Season of Anansi National Folklore Festival 2025
A National
Reading Tour
A nationwide reading tour for local bookstores, including the highly anticipated launch of Book 3 of the New Adventures of Anansi series – Anansi in the Land of Monsters & Other Stories. The tour will feature paintings and an expanded merchandise line, including prints, t-shirts, postcards, and the historic Anansi plush doll.
Upcoming:
Metropolitan Bookstore - Saturday 19th April 2025
Blue Edition - Saturday 26th April 2025
Ishmael M Khan - Saturday 3rd May 2025
(10:00 AM - Meet & Mingle, 10:20 AM - Readings, 11:30 AM - Book Signings.
Special Discounts on Anansi Books Dolls, Jerseys , Postcards & Prints)
The New Adventures of Anansi
The bestselling ‘New Adventures of Anansi’ is a series of illustrated novels depicting the adventures of 3 generations of the Anansi family. The first 7 novels depict the adventures of Anansi's grandmother as a young Spider; the second 7 depict the adventures of Anansi’s father; and the final 7 tell the story of Anansi himself. The series is part of a larger Universe of Magical Realism books by Rubadiri’s Passion Fruit Publishing Ltd. entitled 'Myths for a New Time.' Three books of the ANANSI series have been published thus far- ANANSI & THE 10 DRAGONS, ANANSI &THE BOOK OF NIGHT, and ANANSI IN THE LAND OF MONSTERS & OTHER STORIES- and the books have spawned a growing universe of Anansi merchandise.
IN THE KINGDOM OF THE ANIMALS ALL IS NOT AS IT SEEMS...
On a festive night the Son of King Brer Lion is kidnapped by 10 Dragons who issue a ransom note challenge: “Whosoever answers the Riddles of the 10 Dragons will escape with their life, free the Prince, and save the Kingdom.” After all the Kingdom's champions are defeated, the tiny Spider, Anansi, volunteers to save the Prince. In despair, Brer Lion gives his blessings, and Anansi ventures out by herself to confront the mysterious and powerful Dragons in their realm.
In this first novella in the MYTHS FOR A NEW TIME series, author Rubadiri Victor immerses himself in the African and Caribbean folkloric world of Anansi and the Animals. He takes the conventions of folklore and stretches them in novel ways- creating a modern yet timeless interpretation of inherited mythology...
THE KING OF THE BATS HAS DISAPPEARED...
Time has passed since Anansi's adventures in the Realm of the Dragons. With her Victory, the Kingdom of Animals is now experiencing a period of Peace and Plenty. However, the mysterious disappearance of the Bat King starts a chain of events that begins to unravel the very fabric of the Kingdom. Anansi is plunged into the adventure chasing clue after clue. Mysteries and calamities multiply as the Kingdom is brought to the brink of collapse battling enemies without and within. Can Anansi survive and solve the mysteries before it is too late?!...
In this second of the 7 books of the NEW ADVENTURES OF ANANSI series, author Rubadiri Victor expands the Universe of the Animals and takes us deeper into their politics and soul. African and Caribbean folklore and history collide in unexpected ways creating a Magical evocative new mythology for all ages.
MONSTERS AND CHOICES...
‘ANANSI IN THE LAND OF MONSTERS & OTHER STORIES’ is a tale told in flashbacks. At the centre of the story is the mysterious Land of Monsters- a magical and terrifying realm in which every step that Anansi takes threatens to be her last. Chapters revisit events we thought we understood from the first 2 books- turning them on their heads. Stories reveal Anansi’s family life, her inner world, and uncover even more bacchanal and treachery in the Kingdom of Animals. We start to see our heroine more clearly, her hurts, her dreams- and her failings... The book expands the Universe of the Animals with epic scope, multiplies Anansi’s adversaries, and leaves the Kingdom poised at terrifying new crossroads.
‘THE LAND OF MONSTERS’ is a magical ‘Journey of Girls to the Other World’ type of story- like ‘Alice in Wonderland’; ‘The Wizard of Oz’; ‘Peter Pan’; and ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’. Or like the Greek myth of Persephone and her abduction by Hades. Only this time, the story features an African/Caribbean diaspora girl-hero- who just happens to be a Spider. This may be the most stunning tale in Victor’s ‘NEW ADVENTURES OF ANANSI’ series yet.
Victor’s ’New Adventures of Anansi’ books are national Best Sellers selling thousands of books each. Victor’s Anansi is a mash-up of folklore and epic high fantasy- an immersive world with an expanded universe of characters from the Kingdom of Animals. One critic says the books are “‘Animal Farm’ meets ‘Lord of the Rings’ meets ‘Harry Potter’ meets ‘Game of Thrones’, who then meet with their cousins- the ancient spirits of African Folklore”. Victor’s Anansi novels are part of a 21 book epic featuring 3 generations of the Anansi family!