A Writer's Genocide Research Reflections

I researched the topic of my novels, Sojourner's Dream and Lamentation of a Warrior, for years before, during, and after writing these novels. As a part of my research, I read many books, journals, newspaper articles, and more than a hundred news information website articles on the subject of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide, and the Rwandan history that preceded the genocide. Also, I watched many historical documentaries on this topic, and I interviewed a Rwandan person who lost his family in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.

Hence, I accumulated some boxes and disks filled with the research materials on this topic. Within these books, boxes, and disks is more than a decade of researched information which I've read. It often provided inspiration for some of the most poignant scenes of both of my novels. If you're a writer, or a storyteller, you'll, at some point, need to do research on your topic.

When researching, you may also need to explore into the depths of your topic. So, since the core of my topic was genocide, I also did some research into other genocides in various time periods and parts of the world, for example The Holocaust, the Khmer Rouge, the Nanking Massacre, and even the Saint Bartholomew's Day Massacre.

I'm passionate about history, so I was able to pursue researching this topic with great interest. When researching a topic in depth, it is best to have a strong interest in it. So, this worked in my favor. Though much of what I read during my research on this specific subject was profoundly heartbreaking, and often left me speechless with horror, I learned a great deal about it.

In the mist of the deep sorrow of the topic, there were moments of beauty and insight. For example, there are normally at least a few extraordinarily kind people who risk their lives to help others. The physical beauty of the geography of Rwanda is remarkable, and showed that in even in this midst of such a lovely natural setting, extreme terror can erupt.  Finally, the history of Rwanda, as it relates to other historical topics of African history during the colonial period, provided me with insightful reading.

By Angeline Bandon-Bibum, Author

Fulfilling the Dream of Becoming a Writer

    As a wife and working mother of three, a son and two daughters, I know what it is like to put a dream on hold and devote oneself entirely to the care of family.  I suppose it's what most of us parents do at one time or another.

    Growing up, I knew that I wanted to be a writer. In college, I choose a liberal arts major, English literature, for that same purpose, to be a writer. Yet, when I graduated from college, and entered graduate school, I chose Public Administration as my graduate course of study, a subject that I was not passionate about. I chose it because I thought it would be a more practical course of study.

    I married my college sweetheart, and we had three children.  I entered the IT field a few days before the Y2K scare. Hence, I seemed to be moving even farther away from my creative writing aspiration.

    I was happy to put my husband and children first. Still, I always thought about my dream of being a writer. So, in 2002, I took my first steps towards writing a novel. It was not easy with my schedule. Yet, it was fun, so I found a way. Through the grace of God, it happened. I completed my first novel, Sojourner's Dream, in 2006.

    My second book, Lamentation of a Warrior, took one year, however. I had compiled information, tools, and methods which greatly shortened the time it took to write my second novel.

    I would like to share what I've learned with aspiring writers who want to contribute to the world in a positive way through their writing. It is for that reason that I developed Journey to Writer, an eCourse. Here is more information about it:

 

Journey to Writer

A 7-Week Writing Webinar/Teleseminar

When: October 11, 2014 to November 22, 2014; Saturdays from 1pm to 2pm

Cost: $297

     It's a step by step plan for you to place pen to paper, finger to keyboard, and share your book with the world. In seven weeks, you'll have obtained the foundational tools and information you need to:

• Gain the confidence to write your book for the world to see.
• Take action on your dreams of being an author or writer.
• Be the author signing books at your own book signings.
• Have the basic tools to create the book.

***And, this is all from the comfort of your home office, or sofa.

If you are an aspiring writer, you don't have to let your dream wait, or die. You can be a writer, if you're willing to put in the time and effort.  Try Journey to Writer.