A Smugglerific Cover: RUNNING by Itoro Udofia

In which we reveal the cover for the next short story in our 2018 Awakenings series, Running by Itoro Udofia!

Behold the smugglerific cover:

About the Story

I’ve got an ancestor on my back.

Arit is a young woman, growing up in a home that balances two different worlds. On the TV, a preacher speaks of a God who looks nothing like her—back in her bedroom, the spirit of an ancestor speaks of a life that can never be Arit’s.

Running by Itoro Udofia tells the story of a first generation Nigerian-American, straddling the line between present and past, the life Arit wants, and the life others want for her.

A Word From Your Friendly Neighborhood Editors (and Book Smugglers)

One of the things we love about publishing is finding authors from diverse backgrounds. Running is the story of a first generation Nigerian American, who struggles with her perception of self, caught between the expectations of her past and her desires to assimilate for the future. Written about a woman of color by a woman of color, Running is thought-provoking, powerful, and different. We hope you love Arit’s story as much as we do.

About the Author: Itoro Udofia

Itoro Udofia is a writer, performing artist, cultural worker, and educator based in Oakland, CA. She loves to tell stories that showcase strong female protagonists defying social conventions. As a first generation Nigerian writer, writing in this way is a liberating and healing process. You can find her work in Slice Magazine, Meridians: Feminism, Race, Transnationalism, and the anthology Two Countries: US Daughters and Sons of Immigrant Parents published by Red Hen Press. She has received an Honorable mention from the Speculative Literature Foundation and recently, she won third place for Glimmer Train’s Very Short Fiction Award for her story, To the Children Growing Up in the Aftermath of their Parents War. She is a SPACE on Ryder farm 2018 finalist and has received residencies and fellowships from the Vermont Studio Center, San Francisco Writers Grotto, Edward Albee Foundation, RADAR Productions, Summer Literary Seminars (SLS) and New York Foundation for the Arts.

About the Artist: Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson is a game developer, comic artist and illustrator from Toronto. She is fascinated with portraying otherworldly landscapes and championing for diversity in the media.

How to Get the Story

Running will be published officially on August 28, 2018. You can purchase the DRM-free ebook (EPUB, MOBI) that contains the story as well as an essay from the author available for purchase on all major ebook retail sites and directly from us.

Preorder the Ebook Today

Smashwords | Amazon US | Amazon UK | B&N | Kobo

Want the book right now? Buy the DRM-free ebook edition directly from us and read the story today:

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Add the book on Goodreads, and read Running for free next Tuesday, August 28, 2018.