Hello, lovelies and butterflies. Welcome back to the new edition of On the Sofa where I chat with other authors about books and writing. This month I have sister-friend, Author Unoma Nwankwor on the sofa and she shared her writing journey with us. Check it out
ON THE SOFA WITH KIRU TAYE
(Kiru Taye - KT, Unoma Nwankwor - UN)
KT: Sis, we chat often, but I don’t think I’ve ever interviewed you. LOL. So let me formally welcome you to my sofa on behalf of the RWOWA community. Please introduce yourself to our audience.
UN: Hey there, sis. Thanks for the invite. I love this!
Well let’s see, I’m Unoma Nwankwor, Ada and only daughter, wife, mother, American born, Naija raised, introverted peddler and griot of African romance. My career is in Finance and when I’m not writing, you can find me binging my favorite true crime show, while snacking on fried plantain or peperoni slices and enjoying a cuppa tea. I am a huge advocate of minding my business in my little corner of Atlanta, Georgia.
KT: Yes, I’m with you there. Talking about business, you recently celebrated eleven years being published. Congratulations! Drum roll! It’s not easy at all. Tell us about your writing journey so far? Are you where you want to be as a writer?
UN: Thank you! Am I where I want to be as a writer? If you mean the craft of writing, then no. I learn every day. If you mean my standing in the industry, the short answer would also be no, but the longer answer would be I’m where I need to be because I’m only in competition with myself. I have indeed come a long way in the last eleven years as an author(creative) and a publisher(business) the part of me that grows constantly as each year passes in my confidence in my art and business. No knowledge is absolute, so I make sure I attend one class or seminar every year but I’m also so sure that nobody can do me like me. LOL
KT: So right. 😊 Your uniqueness is obvious in your brand which focuses on romance, faith and African spice. What does that mean for someone who’s never read your books.
UN: I like to say think of my books as a Hallmark movie with a tiny bit more spice mixed with the exuberant cultural display of Marvel’s Black Panther (aka Wakanda).
My mandate is to spread the good news of the gospel in the parabolic way Jesus did (relatable to the everyday man). That added with romance (which isn’t the same thing as sex) and at the same time, show off the rich often misunderstood culture of the Africa…chai! That gives me so much joy.
There is a saying that goes: we can’t be so heavenly bound that we are no earthly good. My books provide core human needs, entertainment (love & belonging) and spirituality (self-actualization.)
KT: Awesome. Speaking of spirituality, years ago, I came across an author advertising their book as Christian erotica. LOL. I remember thinking ‘huh? What does that even mean?’ LOL. So where do you sit on this debate? Does faith-based romance mean closed-doors when it comes to love scenes and sensuality? Does it matter?
UN: LOL! I remember we talked about this oh. You and I were clueless then and I am still clueless now. SMH! The word ‘faith’ falls under many religions. It’s basically believing in something without seeing it. Even those that worship satan have faith in him…abi?
Now, if we are talking of Christian romance…at its barest definition, it’s a romance that advances Christian principles. Just like the expectation of the romance genre is HEA of HFN, the expectation of the sweet/Christian subgenre is sex behind closed doors. Simple as that.
Let’s take it a step further, as a Christian romance author (not just an author that is Christian), your story HAS to follow and promote Christian principles…sex before marriage is frowned upon. So, a Christian romance should NOT have sex scenes (implied or shown) between unmarried characters. Whatever the character did before the book started, na dem sabi…but in the book it’s a no. If the couple is married, they can (Christian wise) have open door sex but that IS NOT the expectation of the genre. That one is between the author and their God how they wanna write that.
My answer is kinda long cos I wanna be clear. People just be making things too hard. As an author, you can write whatever you want but stop putting it in a genre it doesn’t belong to. Your book can’t be sweet or Christian if you have sex on the page. Part of the problem is because Christian romance barely addresses sex in the story…acting like it is not a real temptation and doesn’t exist because the characters are Christian (I can teach a whole seminar on that..LOL).
I’m a Sweet and Christian romance author. The things my sweet romance people do isn’t the same as my Christian people. Because of who I am though, Jesus will always come out in the story, but I try to set the reader’s expectation according to the genre.
This is one of my pet peeves. Just like every two business days, someone wants to come out and change the definition of romance. Jack and Jill going up the hill doesn’t a romance make if Jack dies or leaves Jill there!
KT: It’s annoying how often that happens. Accept genre norms and move on, people. LOL.
At this point I usually ask other authors if being an African affects the way they tell their stories. And I would still like you to answer it. But I would also like to flip it and ask if living in America affects the way you tell your stories? Do you worry about who will read your books and what they will think?
UN: I write from an American born, Naija raised, American living perspective. LOL. I went back to Nigeria before I was ten, so I knew just a little about America but nothing about my home. Well, my formative years were spent in Nigeria, and I was teased quite a bit…my accent, my hair, the fact I didn’t know somethings…I was called an “Americana”, primary school was harsh. Then, I wasn’t Nigerian enough. I survived sha, went on to FGCPH & Uniport.
When I moved back to the States in my mid 20’s…I was not “American” enough…again, my accent, my enunciations. So, I stopped trying to be one or the other…I was both (American & Nigerian) and that is the perspective from which I tell my stories. My characters love plantain and some good ol mac and cheese. They speak their language, AAVE and pidgin all in one breath. They will tie wrapper one day and wear skirt the next.
The Africa (Nigeria) they show on TV here isn’t the Africa (Nigeria) I grew up in. And my stories show that. Right from my first book eleven years ago, my promise to my readers has remained the same, they will tour African destinations, learn some language, fashion, food, culture all through fellowship with family….African Spice.
I worry about no one! LOL. I write what I longed for growing up but couldn’t find…folks like me, and I’m honored others enjoy my stories as well.
KT: I love that! I know we talk about this offline about the often, nonexistent research and respect some non-Africans put into writing Africans, considering how loud people get when other BIPOC characters are misrepresented in books. How do we start repairing these African stereotypes, short of writing ‘An Idiot’s Guide to Writing Africans in Fiction’ or something? LOL
UN: Hmm. I’ve given you one pet peeve this is the mother of them all. Here is my take, just like it is not up to Black people to teach others about race, slavery or colonization, it is not up to us (Africans) to repair anything.
People will stay clueless and ignorant and tell African stories with zero, misrepresented or disrespectful “Africanness” as long as they make a buck. Unlike other heritages or ethnicities that have huge numbers, we Africans don’t have the numbers, support or are afraid of the consequences of calling out such behavior. So, until then people will still write stories disrespecting a culture, they couldn’t care the least to research because Wakanda is a thing.
Here is where the golden rule applies. If you will take offense to another race or ethnicity misrepresenting your culture or stereotyping you…do not misrepresent/disrespect Africans or the culture for the sake of a story.
Shameless plug: I have a guide/checklist on my website blog Cultural Sensitivity and Sensitive Topics Checklist for Authors under the Author section. Authors can use it as a guide to ensure their work resonates authentically with readers and respectfully with the culture they are writing about.
KT: So helpful. Thank you for sharing that.
So let's talk about your new book, Legacy Fulfilled. This is part of the series set in a small town in Morocco, correct? I’m a small-town girl at heart so I love small-town romance. Tell us about your story and the inspiration for it.
UN: Yes, the book comes out Friday Sept 6th. It takes place in the small town of Tweede Kans Cove. The DuBois-Arazi series follows four siblings who are given a second chance at love despite the trauma of their childhood. The siblings, Mustafa, Yasmine, Omar and Salma grew up in an abusive home that eventually led to the father unaliving their mother and eventually dying in jail. They spend months in an orphanage until their ultra rich grandparents, whom they never knew, find and raise them. Now all grown up, each book follows a sibling’s journey navigating their believe in God and true love versus what they saw and believed watching their parents.
Legacy Fulfilled is the conclusion of the series, featuring chef Omar and food critic Tahra. Themes covered are redemption, ambition and consequences, legacy, identity and self-worth.
KT: Ohhh, foodie romance. It sounds so good. What other stories do you have in the pipeline? When can we expect the next book to come out?
UN: I’m vibing out o. Done for 2024. My next story hopefully will be my contribution to season 2 of Viva City Panthers, not sure when though. We gotta talk. After that would be the start of a new family series. The reveal will be later this year, but the first book won’t be till sometime in 2025.
KT: Roll on 2025! If someone has never read any of your books, which book do you recommend they read first?
UN: My readers normally say the Sons of Ishmael series (aka The Danjumas). Oh..if I haven’t said it. Families are my superpower. LOL.
I write interconnected family series. I do have some standalones…from there I would say He Changed My Name.
KT: Yes, I always recommend the Danjumas too. 😊
What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?
UN: Disappointing to say but none. I have been so engrossed in family stuff, back to school, birthdays, etc, staying healthy and finishing Legacy Fulfilled that I haven’t looked that side. But once I upload the final manuscript…it’s on. I’ll see what’s out there.
KT: Thank you so much for sharing yourself and your time with our readers. Before you go please play this fun THIS or THAT game with us.
Which do you prefer?
Books or Movies >>> Books
Reading or Sleeping >>> Reading
Sweet or Spicy foods >>> Spicy (My taste buds have changed dramatically with age)
Safari or Beach holidays >>> beach
eBooks or Paperbacks >>> e books
Soup or Stew >>> stew
ABOUT UNOMA
Unoma Nwankwor writes Sweet/Christian Contemporary Multicultural/Black romances that span Africa and the African Diaspora. She weaves romantic tales for readers who enjoy stories centered around faith, family, and the rich culture of Africa. Through the pages, she promises you humor, tight hugs, forehead kisses, and above all else, redemptive, sacrificial love.
Link: www.UnomaNwankwor.com
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