New Book Spotlight

The Nga’phandileh Whisperer

A mini-interview with Eugen Bacon

Tell us about your new book?

The Nga’phandileh Whisperer is a cautionary horror story that both examines the perils of power and our inherent fear of the unknown. The Nga’phandileh are creatures of unreality in the Sauútiverse, an Afrocentric universe of five planets, two suns and two spirit moons. In this novella, a precocious guardian is also a Nga’phandileh whisperer—she can tap into the hive mind, but quickly discovers she has more power than she knows how to use.

What aspect of the book was the most fun to write?

I loved weaving and playing with the sound magic of the Sauútiverse. Revisiting African traditions and beliefs in a futuristic world was sweetly nostalgic. My father was very special to me and I think I brought a part of him alive in this novelette, in layering Chant’L’s subtle relationship with their father.

If there is one emotion or theme that you would hope that the reader connects with, what would that be?

Family, and the deadliness of unknowable power.