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Dear Brittlepaperian!

You are the best reader a blogger could ever hope for. It’s been a pleasure exploring the vast and breathtakingly beautiful universe of African literature with you.

This is the last post for the year until January 4. I thought I’d use it to make a brief statement thanking you for making Brittle Paper the #1 destination for fans of African literature.

In 2010, I established Brittle Paper to explore my interest in literature and philosophy. It became an African literary blog when I discovered that many people read African writing for the wrong reasons. It is common to find people who think of African literature as this square, overtly ideological body of writing that is read to be enlightened about Africa and its political plight. To these readers, African literature is neither fun, enjoyable, sexy, nor innovative. They read African literature because of what they imagine it teaches them about African life. Brittle Paper was this magical space where I hoped readers would fall head over heels in love with African writing and literary culture. I want to thank for helping me realize this vision in 2015.

This year has been a success. Brittle Paper has grown exponentially, recording tens of thousands of monthly page views. All this could not have been possible without a reader such as yourself. Thank you for visiting brittlepaper.com. Thank you for reading and sharing your favorite posts on social media. Thank you for recommending the site to friends and family. Most of all, thank you for being a demanding reader and challenging me to do better.

I want to thank every writer I published this year—well over a hundred of you. Thanks for sharing your work with Brittle Paper readers and trusting that they will treat your work with the love and attention it deserves. I’d like to single out the two authors of the story series—Eugene Odogwu (In the Shadow of Iyanibi and Obinna Udenwe (Holy Sex). Both series were well received. The Holy Sex series was even featured on the Guardian. I want to celebrate both writers for their brilliance and their openness to the unconventional.

Thanks to Nmadiuto Uche for coming on board as a Brittle Paper writer. She writes beautifully. Also a big thank you to Sylvia Ofili who earlier in the year came through for me at the most difficult times.

Many of you have expressed interest to blog for Brittle Paper. Be patient with me. In 2016, I plan on bringing more bloggers on board.

Speaking of 2016, I can’t wait to roll out all the plans I have in place to make Brittle Paper so much more fun.

Wishing you all a very happy holiday!