BY CHI CHAVANU ÀSE

Cover image by goranmax from Pixabay. Cover art by Gregory Hedgepeth.

Third apartment on this floor and all hopes of finding her were fading away. I walked through a wall and sat on a couch. Well, this was a nice apartment. Lots of African art and it smelled of incense.

I looked around for the remote. Since I had no hopes of finding “the one,” I might as well get comfy. I wondered if they had potato chips. They didn’t have any on my earth. I had barely picked up the remote to turn it from an outrageous reality TV show, when a girl came around the corner from the kitchen.

She dropped her plate. “What the hell are you doing in my house?”

I was equally as shocked. “You can see me?”

She looked confused. “Of course I can—did you think you were invisible? I’m calling the cops! You can’t just break into people’s houses and sit on their couch. Weirdo.”

I had found “the one.” I smiled as my fangs grew. Now it was time to fight.

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Chi Chavanu Ase is a science-fiction/fantasy author who was first introduced to sci-fi by her mother at an early age. Often sent to her room for misbehaving, she would curl up in a blanket with one of her mother’s books which subsequently ignited the spark that would fuel her love for literature. She initially began writing and performing poetry at the age of twelve. Over time, she began to notice how difficult it was to find books that she could associate or identify with the characters, given the lack of representation. Thus, it became her greatest desire that little Black children would see themselves represented in every genre, especially sci-fi. Her first book, Journey to Ghana and Other Stories, focuses entirely on the Black experience. Likewise, it is her desire to continue writing stories and producing literary work that Black people can see themselves represented in. Chi currently resides in California with her fine-ass husband and amazing children.

BY CHI CHAVANU ÀSE

Cover image by R Nau from Pixabay. Cover art by Gregory Hedgepeth.

Each day with him was becoming increasingly more difficult. Even food tasted different. There was a grey film that seemed to sit over my eyes. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t rub it away. He had put off having kids for another year. Typical. He wasn’t ready to die yet. As soon as I gave birth to multiples, I would kill him.

I had to maintain the facade of a good housewife with a loving husband who took care of me. Meanwhile in the Blessed world, I was one of the most terrifying creatures. My form tripled the size of my husband and my power knew no limits. I had no code. I killed both regs and Blessed alike. My hunger was growing and my husband knew his end was near. He kept claiming he was prolonging things, so he could build a savings for me and the children. Bullshit.

He had gotten comfortable in his human life and wasn’t ready to give it up, but I was suffering. I was supposed to have given birth at least five years ago and my body was changing for not having done so. He knew this. A part of me felt that he hoped I would die first, but that wasn’t going to happen—I would mate with another if I had to.

The hardest part of all was the mask I wore as a reg. I was what people called a “trophy wife.” I was slender with smooth dark skin and locs that went down to the middle of my back. When we attended his work events, he received praise off my presence alone. I cooked, cleaned, and did everything I was supposed to do. I even did all my hunting at night. I was absolutely perfect.

Why won’t he mate with me? Why won’t he uphold his end of the bargain? I felt myself sinking deeper and deeper into a hole. I should be raising my offspring by now, not tending to this fool. It was time for him to die.

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Chi Chavanu Ase is a science-fiction/fantasy author who was first introduced to sci-fi by her mother at an early age. Often sent to her room for misbehaving, she would curl up in a blanket with one of her mother’s books which subsequently ignited the spark that would fuel her love for literature. She initially began writing and performing poetry at the age of twelve. Over time, she began to notice how difficult it was to find books that she could associate or identify with the characters, given the lack of representation. Thus, it became her greatest desire that little Black children would see themselves represented in every genre, especially sci-fi. Her first book, Journey to Ghana and Other Stories, focuses entirely on the Black experience. Likewise, it is her desire to continue writing stories and producing literary work that Black people can see themselves represented in. Chi currently resides in California with her fine-ass husband and amazing children.

BY CHI CHAVANU ÀSE

It's no secret that books are often turned into movies. Keeping that in mind, we asked Chi who she'd select to be part of the cast if given the opportunity to turn her novel, Journey To Ghana and Other Stories, into a feature film and why these actresses would be perfect to fill those roles.

Samira Wiley as Britt in “The Healer”

Samira Wiley is an amazing actress, but she’s also queer and married to a woman. I think it is important for queer characters to be played by queer actors and actresses.

Issa Rae as Nzinga in “Belly”

Issa Rae is physically ideal for this role and she’s a magnificent actress. I think she would be able to bring out the depth of confusion for Nzinga as she discovers the intensity of her situation.

Danielle Brooks as Compton in “A Witch Named Compton”

I enjoyed Danielle on Orange Is The New Black and I think she would contribute well to playing Compton. In addition, she is stunning and physically ideal for this role.

Danai Gurira as Nanyamaka in “Journey To Ghana”

Danai’s acting style would fit in perfectly with the Nanyamaka I envisioned. She is physically stunning and a serious actress who is also superb at the fight scenes that would be required for her role.

Kyla Pratt as LaKiera in “LaKiera Jones”

Kyla Pratt is a seasoned actress who would do great with LaKiera. I have not seen her in any serious roles since she became an adult, but I think she could tackle the complexity of this character.

Eris Baker as Mawusi in “Journey to Ghana”

Eris is an up-and-coming child actress, who would play a formidable Mawusi. Mawusi’s character is as complicated as she is brilliant, and Eris would be able to portray her character effortlessly.

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Chi Chavanu Ase is a science-fiction/fantasy author who was first introduced to sci-fi by her mother at an early age. Often sent to her room for misbehaving, she would curl up in a blanket with one of her mother’s books which subsequently ignited the spark that would fuel her love for literature. She initially began writing and performing poetry at the age of twelve. Over time, she began to notice how difficult it was to find books that she could associate or identify with the characters, given the lack of representation. Thus, it became her greatest desire that little Black children would see themselves represented in every genre, especially sci-fi. Her first book, Journey to Ghana and Other Stories, focuses entirely on the Black experience. Likewise, it is her desire to continue writing stories and producing literary work that Black people can see themselves represented in. Chi currently resides in California with her fine-ass husband and amazing children.