked-about work: building an audience, shaping your voice, and staying consistent. This is a working session for writers ready to publish, sell, and own their stories on their own terms.
Ciku Kimeria is an author, journalist, communication and strategy specialist, adventurer and travel writer. She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She is an Opinion Columnist at Bloomberg. Prior to that she was a longtime contributor and Editor at Quartz Africa, and authored almost 70 articles for the site. She is the author of two mystery novels (Dance of the Monkeys and Of goats and poisoned oranges), and has written for a variety of outlets, including African Arguments, OkayAfrica, and The Africa Report. She has a wealth of communication and project management experience, having worked for and served as a communication advisor to Dalberg Advisors, The Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center, Society Initiative of West Africa, and The Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund. Previously she served as the Africa Communication Manager at Dalberg after years of working as a strategy consultant. She has traveled to 60 countries, half of them in Africa. She has a bachelor of science degree in management from MIT and speaks English, Swahili, and French.