Closing the Book on MB Ink
Starting a new story, a new adventure, is always exciting. Today, I’m happy to announce that I am launching ANANSI: A Strategic Narratives Firm.
Why? One of things about a good story is that things change. After all, no one wants a story where everything remains the same. We want to see how the main character deals with drama, faces challenges, suffers losses, enjoys victories, falls and rises again. We want to see how those experiences and changes of circumstance impact the character, and the supporting cast.
Life is the same way. Everyone deals with drama, faces challenges, suffers losses, enjoys victories, falls and, hopefully, rises again. If those experiences fail to change us, or how we perceive and interact with the world, are we truly living?
As you know, life since I went freelance has been challenging. I’ve survived three brushes with death since 2019, and those experiences have changed the way I look at myself, the world, and my place in the world.
After doing freelance PR consultant work since 2004, I started MB Ink Media Relations in 2019 to hone the skills I had, gain new skills, and learn more about the Buffalo Niagara community. I’ve accomplished the first goal, and happily recognize that the latter two goals are an ongoing educational process. I enjoy learning new things, and am perfectly happy leaving those goals in the perpetual “unfinished” column. Now, I’m closing the book on MB Ink Media Relations. It has served its original purpose, and it’s time for me to start a new story: Making sure the world knows about YOUR stories.
And, so, ANANSI, named after the Akan people’s (in West Africa) folktale character. Commonly depicted as a spider (there’s a personal story there about me, but that’s for another day), Anansi is known for, among other things, gathering stories, sharing wisdom, and imparting knowledge. He’s also one of the most recognized characters in traditional West African, West Indian, and African American folktales.
ANANSI will focus on supporting its clients’ creative content, public relations outreach, and media engagement efforts. It will support up-and-coming authors with their manuscripts; community organizations with their public engagement; and companies with their media outreach. However, a vital component will be ANANSI’s focus on “Rebuilding Buffalo.” More on that later.
The paperwork for ANANSI has been filed with New York State and the IRS. The website is in development. The social media accounts are being established.
I’ll keep you updated.