In honor of Octavia E. Butler and L.A. Banks the author of the day yesterday
is the person responsible for the stellar line up of this showcase of black
authors that I have been introducing for the last couple of days and I’m just
getting started! For those of you who are just checking in The State of Black
Science Fiction Presents: The Butler Banks Book Tour is meant to honor these
two powerhouses in black speculative Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror and,
indeed, the entire world of literature.
They sowed the seeds which we are now reaping and the author of the day, like the one yesterday
is doing more than his share of crop-tending. As a writer I sometimes pick up a
book for the enjoyment of being entertained, then all of a sudden I realize I
am being … taught.
The author showcased today
is: 
Milton Davis is owner of MVmedia, LLC , a micro publishing company
specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Sword and Soul. MVmedia’s mission
is to provide speculative fiction books that represent people of color in a
positive manner. Milton is the author of eight novels; his most recent The Woman of the Woods and Amber and the Hidden City. He is
co-editor of four anthologies; Griots:
A Sword and Soul Anthology and Griot:
Sisters of the Spear, with Charles R. Saunders; The Ki Khanga Anthology with Balogun Ojetade and the Steamfunk! Anthology, also with Balogun
Ojetade. MVmedia has also published Once
Upon A Time in Afrika by BalogunOjetade.
Milton resides in
Metro Atlanta with his wife Vickie and his children Brandon and Alana.
Amber synopsis:
Thirteen year old
Amber Robinson's life is full of changes. Her parents are sending her to a
private school away from her friends, and high school looms before her. But
little does she know that her biggest change awaits in a mysterious city hidden
from the world for a thousand years. Why? Amber's grandmother is a princess
from this magical kingdom of Marai. She's been summoned home to use her special
abilities to select the new king but she no longer has the gift, and her
daughter was never trained for the task. That leaves only one person with the
ability to save the city: Amber! But there are those who are determined that
Amber never reaches Marai and they will do anything to stop her. Prepare
yourself for an exciting adventure that spans from the Atlanta suburbs to the
grasslands of Mali. It's a story of a girl who discovers her hidden abilities
and heritage in a way that surprises and entertains.
Amber excerpt:
Aisha kicked the garbage can across the alley and screamed. She
struck out with her fists, imagining Bissau’s face as the target for her
frustration. A sound distracted her; she turned to see a group of people
staring at her. She grinned maliciously then before the eyes of her unwanted
spectators she transformed into a huge grey hyena. Her maniacal laugh sent them
all scurrying away; Aisha transformed back to her true self before exiting the
other end of the alley.
She underestimated Amber.
Whatever powers she possessed manifested the moment they landed in the
motherland. She had been overconfident when she knew better and now the girl
and her mother were lost in Dakar. A quick sweep of the local hotels revealed
they were not checked in. They were clever; they knew it would be the first
place she searched. They weren’t familiar with the city, so they wouldn’t take
a chance in seeking a stranger for help. Aisha was dumbfounded. Where would a
person begin to look for another in this world? She would have to start with
her own knowledge then go from there. In Marai each folk claimed its own
section of the city. She would look for the American section of the city, if
one existed. That would be where they would most likely go if they didn’t choose
a hotel. Aisha spotted a man dressed in a large purple shirt and loose pants
striding down the street towards her. There was a smile on his face; Amber
smiled backed then approached him.
“Excuse me sir,” she
said in her sweetest tone. “Where would I find the American compound?”
The man looked
puzzled. “American compound? There is no…oh, you must mean the American
Embassy.”
“Yes, that is what I
mean.”
The man scratched his
chin. “It’s a long way from here. Come, I’m walking to my car. I’ll take you there.”
“Merci, sir! Merci!”
Aisha followed the
man to a dusty vehicle. She was used to automobiles now, so she climbed into
the passenger side. They pulled away quickly.
“What’s your name?”
the man asked.
“Aisha.”
“Well, Aisha, your
Momma should have taught you never to get in a car with a stranger.”
The man’s sinister
grin was barely on his face when Aisha snatched her wicked dagger from her clothes and pressed the tip into his
neck. It was her turn to grin.
“No, sir. You should
be old enough to know not to try to take advantage of pretty young girls. Now
take me to this American embassy.”
The man’s fearful
eyes drifted down to the blade. “You won’t do it. I’m driving!”
Aisha pressed the
knife into his neck just enough to draw blood. The man whimpered.
“The embassy, fool!”
she spat.
The man drove to a
building that flew a red, white and blue flag decorated with stars. Aisha
leaned closed to her reluctant chauffeur then kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you for the
ride,” she whispered.
She nicked his neck
with her knife as she exited the car. The man yelled at her and shook his fist.
Aisha had already forgotten him.
The military man at
the door greeted her with a smile before looking over her shoulder at the irate
man.
“Is there a problem,
ma’am?” he asked.
“No sir, but you are
very kind to ask.”
Aisha glanced over
her shoulder as her involuntary ride sped away.
“I hope you can help
me, monsieur,” she said. “My friends from America came to visit me today but it
seems I lost them at the airport. I think they would come to the embassy if
they were lost.”
The guard looked at
her skeptically. “There were two Americans that came to the embassy earlier
today. You say they are your friends?”
“Yes, monsieur.”
“Yet you miss them at
the airport and then come here seeking them?”
“I must make a
confession,” she said. “My friends would not know me if they saw me. I was to
meet them at the airport to assist them in their travels. They apparently grew
impatient.”
“They’ve made other
arrangements,” the guard said gruffly. “Have a nice day, ma’am.”
“Please, monsier, I
must find them,” Aisha pleaded.
The guard studied her
a few moments before answering.
“You can talk with
the receptionist,” he said.
“Merci, monsieur.
Merci.”
Aisha went to the receptionist.
The woman confirmed that Amber and Alake had indeed come to the embassy, but
she wasn’t at liberty to say where they were staying.
Aisha thanked her
then left the embassy. So the duo had
taken refuge in a local home. It would seem to be a good move, but there were
few homes in Dakar that could provide two lodgers the comfort of a hotel. Her
search would not be as difficult as Amber had surmised. She had no doubt she
would see them very soon. She found another alley, ran then leaped into the air,
her arms spread wide. She transformed into a falcon, a cry of joy escaping her
mouth. Of all the creatures she could be, the birds of prey were her favorite.
Their powerful bodies’ combines with their keen sight and ultimate mobility
fascinated her. If there was any creature she could remain for the rest of her
life, it would be such a beast.
She beat her wings,
climbing higher over Dakar. It did not take her long to find the city section
she sought. A line of mansions rimmed the ocean side, houses resembling the
lineage of Marai. She circled, seeking obvious sign of where Amber and the
others would be but there was none. They were smarter than that, but still even
the most intelligent person can make mistakes, as Bissau proved in Paris. She
descended and found a perch on a nearby office building. The midday heat did
not bother her; she was a child of the desert and the falcon she chose to be
was well adapted to the high heat. Now was time for patience. She felt sure she
was in the right place. She would soon have what she wanted.
It was dusk when she
saw it. A mystical flash rose from a sector of town south of her. She jumped
from her perch, flying as fast as she could to the source before it waned.
Someone used nganga nearby and she was sure she knew who. Despite her speed by
the time she reached the source of the flash it had dissipated. Two homes
filled her view, both splendid compared to the other homes in Dakar. There was
only one way she could find which house was which. She transformed into her human
female form, this time wearing the clothes of a local. She waited until
darkness settled on the city before walking to the door of the first home. She
knocked for a long while before giving up and proceeding to the next house.
Aisha knocked then took on a sad expression. The door swung wide and was filled
by a large man with a disapproving face.
“What do you want?”
he barked.
“Something to eat,”
she replied.
“No beggars here,” he
said. “Now go before I call the police.”
“Just a little
something,” she persisted.
The man grabbed her
shirt. “Didn’t you hear me? Be gone. You’ll disturb Miss Josephine and her
guests!”
Aisha’s eyes narrowed
and she smiled. “Of course I will.”
Aisha’s foot sank
into the man’s stomach. He dropped her and she landed on her feet. She stepped
over the groaning man into the house.
“Bundu, who is it at
such a late hour?”
Aisha saw a light
appear on her left. Another light appeared on her right. She looked right and a
saw a woman she did not recognize walking toward her as she tied her house robe
belt.
“Who are you, child?”
The woman demanded. “What is the meaning of…Bundu!”
The second door
opened. A woman stepped out, a woman whose face was very familiar. The woman
saw Aisha and her hands flew to her mouth.
A third door flew
open at the top of the stairs. Bissau rushed out, his face twisted in anger. He
jumped from the top of the stairs. Aisha grinned.
She waited until
Bissau was almost on the floor when she transformed back into the falcon and
flew by him to the room. When she transformed she stood before Amber.
“You’re journey is
over,” Aisha announced.
Amber stumbled back.
The necklace about her neck glowed with a strange light.
“That necklace will
be mine once I’m done with you!”
She struck at Amber’s
neck and was shocked when the girl blocked her blow. Her foot flashed out and
Amber blocked it as well. She almost laughed when Amber punched at her face
until she realized the punch was a feint. She barely avoided the swinging elbow
meant for her jaw.
“You have some wrestling
skills,” Aisha said. “Your Grandma taught you well.”
Aisha glanced behind
her; Bissau and Aisha’s grandmother were running up the stairs.
“Time to end this!”
Aisha reached for her
pouch. Amber kicked her elbow and her arm fell limp.
“Damn you, girl.
I’ll…”
Bright light filled
her vision as Amber’s elbow crashed against her head then everything went dark.
When she opened her eyes the back of her head throbbed and Bissau, Amber and
her grandmother were entering the mirror inside the room.
“No you don’t!” Aisha
yelled.
She jumped at the
mirror. Bissau reemerged and slammed into her, knocking her to the floor. She
tried to stand but Bissau pulled her back down.
“We have unfinished
business, shape shifter!” he snarled.
“Then it will remain
unfinished!” Aisha reached for her pouch again. Bissau dodged her and ran
toward the mirror. Aisha smiled; as soon as he opened his portal she would
follow him. He did no such thing. Instead he picked up a nearby chair and
smashed the mirror. Aisha screamed then fell onto Bissau, pummeling him with
hands, feet, elbows and knees.
“Up the stairs!” she
heard a female voice yell. “They’re up the stairs!”
Aisha halted her
assault on Bissau. He lay unconscious at her feet, his beautiful face beginning
to swell. She ran to the edge of the stairs and saw four uniformed men climbing
up to her followed by the woman and her butler. She hissed in anger; she was
back to where she started. But at least this time she had a lead. She hurried
over to Bissau, grasping his arms with her hands. What she was about to do
would weaken her, but she needed him, at least until she could locate Amber and
her grandmother again. The transformation took longer than normal; once she was
done she was a falcon again and Bissau was a mouse in her talons. She flew
upward as the uniformed men reached the top of the stairs then glided out of
the door into the humid night.
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