Books With Abena

In this episode of Books with Abena, I’m catching you up on life and reading from April to September, from busy workdays, travels through the Ashanti Region, reading slumps, and finding my way back to books after the June floods destroyed my personal library.I share the stories that kept me company, my favourite audiobooks, and standout reads, including The Bright Years, The Correspondent, The Mercy Step, and Score. To everyone who has helped me rebuild, thank you. If you’d like to support my recovery and library rebuild, here is the link to my flood fund https://floodfunds.bookishabena.com/

In this episode of Bookclubs in Ghana, I sit down with the library head and founder of The Wildkhard Reading Club, a literary community founded in 2022 that is dedicated to celebrating African stories, voices, and ideas. We explore the inspiration behind the club, the importance of creating spaces for readers to connect, and how thoughtful conversations can deepen our appreciation of African literature.We also discuss the evolution of the Khard and Kulture Podcast, the role book clubs play in shaping reading culture, and the joys and challenges of building a community around books. Whether you're already part of a book club or you've been thinking about joining one, this conversation offers insight into the power of reading together and why African literature deserves to be read, discussed, and celebrated.Tune in for an inspiring conversation about books, culture, community, and the stories that bring us together.

In this episode, I’m catching you up on life lately and sharing my first quarter reading wrap-up. From a calm start to the year and a quiet birthday to meaningful friendships and bookish moments, it’s been a gentle but fulfilling few months.I also break down my 2026 reading goals, how I’m tracking them, and all 21 books I read from January to March, plus my favourites, standout audiobooks, and the ones I can’t stop thinking about.

What does it take to build a career as an illustrator in Ghana?In this episode, I sit down with self-taught digital artist Tracy Arthur to talk about her journey into illustration, the realities of working in Ghana’s creative industry, and the challenges of turning art into a sustainable career. She walks us through her creative process, from manuscript to finished cover, and shares insights into her work on Kelewele Connections and her stunning cover art for Mari Loyal.

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I’m joined by upcoming Ghanaian contemporary romance author Gia Kise for a conversation about love stories and why they deserve respect.We talk about why she chose romance, why the genre is often dismissed as “not serious,” and what people miss when they underestimate happily-ever-afters.Gia also shares her self-publishing journey, the writing, editing, marketing, costs, and challenges of doing it all independently.Plus, we spotlight her novels, It’s Always Been You and Finding You , and she drops her top romance recommendations for anyone ready to fall in love with the genre.