Looking Back
An author is not supposed to have favorites among his/her own books. Each tome is like a child they say, creations which you love differently yet equally. But I must admit that Changa’s Safari is my favorite. Yes, I said it. The three volumes have been a joy to write because they combine my three great loves; history, fantasy and action. The research required to add authenticity to each tale is just as rewarding as the writing, for I often discover details that lead to more adventures for Changa and his cohorts.
One of the things that caught me off guard when I discuss Changa is the interest in the back story of each character. To be honest I usually start my stories with a bare minimum of background on my characters with the exception of the main character. I usually learn more about them as I write, for situations arise where I must fill in more details about the character in order to tell the story well. Readers pay more attention to characters than I imagined. I get many requests to expand not only on major and minor characters but also on characters that exist only within one episode. Two examples are Kintu, the powerful demi-god who assists Changa in The Jade Obelisk, and Tula, the feisty shape shifter and Panya’s companion in A Daughter Returns.
I have often thought about the event that launched Changa’s journey, the death of his father Mfumu at the hands of Usenge, and the adventures Changa experienced before becoming a savvy merchant in Mombasa. This is where the idea of this collection took root. This book is not only a collection of previous stories but also the addition of new adventures. These are stories of Changa’s friends before they joined his crew and a few surprises as well. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
---Milton Davis