Ber Anena Bursts Through Barriers

I  met Anena over ten years ago in Kampala, a friend to Aujo Lillian Akampurira, first winner of the Beverley Nambozo Poetry Award. Anena, undeniably consistent with her writing and determination, published in both print and online journals, amongst them Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation anthologies.

Anena travelled to study for her Master's in Creative Writing at Columbia University, in 2019. A few years later, Anena has won a a six-figure deal with Flatiron Books for her forthcoming memoir, The Lies We Tell for America.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Anena, after finding out about this incredible opportunity.

Please share a bit about the journey to your book deal

In 2019, when I moved to New York, I began writing about my journey to Columbia University. As you probably recall, I embarked on quite a brazen fundraising for the MFA Writing program I was admitted to. By 2020, what had started as short essays was a book-length memoir called The Lies We Tell for America.

I began looking for a literary agent to represent my book but was not successful until 2022 when Sophie Scard from United Agents sent me an email asking if I wanted to be represented. Someone she didn’t name at the time had told Sophie to check out my writing and she loved it. I was in disbelief but immensely grateful. Anyone who has queried agents knows how extremely hard it can be to land one, so having one show interest in your work is truly reassuring.

I went through several rounds of editing with Sophie from 2022 and in September 2024, she began sending the book out to publishers. I was beyond thrilled when Flatiron Books expressed interest and ultimately offered us a preempt deal about a week later.

All of this has felt surreal but I’m immensely grateful. I also feel really lucky that I found an agent and editor who share my vision for the memoir and understand and champion my writing.

This book, how important is it to you and your studies?

I started my creative writing journey as a poet and the memoir is an affirmation of the creative and genre versatility I’ve always wanted as a writer.  At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where I’m pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing with a focus on poetry, I’ve endeavored to write and enroll in fiction and nonfiction classes as well. As I look forward to a career in academia, being able to teach multiple genres in the Creative Writing field is a blessing.

How has this deal shifted your idea of writing?

I don’t think my idea of writing has changed. I still believe in its value to the writer and the world in general. What has deepened is my belief that as unrewarding as writing can be, acknowledgement and recognition is possible. I had worked extremely hard at bringing this memoir to life. My poetry and fiction had been recognized and awarded prizes before, but whatever else followed was not a guarantee. The life of a writer is a constant hit or miss. A gamble. I had hoped that a publisher would pick up the memoir but never dreamed it would be this huge deal. It’s a writer’s dream and I don’t take the opportunity for granted.  

How far do you believe poetry can take us?

I don’t think there’s a limit to where poetry can take us. I believe that my debut poetry collection, A Nation in Labour, played a role in my acceptance to Columbia. When the book was selected joint winner of the Wole Soyinka Prize for Literature in Africa in 2018, it provided me an introduction to the literary scene beyond Uganda. I have had and continue to have several opportunities because of that poetry collection. The limit depends on how far one is willing and able to push themselves, to grow as a writer and to take advantage of every opportunity that comes.   

Inspiring words for poets in Uganda

Send your work out. There are countless online journals today looking for work. Many of them are free, others offer submission fee waivers. I’m often puzzled every time I get an email from writers asking me where they should submit their work. As long as you can afford to be on social media, you should be able to Google search literary journals or look at the bios of your favorite writers. They always list the publications their work appears in. There will be rejections, but the acceptances will come too. And, read. Buy books by writers whose work you admire and learn from them. Attend writing workshops and readings. You never know where your inspiration or the next big break will come from.  

What's next?

I’ll be working with my editor to bring the memoir to your bookshelves by Fall 2026. I’m also working on completing my PhD and hoping for the publication of my next poetry collection. So fingers and toes crossed.

We're extremely pleased for Anena and are waiting agog for more super news.

Interview by Beverley N Nsengiyunva