LIFE IS DIVERSE AND ONE GENRE OF
LITERATURE CAN'T CAPTURE IT ENOUGH - INTERVIEW
WITH OKEKE AKUDO NKEMJIKA CHRISTIEN – A.K.A
- KEMJY XTIEN
#YOUNG
WRITERS’ INTERVIEW SERIES# - SYNW 001
Nkemjika is an English Language graduate from the University
of Nigeria, Nsukka. She has attended the Fidelity Bank Creative Writing
Workshop, the Garden City Literary Festival Workshop and the Ebedi Writers
Residency. She is the author of Amazon bestseller, Beyond Dialogismos. Her
poem, Addiction's Affliction, translated into a movie flick was nominated for
an award at the Eko International Film Festival. She has been nominated for
poetry writer of the year by the Nigerian Writers Award crew. She organizes
creative writing workshops for young people in secondary schools and is the
anchor of the Words, Twists and Influence word competition which holds every
Saturday on Facebook.
SYNW
- Why do you write?
KEMJY
- Two reasons: to make my world
better through words AND to be a better person by unleashing and refilling
myself.
SYNW - Which novelists do you admire?
KEMJY - China Achebe
SYNW - Describe the route to your first novel being published…
KEMJY
- I had a manuscript which went
through the editing process and then the planning and projecting, for the
interest of the readers, after which it went to the publishers who did the
finishing part and became a book
SYNW
- How has having a publisher helped you?
KEMJY
- It has helped me build a better bond
with books and also has aided me to channel my ideas about books in a better
direction
SYNW - In what ways do you ‘service’ your books?
KEMJY
- Sales and investments in people
through gifting them
SYNW - What advice would you give to an aspiring novelist?
KEMJY
- Have an imagination, believe in it,
trust your abilities to achieve it no matter how tough the journey is and rest
on God for He alone can bring it to pass by giving you life and finance
SYNW - Why do you write?
KEMJY
- Because I love to play with words. I
guess because words love to visit me.
SYNW
- Which novelists do you admire?
KEMJY
- Chinua Achebe, Dr. Wale
Okediran, Kukogho Samson, Abubakar Adam
Ibrahim.
SYNW
- What are you reading right now? Are there any authors (living or dead) that
you would name as influences?
KEMJY
- I am currently reading The Farmer's
Daughter (poetry) by Funke Awodiya.
Influences: Pablo Neruda, Chuma Nwokolo, Rose Adaure Njoku and Chinua
Achebe
SYNW
- What was the book that most influenced your life and why?
KEMJY - Two books: the Bible- it’s my
life manual Long walk to freedom by Nelson Mandela- built me up to see people
beyond their flaws and still do my best for them.
SYNW
- What are your 10 favorite books and why?
KEMJY
- Long walk to freedom, Things Fall Apart,
Beyond Dialogismos, The Ghost of Sani Abacha, Who shall I make my wife?, Bring
our casket home, The triumph of the water lily, The Mayor of Casterbridge, What
can words do?, Oil on water
SYNW
– WHY?
KEMJY
- They inspire me to think on how to
put my world on a clearer path to excellence.
SYNW -
Favorite films?
KEMJY - James Bond series, Colombiana, Roots.
SYNW -
Favorite music?
KEMJY - Don Williams, All Gospel songs in line with the scriptures.
SYNW
- If you had a book club, what would it be reading and why?
KEMJY - Would read all forms of literature because life is diverse
and one part of literature can't capture it enough.
SYNW -
What are your favorite books to give and get as gifts?
KEMJY - Detective novels and poetry books
SYNW -
Give us three "Good to Know" facts about you. Be creative. Tell us
about the inspiration for your writing.
KEMJY - I am positively crazy because I could write anywhere and on
anything once a word ticks; I LOVE books, all the way; nature is the mother of
my words so when I watch her, it all flows.
SYNW -
What else do you want your readers to know? Consider here your likes and
dislikes, your interests and hobbies, your favorite ways to unwind whatever
comes to mind.
KEMJY - I am a go-getter, I am your fairy godmother if what you
seek is within my reach, if you hate improvement then hate me in advance.
Posted 30th August 2016
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