A personal book project, an encouraging first response from a publisher, and the question: What is the right way to bring my stories from Kenya to the world?

When I began writing down my encounters in Kenya, I had no plan to publish a book.

I simply wanted to tell stories. About people I have met over many years. About their experiences, challenges, and ideas. About encounters that have changed the way I see the world. And about a Kenya that cannot be reduced to the familiar images of safaris, vast landscapes, and exotic wildlife.

At some point, individual stories became a manuscript. Encounters turned into chapters. And the desire to preserve these experiences gradually developed into a book project.

“Encounter Kenya – From Human to Human” is meant to be more than a travel book.

It is intended to connect people. To invite readers to look more closely, question their own assumptions, and engage with stories that may not fit the familiar picture.

And now I am facing a new question: How will this book actually reach its readers?

Between Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing

Over the past few months, I have been exploring self-publishing in depth. Printing companies, ISBNs, book formats, costs, and distribution options. I have calculated, researched, and considered how I could bring the book to life independently.

For me, self-publishing above all means creative freedom. I can decide how the book should look, which stories it should include, and how I want to market it.

But of course, there is another option: a publisher.

Recently, I received an encouraging response from a publishing house. My book concept is generally a good fit for the publisher’s travel book programme. The feedback was positive. The existing chapters and materials are now being reviewed before a final decision is made.

This is an exciting moment.

Because suddenly, the question is no longer simply whether I want to publish my book. It is also about which path will give it the best opportunities.

What Really Matters to Me?

A publisher can offer many things: professional support, distribution through bookstores, visibility, and potentially a wider readership.

But a publisher alone does not make a book successful.

What matters most to me is that the stories retain their authenticity. That the people I have met do not become project examples or mere illustrations of a supposedly African reality.

I want to publish a book that reaches people. That sparks conversations. That perhaps leads someone to see Kenya differently – or to question their own perspective on social responsibility.

And I want to have the opportunity to introduce the book through my own networks, readings, and encounter journeys.

That is why I am carefully considering the different options. A smaller publisher can be just as exciting as a major publishing house. And self-publishing remains a possibility, too.

It is not just about the name on the book cover. It is about the people who will read the book.

A Book That Carries Encounters Forward

As I write these lines, I am back in Kenya.

This is where the stories began. Here, I meet people who have been part of my journey for years. And here, I am constantly reminded of why I wanted to write this book in the first place.

Not to explain Kenya.

But to make encounters possible.

Perhaps that is the most beautiful thought of all: that a story beginning in Kenya might one day find its way onto a table in Germany, be read aloud at an event, or inspire someone to open themselves up to an encounter of their own.

The path ahead has not yet been decided.

But the book is taking shape.

And I look forward to taking you along on this journey.

Manuela Pastore

Discover more about my work, my encounters in Kenya, and my book project: www.manuelapastore.de

Do you have similar experiences?