I Want To Meet Wole Soyinka - Augusta Molokwu

 

I WANT TO MEET WOLE SOYINKA - AUGUSTA MOLOKWU

 

Augusta Molokwu received special training in Special Education and Guidance counseling from the University of Ibadan and is currently a lecturer at Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Oyo state, Nigeria. A strong advocate for exceptional children and educational equity for every child, irrespective of gender, religion, abilities, race, social and economic status. She involves her students in activities and projects related to community services that reflects love of humanity. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, she talks about her works and writing career.

 

WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING?

 

AUGUSTA:  The urge to document my thoughts inspired my writing.

 

WA: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?

 

AUGUSTA:  I have been writing since secondary school.

 

WA: WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?

 

AUGUSTA:   I started writing in 2011.

 

WA: HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER?

 

AUGUSTA:  Yes

 

WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER, SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT?

 

AUGUSTA:  The advice is: be original. Be resilient.

 

WA: HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

 

AUGUSTA:  I have written several unpublished books. I have lost count now but they cannot be up to 20.

 

WA: WHAT IS THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU DISCOVERED WHILE WRITING YOUR BOOK(S)?

 

AUGUSTA:  In the course of writing, I discovered that I have wild imagination and a knack to play with words.

 

WA: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER?

 

AUGUSTA:  My favourite character is Okonkwo in "Things fall apart", by Chinua Achebe.

 

WA: DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CHARACTER THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN? IF SO, WHO? AND WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL.

 

AUGUSTA:  My favourite character which I have depicted is a combination of different personalities that have created an indelible impression in me. So, when I depict characters, I reflect Resilience and Empathy.

 

WA: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION?

 

AUGUSTA:  I believe my inspiration is from the above dwelling in the innate.

WA: WHERE CAN READERS PURCHASE YOUR BOOKS?

 

AUGUSTA:  Direct from the author or distribution network and or representatives.

 

WA: WHERE CAN READERS FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?

 

AUGUSTA:  Not yet on the internet. Contact the author.

 

WA: HAVE ANY OF YOUR BOOKS BEEN MADE INTO AUDIOBOOKS? IF SO, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN PRODUCING AN AUDIO BOOK?

 

AUGUSTA:  Not yet

 

WA: WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?

 

AUGUSTA:  All Gave Me The Aderaline Rush

 

WA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST PUBLISHED BOOK? WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE?

 

AUGUSTA: The journey to publishing my first book was fraught with financial constraints. Secondly, it was a learning lane that I was trailing as a novice.

 

WA: WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF GOOD WRITING?

 

AUGUSTA:  Originality

 

WA: WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME? YOUR FAVORITE BOOK BY THEM?

 

AUGUSTA:  Hardley Chace

 

WA: ARE THERE ANY SECRETS FROM THE BOOK, YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR READERS?

 

AUGUSTA:  Secrets? I particularly like the twists in the story.

 

WA: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY?

 

AUGUSTA:  The inspiration to write this book came from the urge to impress on learners the need to focus, be attentive and determined especially as it relates to their studies.

 

WA: WHAT IS THE KEY THEME AND/OR MESSAGE IN THE BOOK?

 

AUGUSTA:  The key theme is resilience and tenacity.

WA: WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR READERS TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?

 

AUGUSTA:  Determination

 

WA: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE?

 

AUGUSTA:  The title of the book is to attract the interest of a reader.  Not necessarily to point to the theme of the book.

 

WA: HAS A BOOK EVER CHANGED YOUR LIFE?

 

AUGUSTA:  Yes, I believe books can influence and change lives. I can't readily point to a particular book that changed my view on certain issues.

 

WA: WHAT GENRES DO YOU LOVE?

 

AUGUSTA:  Not particular

 

WA: ARE THERE ANY GENRES YOU DISLIKE?

 

AUGUSTA:  Not really.

 

WA: WHAT AUTHOR (WHO IS STILL LIVING) WOULD YOU DEARLY LOVE TO MEET?

 

AUGUSTA:  I would love to meet Wole Soyinka.

 

WA: DO YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS ON A BOOKSHELF OR KEEP THEM IN A VIRTUAL LIBRARY?

 

AUGUSTA:  I don't mind displaying on a book shelf or virtual library.

 

WA: DO YOU PREFER FLASH FICTION, SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS, OR NOVELS?

 

AUGUSTA:  I have preference for real life stories.

 

WA: WHAT BOOK CAN YOU RECOMMEND TO ME?

 

AUGUSTA:  Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe.

 

WA: WHEN DID YOU LAST VISIT A LIBRARY?

 

AUGUSTA:  As a researcher, virtual library is a regular place to visit.

 

WA: HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CRUSH ON A BOOK CHARACTER?

AUGUSTA:  Never had a crush on a character.

 

WA: HAS A BOOK EVER MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD?

 

AUGUSTA:  Yes, several books have made me laugh.