Everything's not what it seems -- Richard Ikedi

I am Richard Ikedi, a medical professional, and also a loving father to my little girl Carlotta (A.k.a Feddie Girl).

 Am I a loving and faithful husband? You decide.

In the recent novel Feddie Girl by Nona David, I was portrayed as a notorious womanizer, one who could hardly ever keep his pants zipped up. Yeah, right...

But did I really do anything wrong? You decide.

You see, it's all a matter of perspective and personal judgment. The fact that one chooses not to discuss certain marital topics with one's spouse hardly makes one unfaithful, does it? You tell me.
How then can I be labeled "The Unfaithful Husband" if there's no physical proof that I had any intimate relations with a woman other than my loving wife?

Let's take Tiger Woods for example, a fellow multicultural and married guy just like myself. Would you label him "unfaithful" before you had enough physical evidence? Hardly.

Well then, why me?  

'Cause my wife (Shelley) says so?

Very well then, you tell me: Is Shelley really the angel she's been making herself out to be? See what I mean? Who is the actual victim here? Me, or my wife?

One of the good things my profession as a physician has taught me is that life is not always mapped out in white or black. Sometimes we get shades of gray here and there. Whether you decide to see a shade of grey as white or black totally depends on you.

Sometimes, we, as human beings, see things that are not there. We force ourselves to read complex meanings into the simplest of things. We burden our marriages with a lot of what-ifs so much so that we fail to see that which is genuine and borne out of love.

However, no matter what stand we take concerning life's gray areas, we should always remember that everything is not what it seems. 

Read excerpts of this novel (Feddie Girl) and obtain a copy, visit: https://bernardbooks.com
To buy in Nigeria, please visit https://bernardbooks.com/gpage1.html for more info.

Watch out for the sequel, Feddie Girl 2. Coming soon to Bernard Books Publishing.

Feddie Girl's Mom Speaks Out -- Judge me not...

"Until you have been in my shoes, you have no right to judge me..." says Shelley Ikedi, mother of the renowned Feddie Girl.

I understand my peers are skeptical of my reasons to send my only child off to a boarding school located in Nigeria. But I wonder, is your skepticism rooted in dislike for the country, the boarding school of choice, or just the idea of boarding school?

Tell me, what have you got against Nigeria? I am a Caucasian, married to a guy of Nigerian-American descent. Based on this, if I were to choose a country to send my daughter to school in, is it a wonder that Nigeria tops the list? Her dad being from there? Where she has family and blood relations?

As for the chosen school itself, if you attended one of the Federal Schools in Nigeria and think there are more prestigious boarding schools located anywhere within the country, please do not hesitate to call my attention to them.
From what I know, the Federal Government Colleges are highly recommended and the well-placed social status of most veterans of Nigerian Federal Schools definitely speaks for itself. That being the case, is it a wonder I want my daughter to be one of them? To hone good behavior and secure a prestigious place in the society of tomorrow?

How about the idea of 'Boarding School'? Why would anyone have a problem with that? As a parent, if you have an un-ruly child on your hands and have tried pretty much everything else to get her back on the right track and failed, what else can you do?

"Have you tried showing her love?" you ask, raising a quizzical eyebrow. 

Love?

And I ask you: Do you have a teenage kid? Have you ever tried dealing with a rebellious teen who has no regard for you and others, or has absolutely no compunction for the pain she has caused others? No? Well then, until you get to that stage and pass it with flying colors, I reserve the right to remain silent.

Carlotta's father and I are very nurturing, loving, and proud parents. But there comes a time in every parent's life when a difficult decision has to be made. If you have a thirteen year old who suddenly turns violent and starts smoking and stacking up condoms in her bedroom dresser, then the time may have come for desperate measures.

I love my daughter without reservation. I did what I could to turn her from the rebellious teen she was fast becoming into a responsible human being. It was difficult, but I had no other choice. Nothing else seemed to work.
Now, having spent close to a year in a good boarding school in Nigeria, my daughter returned to the United States a changed person. So tell me:

Does not the end justify the means in this case?

And what's more? Carlotta loved the school, made new friends, and is itching to return to boarding house, and nothing her dad or I can say will make her change her mind. 

So, unless you have been in my shoes and experienced what I did, and in the same circumstances, please judge me not.

Read excerpts of the novel (Feddie Girl) and obtain a copy: https://bernardbooks.com
To buy in Nigeria, please visit https://bernardbooks.com/gpage1.html for more info.
Or buy from Amazon.com.


Watch out for the sequel, Feddie Girl 2. Coming soon to Bernard Books Publishing.

SOLD OUT!!! And The Feddie Gist Continues...

Now that the first series of Feddie Girl is completely sold out, we are ready to move on to the next stage: A sequel!
Yes, of course, the sequel (Feddie Girl 2) and The Poker Legend (Read Preview) will be hitting the shelves later this year.

First of all, a big thank you to all those who read and/or reviewed this novel, both in Nigeria, US, UK, Canada, and all other countries. The novel was in very high demand, and the copies sold a lot faster than anticipated, with readers still asking for more. Wow!!!

For those of you who couldn't grab copies before it sold out, you may still be able to get the emergency copies kept on reserve by the Publisher for situations such as these. (Price $19.99; Only at the publisher's website. Not available anywhere else! https://bernardbooks.com)

To mark the start of a new season on this blog, we shall be hearing a bit from my parents (Shelley and Richard). They have some issues that definitely need addressing. Don't you just love it when parents have "issues"?

Did I just catch you rolling your eyes to high heavens? Jeez!

Yeah, Shelley and Richard (ehm, sorry, I meant Mommy and Daddy) definitely have something to iron out, right here... Lol! Be sure to hang around 'cos this is one saga you don't wanna miss.

Till then, I'd like to say "Thank you" once again for the attention - you all are the reason for my being here.

And, yes, you got that right. I'll definitely be going back for seconds--back to boarding school with me. Kinda looking forward to it, too.

Crazy, right? Yeah, I know. I gotta have my revenge!

Lotta Luv,

Carlotta

Book Review: FEDDIE GIRL by Nona David

Review written by Tayo Sogbanmu; UK  

With an amazing ability to capture the very vibrant detail in the culture of the Nigerian people, Nona David takes you on a journey with Feddie Girl.

Carlotta, a mixed-race American teen sent to Nigeria at the demand of her also mixed-race father with Nigerian heritage, is opened up to a whole new civilization, which she deems a far cry from what she calls home. Given her situation and what she sees as a severe predicament, she gives up on any hope of being able to survive, but just in time discovers newly found friendships, an instinct of adaptation and a strength filled with maturity she never believed she had.

As the story unfolds it matures in a way one may not have expected, as both Richard and Shelly (Carlotta’s parents) must also take a journey of their own, that if not traveled with caution, could cost them both the very family they are trying so hard to keep together.

Nona gives great and accurate insight into the life of boarding school in Nigeria, the character and humour of the Nigerian people, and a detailed scope into the diversity that resides in the country.
From the description of the vibrant streets of Lagos; and the constant chatter of Carlotta’s class mates that will have you laughing away; to the mention of some of Nigeria’s well known delicacies; Feddie Girl will allow you to explore and visualize the very ground of Nigeria, doing so in a way that is true and definitely not sugar coated.

An extract from “Feddie Girl”:

Lagos, Nigeria.

Everything and everyone make up the beauty of Lagos!

It’s no wonder everyone wants to come to Lagos.

A true mix of different people of different Nationals:

Different traits, tribes, races and languages;

The Igbo’s, Yoruba’s and Hausa’s.

This is the mystery of Lagos;

A city we call home.

Eko for sure!

Eko for life!

Eko o ni baje!

How to purchase this novel:

1. From publisher (Bernard Books Publishing):
https://bernardbooks.com
{Currently offering a Buy One Get One FREE Promo -- Ends Feb 28th 2010. }

2. From Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com

3. Buy in NIGERIA:
See details and contact info for our Sales Agents in Nigeria:

https://bernardbooks.com/gpage1.html