03 July, 2020

#Interview with Gabriel Nombo, #Author of The Tenant's Wrath - @HarvestingB


About the Book: 
Check out the Book on Amazon
THE TENANT'S WRATH (previously published as Outrageous Humans On Exoplanet) is a novel that has been written according to the author’s experience in living as a tenant. The author had tenanted in nine local houses from 2005 to 2010 before he shifted into his building in 2010. While he was living in this building, he published part of his book in January 2012. This work had only 112 pages, and it included only 500 printed copies.

He employed it to extract data from other tenants as he walked with his book in the streets. The author continued to tenant after he moved from his house in 2015. At the time of publishing this book, he has an experience of fourteen tenancies in local houses. There are nightmare tenants and troublesome house owners in some tenancies. How is this report presented?. Through appreciating efforts that are done in space technology and exoplanetology.

Technology has drastically developed nowadays and keeps on advancing rapidly. This has not left behind exoplanetology and space technology(let's appreciate how curiosity rover was positioned on mars). Presently, we can live outside our customized planet for several months. Due to it, we know the biological impact of lacking the Earth's gravitational force. For instance, cardiovascular behavior of the human body when it's in a weightless environment.

The laboratory that has been built outside the world by exceptionally committed scientists, International Space Station (ISS), is another justification of technology improvement. With the strength of current technologies, humans can get physically to 'ISS' building through the support of space shuttles, as it was the case of Atlantis and Soyuz in 2010. Also, as it was the case of SoyuzTMA-14M spacecraft in September 2014, and several voyages that have been done recently. Now, this is only the 21st century, what about 1100 years later?. Let’s imagine technology advancement in the 33rd century!. A reader may generate possible answers to it.

The report on how landlords and tenants live together is assumed to be written in 34th Century. One century after the first signal indicating aliens' presence is detected. A fictitious reporter from the Earth, writes it after he voyaged to aliens' planet. In nature, this exoplanet has very angry aliens.

In the 34th century, when earthlings start to interact with aliens, some aliens take advantage of interplanetary mobility by harnessing wisdom from earth's very wise ancestors(In the book, words of ancestors are written in bold). These are like Henry Ford (1863 -1947), John Lennon (1940-1980), Bertrand Russel(1872-1970),David O.McKay(1873-1970), Sarah Josepha Hale(1788-1879), Johann von Goethe(1749-1832), Abraham Lincoln(1809-1865), Benjamin Disraeli(1804-1881),Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882),Mischel(1968), and many others. How do they employ our ancestors to benefit their wrathful nature?. The reporter has everything.

The reporter does thorough research on aliens' culture, including their science, daily life, food style, theology, landlord-tenant relationship, education system, and others. Then, he writes a report which he forwards it to his fellow earthlings. It takes only a month for the emailed report to reach the planet Earth.

Interview with Gabriel Nombo


When did you first realize that you wanted to be a writer/ a storyteller?

It was in 2010 when I started to think of documenting a story that was in my mind. An ambition to write it down arrived after I shifted into my house. The house was so small, and it was not entirely completed. However, I finalized its construction when I was already living in it. After its full completion, I got an idea of telling others what forced me to have that house. I realized that narrating it individually to every friend might be time-consuming, so I concluded to write it in the form of a novel.

What inspires you to write?

I witnessed dispute between tenants and landlords  in several houses that I once tenanted. Most of  them originated from landlords who violated terms in their contracts and others who did not even issue contracts to their tenants.  So, I thought a need to publicize it because tenancy is a vital stage to most of us. I believe, these challenges   can be settled when the entire society is aware of them.

How did you come up with the idea for your current story?

I was tenanting in a certain house in Mwanza-Tanzania when I got several challenges. While I was living in the same tenancy, I was lucky to attend sermons of a certain preacher who preached on anger and the benefits of anger.  So, I tried to implement his theory by converting my challenges into something beneficial. I got an idea to build a house. I  shifted into my small house and later on, it turned into THE TENANT’S WRATH.

MY EMERGENCY HOUSE THAT I BUILT AFTER FACING CHALLENGES IN THAT TENANCY

Are there some stories tucked away in some drawer that was written before and never saw the light of the day?

For me, there are no stories of that nature.

Tell us about your writing process.

My writing process refers to the already published story. Thus, I usually write after I remember a certain event.  When I remember no more, I end up with what I have remembered. So, I add something to my story after I have remembered it and find that it has something to make people learn or be entertained.

What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

Fomati region, where Setifokasi had moved after getting employment. It is where most of the events occurred and encouraged the author to write a book. For instance,  the ninth house could have a separate book.

Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?

To some extent, Setifokasi could behave similarly to the author but I tried to differentiate him from the author to have the flow it possesses.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

A tendency to write when something makes me curious to write. I don’t write when there is no internal force that drives me to write. I may end the story and stay for several months even a year(years) without touching it.

Do you read? Who are your favourite authors and how have they influenced your writing style?

Yes, I do read. My favorite authors are Shaaban Robert and Irene Ndauka. I like the way Shaaban Robert presented his book ‘Kusadikika’(To be believed). It made me travel in a strange environment. I like tourism through books. Irene Ndauka has written several books in Kiswahili. The way she explains events in her books has motivated me to desire explaining like her.

What is the best piece of advice you have received, as a writer, till date?

I’m not sure which one is the best. I think all of them are the best to me but, self- publishing is dealing with both writing and marketing.   This is dominating my mind. I like writing and I detest marketing.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Writing without fearing whether people will read it or not. If a writer enjoys his/her story, then at least someone somewhere else may also enjoy it.

What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?

Let me refer to famous actors in my country as I am familiar with them. Several actors may qualify for it, for instance;   Vincent Kigosi would be the best fit for Setifokasi’s position.

If you were to be stranded on the famous deserted island, what three things would you carry?

Hmm, I would take a bottle of drinking water, some food, and a mobile phone.

How do you spend your free time? Do you have a favorite place to go and unwind?

I spend my free time on a leisure walk. I sometimes enjoy using it to read digital books or playing video games.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

To share my views and opinions with the world, at least through two novels that are research-oriented.

Tell us three fun facts about yourself.

I tenanted, I built a small house due to tenancy, and I wrote a novel.

What do you have in store next for your readers?

I desire  to have  a book that details a peculiar difference between computers and humans.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers?

Anger is not always bad. It depends on how a victim reacts to it. I would also like to share  a FREE COPY OF THE BOOK(PART ONE).


About the Author:
Author's Goodreads Page
I have been living as a tenant in several local houses in Tanzania. I faced several challenges while dwelling together with my local landlords/landladies in the same building: sharing courtyard, bathroom, veranda, toilet, electricity, water utility, etc. I started tenanting in Ruvuma region after finishing my secondary education(form six or advanced certificate of secondary education) in March 2005. I then acquired a job; teaching in four secondary schools as a part-time teacher of physics, mathematics, and geography.
I had tenanted in two local houses in this region before moving to  Dar es salaam, to attend college education where I got some notable challenges, especially during admission. I took an advanced diploma in information technology(IT) in November 2005. I tenanted in four(4) local houses while I was at the college. I completed my course in July 2008.
In July 2008, I went to my sister at Mtoni-Kidatu(Zanzibar). I didn’t tenant there but, my sister lived with a tenant.
I shifted from Zanzibar to Mwanza in  October 2008.  I tenanted in three(3) local houses in this region, from October  2008  to June 2010. And, I lived in my hut from June 2010 to July 2015.
In July  2015, I went back to Dar es salaam  to serve for my employer at the same time taking master in information security. I completed it in 2018. From 2015 to present, I have already tenanted in five(5) local houses. No local house left me without a challenge as there are troublesome landlords and nightmare tenants.

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