I just published my first novel!

It's been ten years in the making. Lots of writing, rewriting, revisions, rejections. And finally, it is finished!

To order, go to

Createspace

or search 'Oluchi Ugwu' on Amazon

Read of the Week - The Forgotten Heroes of the Ebola Crisis

Alexander Kaine was one of the young Liberian men who helped cremate bodies during the Ebola epidemic (photo credit: New York Times)

Hi everyone, 

Happy new year! I feel excited writing my first post for 2016. 

This week's read is a very touching story about former ebola workers in Liberia who are now outcasts in their communities, due to the nature of the job they performed in eradicating ebola. Won't give away too much. Hope you enjoy the read from the New York Times.

My Eureka Moment

Google images

This morning I had an Aha! moment. 

I was behind the wheel, thoughts swivelling through my head.

Then, it hit me: the true meaning of success. 

This is no exaggeration: I felt like doing an Archimedes - bounding down the street (fully clothed of course) shrieking "Eureka! Eureka! I have found it!"  

Why I will never stop writing

Sometimes I ask myself, if I could rewrite my history, would I choose to be a writer again?

Read of the Week - The Ugly side of Professional Football

American football players (Google images)

This week's pick is a more poignant read. To the outside world, football or American football players are the definition of masculine strength, athleticism and success. Behind the scenes, players can pay a hefty price with their bodies, health and even their lives. The New York Times account of Patrick Risha's time on and off the field provides a riveting read.

*Thanks to reader Oby Ijeh for pitching a read for the week. That's another read in the pipeline! All suggestions on a 'read of the week' are highly welcome...and don't forget to post your comments (smiley emoji)*

 Happy reading!

Men have Rights too

Fathers 4 Justice campaigners (Google images)

"It is not only women that are oppressed, men are oppressed too; they just don't moan about it"

I took a mental pause when my brother said this. "Really?"

"Yeah!"

All at once, my Dad and brothers started talking: Men do not get to enjoy exclusive perks and privileges that women take for granted; the burden of expectation on men can also be crushing...as the list gathered pace and snowballed into a full-blown rant , I could only sit back and listen. 

Read of the Week - The Evil Genius named Robert Clive

Robert Clive

We kick off our new series "Read of the Week" with an article from The Guardian, UK. This week's extensively-long read, delves into the unsavoury history of the East India Country - led by the sociopath, Robert Clive - and their unfettered looting and conquest of the Indian subcontinent.

Happy reading!

A New Series begins on Fresh Angle!

It's March already! But still, I must start by saying HAPPY NEW YEAR. Hope your year has been an exciting one so far.

Mine has been very fascinating. Working on a number of projects which I'm excited about. Unfortunately, my shifting priorities place Fresh Angle on the backburner once again.

But, I had an idea, brainwave, Eureka moment (if you like) while reading an article today.  I've decided to start a new weekly series titled "Read of the Week". 

It will simply be a fascinating, insightful, thought-provoking article on any topic culled from a reputable news outlet. Your thoughts, comments and analysis will be HIGHLY welcome.

Also, I'll be counting on you to recommend articles that you think would make a good "Read of the Week".

So, off to post the very first "Read of the Week"

Look forward to reading your comments. 

New Year Resolutions ARE a Waste of Time

Photo credit: Google

Seriously, before you begin the pointless exercise of writing 151 things that you're going to achieve in 2015, you better save yourself the ink and paper. 

If you want to Succeed, See yourself as a Commodity!

Photo credit: Google

I've known my friend M.J for a year now, but it's only recently that I've begun to notice peculiar things about him. He's very intelligent, knowledgeable, and has a photographic memory.  I told him he's like an iceberg, taciturn and reserved on the outside, while hiding a wealth of great qualities below the surface.

Purgatory is here on Earth

Photo credit: Google

 It sounds incredulous even as I type away, but I visited a zoo for the very first time...well, it will be gross dishonesty not to mention that I have some childhood 'zoo visit' photos. But that's all they are: photos. They left no deposits in my memory.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. The idea of visiting the zoo presented itself when my friend and I were 'brainstorming' things to do on one of those humdrum weekends. I'd been wanting to visit the zoo for the longest time, but suddenly it was no longer a flippant, easy-to-make decision. You see, I had watched the documentary 'Blackfish', so zoos, aquariums etc. no longer registered as entertainment sites in my head. They now translated to 'animals in captivity'.

It's Difficult to Define "Me"

Photo credit: Google

 If you've ever strayed outside the borders of your birthplace, chances are, your identity has morphed into a fluid concept that you're not fully aware of.

Eight Ways to Blow Your Boss' Mind

Travel Pictures that will Melt your Heart

Elegant photo of macaques in Japan

A strange encounter in the Museum

Native Congolese 'medicine' man

 
It was an intensely bright and sunny afternoon in New York City. Perfect weather for a tourist.  And perfect timing for me to strike the Natural History Museum off my bucket list.

Imposing building. Larger-than-life dinosaurs. Gargantuan elephant. First impressions looked good.

I paid for a ticket. Glided towards the Hall of African Peoples, which was one of the opening exhibits.

Time to relish the sights and sounds, and fill my memory bank with fabulous images. Or so I thought.

The Taste of Our Friendship

Under azure skies we eat our apple pies

Our heads buzz with purple fantasies

Romance, diamonds, castles, the world our oyster…

Arm in arm we amble through Oxford Street

Heady with “hot gist” and side-splitting laughter

Flaming fries salt our fingers and burn our tongues

On the underground we sit back and watch ‘This is life’ part one

We envy and fight

Sometimes ties are fraught with spite

But then we remember

That we are in it together

Together we taste tears

And together, we drink of life’s delicious delights

So, whether we stand tall

Or whether we fall flat

We are not alone in this beautiful journey called life

The Benefits of Being Fake

Except you’ve been hiding under a rock, or you mysteriously migrated to Mars, you must have caught the hullabaloo about the sartorial feats on the Golden Globes red carpet.

My Beauty is for Sale

 Bella tossed her long braids onto her shoulder. Her full lips twisted into a half-smile as she sashayed past two quarrelling drivers whose vehicles had collided. Both drivers were busy drooling over her spotless brown skin and the sway of her curvaceous hips. It took a head-on collision to jerk them back to reality.

Have a Fresh, Phenomenal Year!

Dear Fresh Angle Reader,

This is to wish you a very happy new year. I pray that 2014 will be a phenomenal year for you in every ramification. 

I guess you've been wondering what is going on with this blog - It hasn't been updated since October 2013. I've been wondering the same.

A Letter to Heaven

Dear G.O.D,

Can I offer a penny for your thoughts?

Sometimes when I contemplate the string of bizarre events overtaking planet earth, I’m caught between a cackle and a cry.