And now for a Little "Light-Hearted" News!

By J. W. Julian

January came and went without my usual monthly missive, and then I missed the self-imposed February deadline, so I started writing this on Valentine's Day--the day of Love--and now another week has come and gone. I've got no one to blame but myself this time. John and I settled back with relative ease in "the Couve" (our local nickname for Vancouver, WA) after spending three months in our home in Croatia. We hit our stride after a few days of misremembering how many cups of coffee to set our new coffee grinder on (6). Old routines such as our daily walk on Salmon Creek Trail were reestablished, but something felt off. Something in the air was making me sad, frustrated, and left me wondering what I could do about it.

In this Newsletter I will share with you what I did to turn my frown upside down. Hint: Just like Ebby the Magnificent, it is a cheerful story with a happy ending. Next, I'll show you the newest bookstore where you can buy Ebby and my art greeting cards. Finally, I'll let you know how you can get your book, art, and merchandise ON SALE for 20% off in time for the Easter holiday AND make the world a brighter place with each purchase. Let's not dally here any longer; there's fantastic news to share!

Victor Adegbuyi is a Nigerian artist, fashion designer, second year University English student, and pig farmer. Click on his name to go to his Facebook page. He's also on Instagram.

Samuel Friday Sotannde is a Nigerian Renaissance artist and mobile cinematographer. Click on his name to go to his Facebook page. He's also on Instagram.

My new passion to "Light Up Nigeria."

READ TO THE END, THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING.

A palpable mixture of fear, anger, and sadness is settling over our country like a thick Pacific Northwest fog. I felt something similar in 2020 as Covid opened its contemptible maw and spewed its poison across the world. When Covid struck it seemed as if hate, anger, vileness, violence, cruelty, and everything dark was let out of Pandora's Box. I drew deep into myself and wrote Ebby the Magnificent, a story of hope, friendship, beauty, and above all, kindness. Sharing Ebby's worldview breathed a sense of purpose into me for the last five years.

I avoid the news like our old dog Malaika ("angel" in Swahili) avoided getting a bath. But just like Malaika always ending up getting hosed down in the shower, I inevitably got drenched with a shower of news stories about wars, violence, sadness, and cruelty. Let's face it, bad news sells. My mom came to this country in 1963 from Tanzania, East Africa during the Civil Rights movement. It was a time of violence, civil unrest, assassinations, and divisions across racial and social lines. I could not help but compare the present to our tumultuous past.

Once again, I wondered if I could turn my despair into hope and my sorrow into joy. I asked myself, "What would Ebby do?" I started rereading my book, and the answer was right there. Ebby would reach out her little rabbit foot in friendship and kindness to anyone who would take it and find out if she could make them happy. Ebby did not try to change the entire world, but she instinctively knew she could make small changes everywhere she went just by being kind. I remembered what my friend Vilma said after reading Ebby. "It makes me want to go out and do something good," she said choking back tears. So that, my friends, is what I did. I did something good. I started my own project, which I call "Light Up Nigeria."

Simply put, Light up Nigeria consists me using a portion of the money I receive selling my books, art, and merchandise to buy literal beacons of happiness--solar powered lamps for Nigerian artists. If you have not yet read Ebby, or if you read it and gave it away, now is a fantastic time for you to get a copy, buy merchandise, Giclee prints, art greeting cards, or T-shirts because the money you spend will shine a light across the globe. From now through March 30, everything on my website is 20% off and all original art in my 2026 Art Catalog is 30% off. I intend to use most, if not all of the money I receive during this sale to purchase more lamps.

It all started with David Praise, the young, talented Nigerian artist who made a stunning graphite portrait of me (pictured below). I learned he did not have electricity in his house or any other reliable source of power to light up the nights or do any of the things we take for granted. He used a flashlight or the light of his phone to draw or study at night. You can click on his name or either photograph below to go to his Facebook Page.

In November, a Croatian friend, Gordana, went to Lagos, Nigeria, to give lectures on Circular Economics. "Circular Economics" is a model of resource production and consumption that involves reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products to extend their life cycle as long as possible. Or, as we say in America, "repurposing." She was meeting a Nigerian business owner, Dozie Igweilo, who started a company called QuadLoop using 70% electronic waste to build solar-powered lamps, which could also recharge batteries (such as cell phones). The lamp is aptly called "Idunnu", which means "Happiness" in Yoruba. Click here to see a short video about Idunnu. I asked her to take a copy of Ebby for David and a give him a lamp as well. It took David eight hours to reach Gordana's hotel in Lagos, where all he was expecting to receive was a copy of my book! David is now able to study (he is working on his Masters in Public Health) and work on his art at night for the first time in his life without wondering if the power will go out, leaving him in the dark. David's joyful reaction to receiving the lamp (which comes with a solar panel) made such an impact on me I decided to find more artists who could benefit from receiving one of QuadLoop's solar lamps.

I have now purchased sixteen lamps and solar panels for Nigerian artists and one Zambian artist. Each lamp costs USD$50 and the average cost of transportation is $12. Unfortunately, due to the sheer difficulty and expense of arranging transportation and logistics to other countries I have concluded that I need to focus on Nigerian recipients, at least until QuadLoop expands to other countries. I pay for all expenses of transportation, insurance, etc. to make sure these young artists receive their lamps without cost. My target is to buy and ship around 30-40 of them to start with. It depends on how much of my art and books I sell to determine what the percentage of each sale will be. Right now, close to 85% of my sales are going to purchase these lamps, and I have never felt richer. I am in near-daily contact with many of these artists.

Providing light so that these artists can work at night is only one of the many benefits of Light Up Nigeria. The artists, who live in different parts of Nigeria (and Zambia), are forming friendships and a network to support and encourage each other. QuadLoop is looking at possibly using these artists as a marketing platform and is talking about sponsoring an art exhibition in Lagos where all these incredible artists will sell and display their art. Further, each lamp purchase supports a small company owned and operated by hardworking people who are keeping harmful electronic waste out of landfills. Look at the joy in their faces! If you are on Facebook or Instagram, look at the art they post on their pages. I have included a link to their pages, just click on their names or photographs. I want to assure you that these are genuine artists making real art. Many of their pieces look so realistic that they are often confused for photographs. I have carefully vetted them and I will stand by them and help you coordinate a purchase of their art or if you would like to commission them to do a portrait or other painting for you. I intend to add an additional section to my website merchandise page where you will be able to by Gallery-quality Giclee prints of their art through me, and I will send them 100% of the net sale proceeds.

If you want to make a real difference in someone's life with no effort, and get a gorgeous book or piece of art in return, please consider purchasing my books, art, or merchandise from my website and I will do all the heavy lifting. And if Light Up Nigeria does not appeal to you, do something else kind. I promise it will make you feel good. We may not be able to change the entire world, but we can change a little bit of it for the better if we want.

The following two pictures are of Dozie Igweilo, the founder of QuadLoop with Oluwapelumi Richard, one of the incredible Nigerian artists receiving his light. Oluwapelumi is a self-taught artist who aspired to be an artist since a young age. He studied English and English Literature and works as a customer service representative when he is not creating breathtaking art. You can click here to see a short video about the Idunnu lamp.

These next two pictures are Godfrey Abedayo and Franklyn John lighting up their rooms with happiness. Godfrey is an incredible self-taught artist and is studying biological technology at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources. Franklyn is a self-taught artist who is studying electronic physics at the Federal University of Technology Owerri. He also dreams of being a stuntman someday. Click on their names or photographs to go to their Facebook Pages.

Ekenedilichukwu meaning Thanks be to God"), also known as Kingzy Alaemezie is an accomplished graphite artist, fashion designer, and all around entrepreneur. You can click on his picture or name to go to his Facebook Account.

Thommie Geize, the one artist from Zambia is another hard working graphite artist. When not doing portraits, you can find him teaching children how to draw, or making music. He received his light after 7 long weeks. It is the first light he has ever had in his room.

I will continue posting pictures of the artists receiving lamps in future newsletters and the progress in the art exhibition, which I hope to be able to attend in Lagos! I am also going to develop a new page on my website with pictures of their art and links in how to purchase original art or Giclee prints, with all proceeds going directly to the artist.

Ebby has a new home in Bellingham, Washington!!

Autographed hard and soft cover editions of Ebby the Magnificent are now available for purchase at Village Books and Paper Dreams in Fairhaven, Washington and at their second location in Lynden, Washington. Both locations are near Bellingham in northern Washington State, just a bunny hop from the Canadian Border. In addition, Village Books has a selection of my art greeting cards for sale in their Local Artist section! A portion of every sale will go to support my Light Up Nigeria project.

Village Books--Fairhaven is a locally owned, community-based independent bookstore in the heart of the Fairhaven Historic District. It opened in 1980 and has been providing a place for readers of every genre to find the perfect book. Taking up three full stories, Village Books has a cafe, restaurant and gift store. Take a look at how extraordinary this bookstore is!

In addition to Village Books, A Book for All Seasons in Leavenworth, Washington has recently restocked their shelves with several autographed soft cover editions of Ebby the Magnificent. Pick up your copy when you visit this wonderful independent bookstore!

Ebby the Magnificent and Everything Else is on sale for Light Up Nigeria and Easter!

To kick off