Umm…yeah, I’m sure it’s no secret anymore that I was born in San Francisco, in August of 1995. That should make me like what…? Yep, 13 years old as of 2008 when I featured in the novel, FEDDIE GIRL.
Being from California and all, you all would think that I’m all flashy, bitchy, snooty and bratty, right? Well, you’re right… Okay, no, I used to be like a total bitch before I went to school in Nigeria. I had like a ‘don’t mess with me’ attitude which got totally worse when my parents bundled us all to Oklahoma. But that was then — I’m totally mellowed-out and cool now, something I learned from my boarding school experiences (more on that later!).
Anyways, back to me. Just so you know what I look like beyond what is visible from my profile pix, I am like 5′4″ tall and weigh about 105 pounds! Okay, I lied, it’s actually more like 105.57 pounds but who cares about what comes after the dot? Lol! So, I totally have like, blue eyes and long wavy brown hair (got me in a lotta trouble too! You’ll see! Lol!)
My mom is from Los Angeles, while my dad is from both Georgia, USA and Anambra State, Nigeria. You ask, “Where on earth is that?” Lol! I asked the same question myself last year. But I’ll let you find out by yourself. One hint though — West Africa!!!
Okay, so my dad’s a half-breed! Cool, huh? Well that makes me a three-quarter breed, even though you can’t tell by just looking at me. People tell me I look totally like my mom, which is good — I guess! Actually, it’s rockin’!!!
So why did I get parceled-off to boarding school in Africa? Well to tell you that, I gotta start at the very beginning. You see, you’ve got to understand a few things about my parents to be able to grasp why they would do a thing like that. Not that I’m blaming them for what they did — I’m just sayin’.
So in answer to your question of, ‘Why Nigeria for goddsakes?” I will begin my next post by telling you all about my parents… Lol! It’s such juicy gossip too!
Oh, and did I tell you my Dad is tall and handsome and a medical doctor? No? I didn’t? Sorry! My bad.
And yes, my mom is an English Professor at a local University in Oklahoma and she’s the type that likes to dot her i’s and cross her t’s. You know, the type of mom that corrects your sentences and makes you repeat them after her! Hahahaha… Now you know why I never wanna have parties at home! Lol!
If you’ve stuck with me so far, you may wanna stick around for the upcoming gist!
Just watch out… I’ll be revealing the story of my parents next! And soon!!!
Stuff`s`? When did stuff acquire the ability to become pluralised? Odd, for someone born in `Frisco. Oh well, perhaps its the Nigerian schooling. Then again, if you have been `contaminated` by Nigerian schooling, how come you describe your father as a half-breed? Nigerians would say, `half-caste`, or more rarely, `mulatto`. But half-breed? Ah don't think so!
Also, me dear, if you are going to try to pass yourself off as `Nigerian` pay closer attention to our spelling habits. We would type, `jist`, not `gist`!
Thanks for noticing and pointing that out. Lol! Actually, you are right! You're like the third person out of many that has asked this same question, and I'm glad you did, cos it gives me a chance to explain more about what's going on here.
You see, the major character is thirteen, and like many American teenagers, she is in the rebellious stage. Her using unfamiliar words like 'stuffs', is just her way of getting back on her mom who is an English Professor and a stickler for 'correct English'. It becomes more evident when you read the actual novel. ('Stuffs' is actually a lingo being used as part of the techno and marketing portfolio directed at young adults).
Her use of the term, 'Half-breed' to describe her dad's origin, signifies her the 'snarky teenage-American attitude' she adopts when it comes to her parents (the term 'half-breed' or 'half-caste' is regarded as derogatory, much like African-Americans being called 'ak*ta').
Many 'anti-political Americans' refer to president Obama as a 'half-breed'. That drives the point across, doesn't it?
Carlotta has lived eleven years in San Francisco, one year in Oklahoma, and another year in Nigeria. She has picked-up a lot of new words, slangs, habits, etc from all three places.
All her words, mannerisms, and attitude combine to make her the unique person that she is and set her apart from the other characters in the book.
She is not being passed-off as any group of people. She is just who she is: her own person.
__________________ ******************* Author of FEDDIE GIRL, the sizzling international adventure/thriller set in a Nigerian Boarding School.
Thanks for noticing and pointing that out. Lol! Actually, you are right! You're like the third person out of many that has asked this same question...
You are a story-teller. You've got to `sell` us the characters in your story. Even if what's-her-face would really use those terms in real life, the point is, as a master (`mistress`?) story-teller, it is up to you to decide which speech patterns tangentially belonging to your character you are going to publicise. EVEN IN REAL LIFE, surely you have occasionally met people who've left you scratching your head? People you wouldn't trust with a dead rat, never mind your bank details? By presenting me with a character whose motivation is occult, to say the least, and natively comprehensible to only a select few in her milieu, you are *not* helping me to find the character believable!
Okay, you have given me the privilege of discussing the material with the author, but how many of your readers are going to have the same opportunity? If you need to explicate your characters outside of your work, I hope you will agree with me that you haven't quite done your job as an author.
Stuffs you wanna know... 
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