New Telenovela Mega Blog Takes The Shine

The week that just ended saw a big leap in telenovela traffic to our new telenovela mega blog. The global tool for measuring websites' traffic popularity - ALEXA, showed that three new websites broke into the TOP 20 league in the indigenous Nigerian web space. Yours truly was the miracle and biggest web news according to ALEXA Charts for the past three weeks. I saw this on WEB EXPLOITS, and felt we should be proud to shout it loud:

The Three new web whizkids emerged in the last three weeks on the Nigerian scene. The first in the list of movers and shakers is Telenovela Love Stories, which leaped from 401,000 to 39,000 (15th position), followed by Naija E Cash, and a new forum based in U.K called New Nigerians, it is patterned after our Noble Nairaland Forum. How far the New Nigerians would go cannot be determined now, as people felt it was just a carbon-copy of Nairaland. The web has a way of punishing duplicates though... NewNigerians, Naijaecash and Telenovelastories.tv are the three new web whizkids emerging on the web space.

This is good news that we must not rest on, until we become numero uno site with 5 million page views monthly (or daily LOL) ... There are 2 Billion people out there on the globe who daily watch telenovela drama on television ... Nigeria is no exception to this new trend. The plausible reason for the successes of Telenovela Blogging is because, there are less than five English language blogs out there (what a vacuum), and there are over 3,000+ great telenovela soaps.













Of the 2 Billion Watchers of telenovela soap opera, about 1 Billion are online. So if 1 Billion people are searching for telenovela stories to read, there are few choices beside the five notable blogs of which we are number one.

How I wish more gifted writers and passion-ladden bloggers would join me in starting a telenovela fire on the web that would warm up every of the 1 billion telenovela fans online. The harvest is indeed plenteous, but I am praying for more telenovela harvesters to help with this great burden to serve delicious telenovela menus.

Who Is Ninel Conde? Help Me Out, Pls...

I got me worried when I was researching the Seven Sins of Telenovela this afternoon. I was more than a little confused when I struck 'Patricia' ... Patricia Who? Remember her? She was the best and closest friend of suicidal lover, Silvia, in "Catalina y Sebastian". Silvia was Eduardo's possessive girlfriend in that novela.

Look again at the picture above, the media called her real name as Ninel Conde. That picture above resembles 'Patricia', the best friend of 'Silvia' (Kenia Gascon) in 'Catalina y Sebastian'. She was the sober and rational lawyer friend and confidant who always applied the breaks of reason on her emotionally impulsive friend, Silvia, who was always paranoid of Eduardo abandoning her for young Catalina.

That is not where I am going, but follow me to look over the second pix below:
Internet media splashed this photograph all over the web, among Spanish bloggers, but I was surprised to learn that the first and the second pictures are one and the same person - NINEL CONDE!

This is what got me confused, and led me to voice out my ignorance, asking for your help, particularly those of you who watched 'Catalina and Sebastian' telenovela last year 2007. If it is true that the two pics above are same person, then, I would say that Ninel Conde has come a looong way from the obscurity of role which she played in 'Catalina y Sebastian', and into the fame and fortune that visited her afterwards.

She had steadily climbed from the obscured platform of 'Catalina' into prominent roles in 'La Revancha' (The Revenge). She later again crashed out on Day 43, of the third edition (2004) of the popular Mexican Reality TV Show called: BIG BROTHER VIP.

Undaunted by this set-back, she rose from the ruins and ashes of this defeat, and was further energized and propelled to play prime roles in the world's two most-acclaimed telenovelas: 'Rebelde' and 'Ugly Betty', rubbing shoulders with the calibers of award-winning America Ferriera. This Mexican actress moved on into singing, and released a successful album titled after her name: Ninel Conde.

Her meteoric rise to stardom is an inspiration to many of you out there in our Nigerian Nollywood, who are currently playing obscured roles in home videos. There is hope for a breakthrough for you. Who would have imagined a single-mother 10 years ago, during the filming of 'Catalina y Sebastian', would rise above her circumstantial set-backs, and march on into fame and matrimonial bliss ten years later.

She was like an emotional 'drop-out' in 1999 during the production of 'Catalina y Sebastian'. She had just suffered a heartbreak and was like, left stranded with a 1-year old daughter (Sofia) then. Perhaps that was why they did not give her any prominent role in that novela. She was written off. They wrote her off. She however did not write herself off.

At the height of stardom, she got hooked again and this time, there aint no breaking up. She walked to the altar with businessman Juan Zepeda (47), last December 9, 2007. Interestingly, Juan was not just a 'free bird', he abandoned the winner of Miss Ecuador beauty pageant, to walk to the altar with 37 year old Ninel.

This was not without its own scandalous furor by the press, but she weathered the storm to enjoy a beauty and bliss with her hubby and daughter today. She promised to soon join the celebrity baby boomers 'club' of Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce and Gaby Espino... very 'soon'... he he he heee...

Don't forget to read the snippets of the full story of 'Second Chance' at El Cuerpo del Deseo site map. If you have not yet subscribed to keep up with daily updates for telenovela gists and opportunities from our Mega Telenovela Blog, Do so now with your email here.

Happy Novelatainment friends.

Unveiling The New Mega Telenovela Stories dot TV

This morning, I unveiled my new Telenovela Mega Blog (pix above). That is one project that would catapult mega entertainment and joy into many homes and offices this year.

So far,only about 50% of the 'effects' coded for the blog is in place, but I told my husband that I can't wait any minute longer, there is a great hunger for telenovela entertainment out there, I can't keep my fans continually in suspense. That is what gave birth to the unveiling of the new site this morning.

Imagine what it would look like when the job is 100% completed! I love what I am seeing so far. Please, fans go visit the blog and look it over, and also give me your critique, that would help modify any hitch you may notice while we are still test-running it.

Some 'crazy things' would happen over there between now and December which would drive a traffic of over 5 million pairs of eyes to watch it. I keep that up my sleeves as we release them piecemeal unto you. It was John Wesley who was quoted as saying:

"... when I set myself ablaze, people would be driven to come and watch me burn ..."

alluding to preaching the gospel with powerful annointing that would convict sinners and save their souls.

Well, a different kind of irresistible fire would be ignited on the new mega telenovela blog between now and December, fasten your telenovela seat-belts! That entertainment conflagration would be so great, even you, would come there to watch, (... wait a minute, not telenovela but...), to watch those who are watching it. A strange case of - When "watchers" become "the watched"!

It means that there would be an entertainment contagion that would be injected like adrenaling into readers' system by visting the blog multiple times daily, to the point that many would also stumble into their stardom through participation on the blog.

The greatest driver of popular traffic for any site is INNOVATIVE CONTENT! That is what I am preparing to 'unleash' (that is one favorite choice word of my husband, uhh - unleash!) mega content like food to the hungry. I pray God would bless me with the energy to make it happen as I have dreamt it. Just make sure you subscribe now by your email address, to keep up with the daily download of stories and opportunities from the telenovela mega kingdom then I would be sure that you are on board the cruise.

In my three years on the net, I have also learnt that there is a king called FREE! I am going to diligently court that the favors of that king on your behalf, to visit us on that blog with his 'royal majesty'. A time would come on that blog that you would not know what you came there to do. Whether to read snippets of telenovela stories, or to date 'stalk?', or participate in many games/quiz/competitions that bring so many free gifts into your bosom. I am excited, wait until it hits you the way it has been hitting me these past few days and weeks.

Happy Novelatainment friends!

Welcoming Pinoy Telenovela Fans

Since three weeks ago when Second Chance (El Cuerpo del Deseo), Telenovela began to air in the Philipines, Our blog has become a beehive of Pinoy telenovela fans as they continually feast on the salacious delicacy from Telemundo.

I checked through our sitemeter this afternoon and found to my surprise that Filipino fans occupy the second position (with 17%) after Nigerian fans (38%). You can imagine what it is like when the world's 12th most populous nation beseige your blog.

The United States have been pushed to 5th position back from her traditional 3rd position. Welcome again to all fans from yonder. Thank you for celebrating hunk actor, Mario Cimarro and Lorena Rojas and Martin Karpan with us.

While the feasting continues ensure to lessen my daily burdens by helping to refer others to the site map of the summaries of the full story of SECOND CHANCE, El Cuerpo del Deseo here.

Happy Novelatainment.

35,000 Telenovela Fans, 220,000 Pages In April

Apparently a telenovela revival has broken out both on the web and in our African continent! In the month of April, across our telenovela blog networks, 35,395 visitors registered their presence, reading over 220,501 pages of snippets and episode summaries. This was't our best, but it is better than any result since November last year to date.

The entralling but epileptic show of Marrio Comaro's epic, SECOND CHANCE - El Cuerpo del Deseo, by Africa Independent television - AIT TV, pushed many telenovela lovers unto the web, seeking for websites that published the synopsis or reviews of the full stories and they found us ready, and waiting since November last year. (You know, the audience is not homogeneous, European soccer freaks are different from telenovela fans).

This spark of revival would graduate this new month (May 2008), into a conflagration, as three new telenovela stories reviews ravage the web. I know of (TE DIRE ADIOS - I'LL NEVER SAY GOOD BYE) and (DAME CHOCOLATE - GIVE ME CHOCOLATE), which according to my husband, would be "unleashed" on our Mega telenovela Blog. I also know of (LA HEREDERA - THE HEIRESS), which has begun serialization by Biola on her People's Telenovela Blog.

'Prophetically' speaking to the telenovela 'congregation' and 'church' on the web (have fun, and don't be too serious with this), the month of May shall be a deluge of telenovela celebration, as these shows rave reviews are read accross the web, bringing entertainment without measure into the homes and offices.

Last month did not flicker out without its temptations too. Some 'big guys' approach me to collaborate to help bring these entertainment in a great dimension to you fans. I pushed my husband out of his normal routine trainings and SEO consultations to negotiate 'man-to-man' with them.

Apparently, they had another motive in mind. I had to tell him to break off relationship with them, after discovering that they wanted to appropriate my 20 months telenovela labour as theirs. We did not climb to become the third most popular indigenous website in Nigeria, after Nairaland Forum and Punch Newspapers for nothing.

Yes, I know of many of my friends and blogging colleagues, who sold their blogs last year for prizes ranging from $20,000 and above. Those friends could not match my labor and traffic results. If I must sell my blog, (pls don't be afraid, I ain't selling anything now), I know I would sell higher than those figures.

But to come to me in the guise of partnership and begin to tell me to yank off my name and contact address from my own blog, because you want to be my partner (not a buyer), is not morally admisible! That is a fox and usurper in sheep's clothing. My take on this for them: "TECHNOLOGY PLUS JOURNALISM MINUS PASSION IS NOT EQUAL TO SUCCESSFUL BLOGGING"! That is a recipe for failure!!!

Happy and prosperous new month of May. One of my friends call it a month of MUST! Saying that our lives must move out of uncertainties to divine certainty. I agreed with that! See you soon, friends. You Bet.

If you have noticed a new theme and design on our new mega blog, this is just the begining, wait to see what comes up in the next few weeks when all things would be ready... he he hee!

So Long, Story-Story dot Com

This morning, I said a final good bye to our secondary blog - STORY-STORY dot Com website, by way of permanently redirecting all traffic of fans and curious visitors from there to our new mega telenovela blog.

With over 72,000 visitors in five months and 486,794 page views, it was natural to feel nostalgic, after all, it was like a baby nurtured to maturity and had to leave the warm bosom of her parents, for a distant sojourn in a higher college.

That Blog hosted only one telenovela story out of our five telenovela stories, and that story was the SECOND CHANCE (El Cuerpo del Deseo). In 4 months since November, the blog commanded the undulating web waves. Hitting page 1, number 1, out of 22.6 million search results (SERPS) in Google, bringing awesome traffic of visitors to read the refreshing stories of 're-incarnated' Don Pedro Donoso.

It was quite painful to break with all our advertisers on that blog, but we had to do it in order to re-position the blog for greater social goals, as we move to a professionally branded telenovela mega site (still under construction by my husband).

I thank the CNN, Wall Street Journal WSJ, BBC, New York Times NYT, AP, and so many other numerous 3rd party advertisers that syndicated news content and other adverts through the blog. I assure you that when we would have fully re-positioned the blog, there shall be a future fruitful and mutually beneficial relationship between us.

I got a big good news from one of the big mobile phone operators yesterday who have assured us of their commitment as sponsor of part of our activities on the new mega site, whenever it is ready. That means telenovela fans can begin to enjoy free gifts of mobile phones when they win any of our competitions that would be staged on the new mega telenovela website.

Another good news... in fact two great news! A great fan of this telenovela blog has started a new telenovela blog, called People's Telenovela dot TV, and she has translated over 50 episodes of "La Heredera" (The Heiress), where the 'Romeo and Juliet' of Telenovela tube (Sergio Basanez and Silvia Navarro - Paloma & Diego)starred. I was to have posted the story in December 2006, but was carried off after two snippets, by another entertainment wave in another direction.

On our new website, I also, with the help of some well-wishers, would start "NUNCA TE DIRE ADIOS" (I'll Never Say Goodbye), for your reading pleasures... This is a tip of the novelatainment iceberg coming for you in the next days and months.

Thank you all. Happy Novelatainment!

Welcome "Miss Telenovela" Photo Pageant!

One Cool Sunday Morning in July last year (2007), I conducted a 3-day stardom election on this blog between Jennifer Lopez and Beyonce Knowles. The poll held for three days and J.Lo won, with 256 to 231 votes by telenovela fans on this blog.

487 voters in 3 days! That was splendid and indicative of the yearnings of fans on this blog for something similar to that here. J.Lo has since then given birth to a set of bouncing twins, and Beyonce has walked to the altar with her long-time heartthrob, famed rapper Jay-Z.

To you female fans out there, we are about to showcase you to the world! I want to expose your 'photogenic talents' (as my husband would call it), to one million pairs of eyes visiting our new teleovela love stories blog on a monthly basis.

I am introducing "MISS TELENOVELA" PHOTO PAGEANT on our newly improved mega telenovela website soon. Our partners in this drive have started looking for corporate sponsors to award the ultimate monthly winner, cash and gift prizes worth over 70,000 Naira (Over 600 Dollars).

Visitors and fans would vote on the most beautiful decent portrait sent in, by anyone who enters the photo pageant. I believe, if in 3 days we had almost 500 voters, we would get thousands, if not tens of thousands of voters for the month-long Miss Telenovela Photo Pageant. Every month we would repeat the competition for fresh faces.

From the month of May, which is just some 10 days away, when the new website would be unveiled to the internet public, we would begin to receive your portraits and post them on the new site for fans to vote on the best photo. We would publish the rules of free participation that would guide the competition soon. We would also set cookies that would drastically prevent fraudsters who may want to vote more than once for any of the bevy of ladies that would be participating in the competition.

I consider this as my little contribution to push our hidden talents unto a global scale as this competition would be one of its kind in the world, not just in Africa. To you 'girls' out there, giggle and be ready to be "Picked Up" for good.

Meanwhile, we have re-positioned the summaries of the Second Chance telenovela. Go to: full story of Second Chance, El Cuerpo del Deseo our new mega telenovela website to read it there.

Here Comes A Telenovela Copyright Trouble!

Just before we move to a new server, I received a letter (pasted below) from a fan of our telenovela blog here. I first thought that it was an April Fool's scam, until I scrutinized it closely. please, read on:

Pius D.S.P Akor dspious@yahoo.com wrote:

Dear Philomena Ojikutu,

Application For A Permission Letter.

My name is Pius D.S.P Akor.

I am from Kaduna stete(sic). I got the summary of
El Cuerpo Del Deseo ( Second Chance ) from story-story.com

I have printed it out for sale.

I am writing to you ma, to permitt me to sell it. I am just a
young boy of (20) years old who is trying to make things well for himself.

I shall be gratefull if my permission is granted.

Pls. ma, do send me the permission letter with your letterhead, for
proper documentation.

Thanks

Yours sincerely
Pius D.S.P Akor

Pls. ma, I rely on you now, do help me for the sake of GOD below is my no 08029087976

Thank you Ma.

This is how I celebrate my own April Fool's Day- Bombarded with pleas by a disingenuous fan to legitimize his crave to monetize my telenovela labor.

If you were in my position, what would you do? Grant him express permission?

The permission was not really the big thing in that letter above from Mr. Akor. If you, like me, could read between the lines, It is clear that with or without the so-called 'permission', Akor is bent on making money off-line with my works (telenovela narative as watched on TV), and that of our dear friend, Tessie Karuiki from Kenya.

He has already "... printed it out for sale"! He justified his action on the platter of age and necessity.

I am not going to stop him, first because, copyright/anti-piracy laws are very loose in this part of the world.

Secondly, I have seen many of my telenovela works (like Second Chance, (El Cuerpo del Deseo), The Gardener’s Daughter (La Hija de Jardinero), Esmeralda, and Catalina y Sebastian) printed and sold without my 'permission' at so many places in Lagos Megacity, Oshodi, Ikeja et al. If I couldn't stop them in Lagos, where I live, far less would I be able to stop them in Kaduna or Kano.

Thirdly, it is not really my work alone, what of Tessie? You would need her permission too.

Fourthly, The original work belongs to Telemundo and Televisa. All I did was to narrate the daily episodes "as I watched or read them" elsewhere with my own passion, and in my own personal and unique style. I cannot lay claim to the original story.

Fifthly, I have earned tens of thousands of Dollars from telenovela blogging over the past three years, (by God's grace, I am a 5-figure blogger). Struggling to prevent a youngster from a Naira spin-off at local level would be ridiculous (like chasing a mosquito with a sledge hammer).

Sixthly, I along with my husband, have begun to train a new army of student youths and teachers in monetized blogging and optimization skills (in collaboration with some high-profile international secondary schools), beginning from this 2nd term holiday (April 2008).

We are doing this to checkmate and liberate the unemployed youth (like Akor), from the scourge of scam emails a.k.a "Yahoo-Yahoo Boys", and also lift Nigeria's internet profile up, from the shameful label of an internet scammers haven.

We are redirecting the negative youth energies and exuberance from these web vices. We believe that once the Nigerian youth rediscovers the value of positive intellect in a global economy, our country's future is secured.

We are starting a Google crusade to create a large army of trained, motivated and remunerated Search Engine students, through this Monetized Blogging and Optimization program. Instead of email scams and internet fraud being perpetrated by our unemployed youths, we are raising a passionate army of “Google Boys and Girls” that would bring sanity and glory to the internet profile of Nigeria.

Instead of tango with the Akors of this world, we are redoubling our zeal to show the youth that: because the world is shrinking and global borders are disappearing, the internet is the only medium where someone without a lot of money but savvy writing and optimization skills can leverage huge incomes to live a dream lifestyle.

. A quarter of the world population of 6 Billion people are already online seeking for unique services and ready to pay a global price at a global currency for those services.

We are showing them that 1.5 Billion internet users are searching for information, 80 billion times monthly, for services and products that meet their dire needs, and in the process paying $25 Billion Dollars monthly, for those services and products!

We are training them to acquire internet entrepreneurial skills honed to provide a part of those numerous services through, showcasing their talents and acquired blogging and optimization skills.

We are empowering them to contribute their quota to the growth of the global economy, which has unbelievably grown by the momentum of the internet, particularly in the last 15 years, creating awesome opportunities for the average person to showcase their skills and legitimately earn great incomes.

Finally, we are encouraging them that in the global market for positive intellect, Nigerian youths have an indelible place, and there is still a huge and noble vacuum for them to fill up.

This is why I am neither infuriated nor enraged by the blatant requests of Akor. I only felt compassion for the 'lost generation', (mind you, not 'wasted' as Prof. Soyinka imputes), which Akor symbolizes in Nigeria. We must find this generation from the wilderness of intellectual craftiness and liberate to bring them home from mental prodigality, to rebuild Nigeria and Africa, after the order of the lofty dreams of our forbears.

If you want to reply to this piece. please visit the: Telenovela Forum to do so, as this blog is being moved from this server, any moment from now. Share your opinion and advise for Akor.

Telenovela Marching Forward In March

Good news to all telenovela freaks! In the next few hours, we are marching out of blogger to our own paid hosting blog at Telenovela Stories Dot TV. Thanks to my husband who spiritedly made this dream come to pass.

Since the year began, I have been assisting him and getting much involved in SEO consulting for some big corporate organizations, that was why my activities was scanty here. Now, I should be able to respond to age-old questions of fans demanding for new telenovela stories which I would actualize on the new blog.

All the full stories of Second Chance, (El Cuerpo del Deseo), The Gardener’s Daughter (La Hija de Jardinero), Esmeralda, and Catalina y Sebastian, would also be moving to the new site. We shall also be having much fun with diverse telenovela opinions from the Telenovela Forum where many great story tellers would help us out with telenovela stories across the globe. Make sure you register there to receive regular info on telenovelas.

Friends, catch ya dia!

Jennifer de la Vega - Desperate Housewife!

Actress Gabriela Vergara a.k.a Jennifer de la Vega, of the gardener's daughter (la hija del jardinero) telenovela fame has bitten the apple of success, as she shot to stardom provided on the platter of Univision in the Spanish version of "Desperate Housewives".

She is to play the leading role in this very popular American soap opera. We have missed the antics of this sparkling actress,since the end of that telenovela two years ago. She is sure to act well because of her vibrant antecedents.

In that telenovela she played the role of a jilted former Miss Universe who lost her lover to a gardener's daughter - Mariana Ochoa "Luisa Fernanda". Nigeria has missed the desperate housewives soap, but we are hoping to get a friend out there to help us share the snippets from beginning to date.

To Gabriela Vergara, we say a big congratulation, in her big deal role in 'Desperate Housewives', which she just landed.

The Last Laugh Is Still The Best

At Last, we telenovela fans made it to the last month of the year 2007! The popular adage that 'he who laughs last, laugh the best' is still true. Last month I came out with a statement that the God of the eleventh hour would appear in our situation. I believed it. ... and, so was it, it happened, many 11th hour testimonies burst forth in my telenovela blogging career.

This last month, God is going to give every one that believe, a laughter that would rumble through this December, and even spill over into 2008! No more sorrow, no more shame and reproach. Permit me to indulge a little from this 'telenovela pulpit'. This last month, is a month of returning for me, I don't know about you friends.

If you, like me, have gone on some prodigal journeys, it is time to return home. God is waiting for you. Just be honest enough to admit, just like me, that you miss many of the target you set for 2007, and went asunder off the mark. The Father would receive you, and surprisingly would celebrate your return with a great feast, to the envy of others. If you don't believe me, just wait for Christmas in 25 days time, then you will understand.

I promised you 20 telenovela stories in January, this year, but I could only finish some five and a half, due to riotous distractions! I have news for you, my father has forgiven me, would you too? God is giving us a telenovela Chocolate, (Dame Chocolate- "Give Me Chocolate Telenovela"), to celebrate our return.

This weekend, that is, today Saturday, tomorrow Sunday, and even on Monday, Tessie and I are already working round the clock, to bombard you with the final rounds of El cuerpo del deseo (Second Chance) Telenovela. So, be on the look out. If you don't want to miss any of the snippets, then, subscribe by email now, for regular updates, as we post them, so that you will not miss out of the outpouring of the telenovela rainfall, or is it el cuerpo del deseo rainfall?.

Milestone 2,700: FEEDing Hungry Telenovela Fans

Good morning friends, I have been mostly involved in the BLOGGING FOR MONEY workshop organized by my hubby since Monday, reason for the incommunicado. More importantly however, I chose my first post today to acknowledge a major landmark in my blogging career yesterday, as My blog crossed the 2,700 Feedburner Telenovela Subscribers count.

This is worthy of mention and celebration for many reasons. Exactly this time in November 2006, 12 months ago, I crossed the 700 subscriber level. So, in twelve months, additional 2,000 subscribers have joined our telenovela family in this love garden.

I know of so many big names in the blogging profession internationally, who don't even boast of 800 subscribers. So, we have tried in our community here. Why this landmark is significant is that, this is a level that makes more money comes your way as one can easily monetize the Feeds. It is also significant to have almost 3,000 readers subscribing to our feeds daily. That is a sure authority to the money-spinning advertisers to come negotiating with us. (LOL).

May I use this opportunity to share this glory with you lovers of telenovela in this love garden. THANK YOU! This feat is impossible without you, and your marvelous prayers, comments and encouragements. Thank you again, and again. I am indebted to you, right from the days of the Gardener's daughter (la hija del Jardinero), to Esmeralda, to Catalina y Sebastian and now, to El cuerpo del Deseo (Second Chance). Thank you again for your loyalty in building this love community, with your steadfastness and loyalty. Thanks to my brother webmaster, Seun Osewa of Nairaland.Com who stood by us and popularized us at our teething period last year.

Let me also say a big thank you to all our 'students' in the BLOGGING FOR MONEY class (both graduating and current). I particularly thank the 14 people in the last one week who have subscribed to the ONLINE Version of the BLOGGING FOR MONEY Course, led by Josephine Ozeigbe, Bose Adegoke (U.K), Abiola Semiat and others, you are all our inspirations. You did the 'impossible' by taking the workshop from the classroom to the web. I am grateful to you all.

I would resume posting snippets either later today or tomorrow. If you want to subscribe to the Telenovela love garden, so you can receive the daily snippets hot, this is the link to subscribe by email, do so now.

If however you are interested in the BLOGGING FOR MONEY Course Online, it is TEN Thousand Naira Only. Send me a mail at Philomena@telenovelastories.tv and I would send you payment details.

*******************************************

P.S.

Good news is also coming from in Lusaka, Zambia, as this "blogging prophet" has honor both at home and abroad. We are being invited by netpreneurs in Southern and East Africa to come and conduct the Blogging For Money Workshops over there very soon.

Also, a big news media from California, USA, is scheduling an interview with me, to come and talk on the secrets of Telenovela Blogging, and how I became the number one telenovela blogger in the world.

I pray that the God of the eleventh hour shall appear in your situation too, and He shall give you the last Laugh, which is the best laughter at the "12th hour" (December). Why? because what you all made happen for me, God would make happen for you too manifold!

Destilando Amor (Distilling Love)

Reports reaching us shows that a new Telemundo Telenovela is bursting viewers chart on prime time, in the U.S. It is called Destilando Amor (Distilling Love), according to a new telenovela portal, based in California and registered as Telenovela Garden, which drew an inspiration from our Telenovela Love Garden here.
This telenovela is the adaptation of our popular "Paloma and Diego" of Cuando Seas Mia (When You Are Mine) which itself is a remake of "Café, con Aroma de Mujer" (Coffee With an Aroma of a Woman). Instead of Sergio Basanez and Sivia Navaro, we have we have "Gaviota and Rodrigo" played by Eduardo Yanez and Angelica Rivera. Some other adaptations call it "The Essence of Love". More gists can be found on Wikipedia.

The same story-line and the same coffee plantation settings, but with American flavor. Actor Sergio Sendel played a role similar to Fabian, while our Niurka of Rebeca telenovela fame (Ana Patricia Rojo), played the role of foolish Rodrigo's sister.

Don't forget to check out the latest updates of El Cuerpo del Deseo (Second Chance) at the telenovela site map. We are level at Snippet 72 with Kenya, thanks to my blogging partner from Kenya, Tessie. But I am determined to overtake Kenya this week, and get to the finishing line by the end of next week.

The God of the Eleventh Hour!

"... and about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, why stand ye here all day idle? ... 'because no man has hired us!' Go, into the vineyard..."

Happy new month- November. Let us have a telenovela digression, so that we would properly positioned in this closing weeks of year 2007.

The eleventh month is very similar to the eleventh hour. The eleventh hour signifies a timing that suggest lateness concerning a thing, and it would take a miracle or divine intervention for that thing to still succeed, having been reckoned out due to lateness. The eleventh hour is that point of hopelessness and helplessness.

At that point, no man can help you, everybody is desperately working to round up the race. Nobody is ready to go to the starting blocks to help you start up a race that is almost finished, because by human reasoning, it is not possible for you 'make it' in that kind of finishing race.

The quotation above is what I picked as appropriate for this time of the year. Is there any momentum you have lost either at work or in your life in the last ten months, and you have almost given up hope, because the year is running to an end, and you think it is too late to recover? Then, this counsel is for you.

God is the creator of time and seasons. He particularly demonstrated that in the above quotation from Matthew 20. He always appear at the last minute, and ... at the eleventh hour, to correct mistakes, and restore you from the set-backs of life that you may have suffered.

Per chance, you have 'gunned' for a job throughout the last ten months, and you have not even gotten that appointment or promotion, that you set as a goal for this year, don't despair, the God of the eleventh hour would appear into that your situation, for correction and promotion on your behalf.

He overtook their weaknesses and defects and declared that '... the last shall be the first, and the first shall be the last'. God would meet you at that point of your needs this 11th month, and make you to overtake all the obstacles that have resisted your progress this year, and He would still bring you into fulfillment and joy, as this year rounds up on a great note for you.

From now till the end of this year, your heart cry shall be: "Oh God of the eleventh hour, APPEAR in my situation!" When he appears, everything militating against you would give up and disappear.

That elusive momentum that would catapult you to the mountain top of your career and desires in God, would invade your life and you would be carried effortlessly forward on the wings of the eagle, and coast home to victory before December ending! AMEN

Remember that Abigail and her two sons were on the verge of humiliation, ... they have packed their loads and were set to go down into obscurity orchestrated by Isabel and Andre. But at the eleventh hour, God appeared, and they had two breaking news that changed their status and destiny from slavery to mastery; from maid to mother of the house; from 'ground-floor' to "upstairs"!

Your own breaking news (I call them 'changing news'), that shall break down the obstacles to your miracles, are also on the way this 11th month. That shall be your testimony too because this is your eleventh hour. The God of the 11th hour shall appear and turn your case around for good.

For those fans querying me for abandoning "catalina y sebastian" telenovela, I apologize. I would certainly resume as soon as I am done with El cuerpo del deseo (second chance) summaries. We can't afford to lose the momentum that we have gained, with the second chance, there might be no 'third chance' for us if we abandon it too.

47 Love Cheers For Nigeria

Every festival has its own Honor, the magnitude of which is proportional to it's importance. Nigeria is 47 years old today and still struggling to break free from her odious past.

The most populous black nation in the world marches on dauntlessly against the infernal opposition of epileptic energy sector and political corruption. (I spend an average of 12,000 Naira [about $100], to fuel my generator for 8-hour daily for 30 days a month to access the internet. I am on "Gen" as I write this tribute to Nigeria).

While still struggling for those 47 years to find her feet as a sovereign nation, we pray most fervently that the challenges of the energy sector and corruption would be surmounted so that all can be happy and the country shall move forward. I wish all Nigerian Telenovela lovers happy anniversary.

The entertainment industry has one thing here that boosts its hope every time Nigeria is mentioned, and that is: 'the market'. It is good news for the telenovela importer who makes 50 million Naira (about $400,000) net profit for a 180 episode novela. How much of that money has been ploughed back into the local movie or television production of equal depth like the Latin telenovelas.

It is a shame and miscarriage of entertainment weight that these unscrupulous importers have begun defrauding the television audience in Nigeria by bringing old and jaded novelas like Catalina y Sebastian (1999), while current Novelas like El Cuerpo del Deseo (Second Chance) 2005, did not enjoy mainstream media like AIT and co, and also commercial patronages of big multinational firms.

Nevertheless I send 47 telenovela and love cheers to all Nigerians this day. May God bestow 47-fold honor on all Nigerian telenovela fans during today's festival and throughout the rest of 2007. Happy Anniversary!!!

365 Days of Telenovela Love

Exactly one year ago, I was inspired by my husband to ignite my telenovela passion with blogging telenovela stories. Hitherto, I was a niche blogger in many diversified areas, and was yet to find my feet then. So, entered The Gardener's Daughter (La Hija del Jardinero)!

The explosion which later spiraled my passion, converting it into a successful blogging career, was unimaginable! Having 3,000 visitors (Telenovela Lovers) per day, with a page views of 15,000-27,000 daily, is definitely not the norm in the wild, wild, web or blogosphere. What set out as a passionate hobby later began to generate a modest income as the blog was gradually monetized, all these on Blogger's free blogspot hosting. Incidentally, Blogger too marked her 8th year anniversary two days ago.

With over a quarter of a million unique visitors so far, and over 1.5 million page views in 365 days of blogging, posting about 450 stories, the Telenovela Love Garden has come of age.

This hobby has turned-in, an average blog income of five hundred U.S Dollars ($500), consistently for me since February 2007, cumulating in almost $5,000 in 12 months! For a work-at-home mom, in poverty-stricken Africa, on a free blogspot, with all its inherent limitation, this was by no means a superlative success.

That is what I called turning passion to profits. With 893 comments by telenovela lovers on the 450 posts, 272 comments on the 26 post our partner site, novelahitz, and over 2,000 comments from the C-Box, it is a proof a high interactivity by members, almost turning the blog to a social media, a community of telenovela lovers! Subscriber base by FeedBurner who accessed the love garden daily by feeds are over 2,450!

Also, we are the only growing telenovela community on MyBlogLog. We maintained our number one spot as the foremost telenovela blog in the world, published in English language. We are number three position on Google for the keyword and search term "TELENOVELA" out of 5.21 million search results! We have so much to achieve, despite these progress of the last one year.

These efforts have naturally graduated or translated to my moving up to pro blogging, by paid hosting on a new blog on Telenovela Thrillers and Love Stories. I would maintain greater presence there, with my transition to broadband internet connection in my new location in Ikeja, the hub of Lagos megacity.

I am greatly indebted to many of you fellow lovers of telenovelas for these successes recorded over the last 365 days of love encounter in this 'love garden'. Bola, Seun, Bibi, Ayo, Amina, 'Desola, Professors Olofin and Acosta-Alzuru, MamaJ, Philip, Aisha Bt, and, others too awesome to mention here in this small space. This is also your success as you were all part of sowing to make this love garden green and romantic. The sweet fragrance you have poured out here would not fade away, even as I prepare to launch with my Story-Story blog soon. Once again thank you.

My debt of appreciation also goes to my web mentors and friends, whom I have picked so many tips from, to climb to this level of modest growth. From the three "J's"- Joel Comm, John Chow and Jeremy Schoemaker. Big thanks to my sister blogger- Jane May whose depth and profoundity helped me a lot, same for my 'former blogging class-mate' in John Chow's "lecture theater", Kumiko Suzuki, who had since moved ahead of me from free Blogspot to WordPress paid hosting, earlier this year. Hope to catch up with you soon friend.

Shout Out to the 'Girls'!

This morning I have to pay some of my friendship debts to some of my great new telenovela friends on the web. First on the queue is dearly esteemed Dr. Carolina Acosta-Alzuru, Telenovela lecturer and Associate Professor in the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia, U.S.A. She is a Venezuelan by birth, and runs two blogs Telenovelas- Carolina (English version), and Telenovela-Carolina (Spanish version).

She is one generous woman who gives without expecting a pay back.Why did I say that? She generously gave a link to our Telenovela Love Garden here over two weeks ago, and has never asked for a reciprocal action from me. That is noble!

In a recent post by her she told us how she took telenovela to the classroom in form of a course unit taught to her students, in the University. She also highlighted some other changes in the telenovela world as telenovela actors and actresses were crossing over, from Latin America to Hollywood.

Next on my overdue list is Ayo Ajiboye I call her "Lady of wits and wisdom" after her Wits & Wisdom Blog. She is a wife and home-maker, with great flair for music, singing, reading, traveling.

In her recent posts, she dwells more on inspirational quotations. The theme of her blog is: "So Little, Yet Big Enough To Inspire" I love her cool and neat blog. She also gave us some Wikipedia tips of the significance of this month- AUGUST. Ayo is a reputed health Educator.

Last but not the least on my list is my best online friend, you all know her, she is Omodesola (Izekor) Ilechukwu (Mrs.)

Why did I call her my best online friend? It is rare to always meet online friends in real life. Except it is leading to dating and marriage. But 'Desola is different, she is a happily married lady and mother of wonderful children like me.

She strenuously strove to meet me in real life and having met, we have become so close. Yesterday she did a marvelous job by fishing out the remaining episode of Catalina and Sebastian. Remember it was my lady engineer online friend, Bola Oluyemi, of Life Blog Magazine and Mums-Dads-Children Blog who gave me Episode 1-52 of Catalina y Sebastian? I have faithfully delivered most of these in the Sitemap of the full story of Catalina y Sebastian.

Hurrah 'Desola has gotten the balance for me, and I would sincerely pursue the race as soon as I finish this post. So, let me run along and post some more today, as I shout out loud to all the 'Girls' (giggle) and telenovela fans.

Catalina In a Love Quandary

Torn between the devil and the deep blue sea. What a precarious and pitiable situation for a young 20-year old girl. That was the picture of telenovela actress, Silvia Navarro alias Catalina. Yesternite, episode 23 portrayed her as more confused than ever.

She could not choose whether to follow her hyena family back to Mexico or stay put with insolent Sebastian and fight to prove to him her true love for him. Her problem is so much that I personally felt she needed a heavy-duty caterpillar vehicle to cart them out of her way.

There have been much clamor for the FULL STORY of Catalina y Sebastian. That would take much editing and free occupation for the next ten days, at the rate of 10 snippets per day. That is possible and I am already working on it. Let's start today and see if I can post ten, i.e in the next 24 hours, PHCN not withstanding.

I tested the waters yesterday by posting Episode 7, which we have watched some two weeks ago. Let's proceed to episode 8, and see if we can attain up episode 17 by 12 noon tomorrow.

====================U P D A T E===================

These are the first eight episodes which I have posted so far:
Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3, Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8

Renewed & Refilled- Tripple 7 Dimension

It is a great mystery what happened to me in the last three months (April to June). Energy depleted, enthusiasm sipped away, I wandered in a mental quandary. I trudged on because of my love for all the fans of this telenovela blog. I knew my telenovela output was wanning, but I was seemingly powerless to reverse it.

Today is a unique and special day, we are a privileged generation. The 7th day of the 7th month of the 7th year of this millennium is indeed a special day, as the New York Times recognized it. This day provided the answer to the much-sought revival for my telenovela journey, which was going down (in fact, I was operating at 20% of my normal telenovela output). I was re-fired, re-vitalized and re-invigorated. Now I shall move forward, having broken free from the telenovela stagnation that held me spellbound for the last quarter.

Thanks to all of you out there who would not give up. Many anonymous, many- my friends, Big sister Sharon Babs (I call her sweet mama), Omodesola, Bola, Afusat, Shirley, Olichin2002, Chams, Nnenna, Abbas, Newking, Aishat bt, 5Alive, and others too numerous to mention. let it be known by all who care that a fresh 7-7-7 anointing has lifted me out of that of the mental prison and I am free to do exploits now.

The Gardener's Daughter, though over-flogged, also re-emerged during my 'go-slow' season, on a local Television- LTV. All About Camila (Todo Sobre Camila), took off on another local station MBI T.V. Also the popular "SECOND CHANCE" (El Cuerpo del Deseo) is also about to kick off on Galaxy Television. Meanwhile, I am resuming Catalina y Sebastine. That is my priority debt to you and must be paid off.

Happy 5th Birthday- Telenovela-World

The Telenovela World Forum marks her 5th birthday anniversary today, 23rd June 2007. This website, coordinated and edited by Ben who is the webmaster (picture bottom left), has been a major entertainment resource for over 200 telenovelas in the last five years. It has also been a center and platform of romantic web entertainment and social networking amongst telenovela fans world wide.

We at Telenovela Love Garden salute the courage and commend the wisdom and energy of Ben and his team, for giving the world a great resource platform to enjoy the Latin soap operas.

The website on many occasions has been my resource base for many of my telenovela summaries and snippets with the exception of The Gardener's Daughter and Esmeralda. On several occasions many 'die-hard' fans of telenovelas come to that Forum to discuss and also post episodes (sometimes, complete episodes) of many telenovelas, which they have watched from their T.Vs at the forum, for the entertainment of other fans.

We appreciate the loyalty of the fans and the dedication of Ben and his team. It is great to have you as a rescue point for many of us who hungered and thirsted for the popular telenovelas.

I say on behalf of our friends and fans of the Telenovela Love Garden here: "Thank you and, Happy 5th Anniversary" Five Happy Telenovela Cheers to Ben and his dedicated team!!!!!

Hip, Hip, Hip, Hurahhhhh!!!!!