Eric Madeen's bestselling work of literary fiction, 'Water Drumming In The Soul: A Novel of Racy Love in the Heart of Africa,' will be available at no charge in ebook form August 31 through September 2, 2026 at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Eric-Madeen/author/B08VGRNJVW.
'Water Drumming In The Soul' is a transformative journey inspired by Madeen's adventures in Africa. In this fiery tale set in steamy equatorial Africa, Peace Corps volunteer David Fields is on a mission: to build a medical dispensary in a village where spells are cast on enemies and fear of a witch doctor reigns. David seldom has his bearings – cultural or geographical – and must fight a cocktail of tropical maladies as well as social taboos as he throws himself into work. Until he meets Assam. Captivated by her water drumming, her playing the stream as a drum, David is drawn to her early on and becomes the hunter captured by the game. And what a rollicking game of love it is - with a tension or excitement between them that never dissipates, until the haunting end.
In the same manner as bestselling travel author Paul Theroux, Eric Madeen has never stopped seeing himself as a Peace Corps volunteer. Just after graduating from the University of Arizona, he helped to build a primary school complex in Francophone Gabon, Africa. In an equatorial village ringed by rainforest, his journey turned unexpectedly personal: he went hunting for monkeys to fill the cooking pot, got lost for three days, and came home with more than a story. It was there, in that wild landscape, that he fell in love—and the experience would later be transformed into fiction, giving his first novel, Water Drumming in the Soul, a vivid, lived-in reality.
Readers and reviewers have expressed high praise for 'Water Drumming In The Soul.' One Amazon reviewer said, "Water Drumming in the Soul" not only tells a passionate love story, but it also delves into thought-provoking themes like culture, identity, and the power of human connection. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that'll have you laughing, crying, and everything in between. This isn't your typical love story! This novel is so well-written and full of unexpected twists you'll keep flipping those pages. Plus, the characters are well-developed -- rounded in their complexities -- that you'll feel like you've known them forever. So, if you're ready for a wild and adventurous ride, grab a copy of this modern-day classic ASAP!"
Zaheer Baber, Professor of Sociology at University of Toronto, said, "Madeen's storytelling prowess shines through and resonates with authenticity. The characters, particularly Assam, are beautifully developed, challenging traditional stereotypes as in presenting a more nuanced and genuine portrayal of African culture." Elizabeth Montano, author of The Eternal Dawn Trilogy, called it "a novel so beautifully and realistically written I found it on par with works by whom we consider masters … Hemingway definitely comes to mind."
Eric Madeen writes cross-genre, and is the author of several books: 'Tokyo-ing!', 'Asian Trail Mix: True Tales From Borneo to Japan', and 'Tennis Clubbed, Snubbed and Rubbity-Dub Dubbed'. His writing has been published widely, including in Time, Asia Week, The East, Daily Yomiuri, Tokyo Journal, Kyoto Journal, Metropolis, Mississippi Review, ANA's inflight magazine Wingspan, Peace Corps Worldwide, East Of The Web, and several anthologies. He is a recently retired associate professor of modern literature at Tokyo City University and an adjunct professor at Keio University. Madeen served for 2.3 years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Francophone Gabon, Africa, where he built a primary school complex, an experience that inspired his first novel.
'Water Drumming In The Soul: A Novel Of Racy Love in the Heart of Africa' will be available at no charge in e-book format August 31 through September 2, 2026 at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Eric-Madeen/author/B08VGRNJVW. All of his books are available at Amazon. More information is available at his website at https://ericmadeen.org.
