Hey all!  Happy new month and welcome to the first episode of The Spotlight 2020 🙂

I’m doing my second author spotlight since I started this series, and I can’t be more thrilled for this author!  She’s new in the game, and she’s come out strong with her first book, Unfolding Grace.

Ordinarily, I would drop my book review for this book, but it’s a bit hard and unfair, because I actually contributed to the book as an editor!  So, I’ve read it so many times, I know it too well.

When she first approached me about editing the book for her, I was excited because I hadn’t come across that type of story-line before.  It was really right up my alley.  Here was a man, by all means fortunate, encountering God and feeling the need to give up everything to follow Him.  Kike was so real with how she dealt with his experience and the opposition he received from those around him.

There’s so much to learn from the story, so I really hope you’ll take the time to read it.  I pray it will bless your walk.  But for now, you need to meet the author…  I asked her ten questions following the launch of her book on the 28th of January, 2020.  Below are her responses.

***

1. Please tell us about yourself.

I am Kikelomo Kuponiyi. I studied law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1989. I worked as a banker for about 23 years and left banking in 2017. I am married with 3 children. I love to read biographies, autobiographies, and fiction.

2. Have you always loved writing? Do you know when the passion began exactly?

I always loved to read and I read fiction passionately. I found out that there were some books I would read and wonder why the author allowed the story to go in a particular way. I would tell myself that I could write it another way and end it better or differently. I can’t pinpoint the exact time the passion for writing started, but it has always been a dream.

3. What was your first attempt at a book?

My first attempt at a short story was a result of a dare. A friend of mine in university had marveled that I could write poetry spontaneously and dared me to write a story within a day and I did. The story was handwritten and filled a 60-leaf exercise book.

4. What inspired this novel, Unfolding Grace?

I had read a novel from one of my favourite authors and the story was about a rich man who had many ex-wives and many children. In talking about the kids, the author had mentioned one of the children was a missionary who had not been interested in the sharing of the inheritance after the man died. There was no further mention of that child. My imagination took that child out of that context and I wondered what would have happened if the child was a Nigerian. Also, I had some interactions with some missionaries when I was in school and I thought I could have been a missionary, but I was told to come back after I graduated. I never did. I used to wonder what my life would have been like as a missionary.

5. What was the hardest part about publishing this book?

The hardest part has not been in publishing the book, but in marketing and distributing it. I believe we have not yet developed the writing industry to the extent that a writer can just focus on writing. You have to have skills and strategies for distributing and selling the book nationwide. That is quite challenging.

6. What was the easiest part about it?

The easiest part has been writing the book itself. Having the latitude to imagine the lives of the characters and creating it into the story has been quite pleasurable.

7. What is your vision for this book? What are the main lessons you hope people will take away?

I want as many people as possible to read the book, not just in Nigeria but all over the world. There are many lessons I believe people can learn in the book, not just young people but across all age groups. The key lesson of the book is that God has a plan for every life and if we cooperate with Him, He will bring us to that beautiful place that He planned all along. The next lesson is that it’s not always easy to follow God’s plan because most of the time, you can’t see the end from the beginning. The road is not always easy. Just because God is leading you doesn’t mean everything will go hitch-free. Lastly, God is a good Father and He is dependable. If we trust Him and step out in faith, we will see Him fulfill His promises to us.

8. Do you have more books in you or stories to tell? Please tell us what we can expect in the next few years.

I have more stories to tell. I am already working on another book right now and I have outlines for another two. God willing, I will continue to write as the stories come.

9. How do you feel now your book is launched and out in the world?

I’m very happy the book is out now. It’s a great relief! It’s like having a baby. You’re glad the pregnancy is over, but then you’re confronted with sleepless nights, breastfeeding, etc. The work is not over. I still have to face marketing and distribution. But it’s a joyous venture.

10. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors or writers?

My advice would be “Make that move!” Don’t be deterred or distracted. If you have a dream to write, nothing can happen until you actually start writing, so make the move. Put pen to paper. Or your fingers to the keyboard. The journey of a thousand miles starts with one step.

***

You can get your copy via Amazon, Okadabooks, Smashwords, Apple Books and so many other ebook retailers, worldwide.  It’s also part of the Bambooks library!

Here are some pictures from the launch.

If you liked this post, you might like THE SPOTLIGHT: UFUOMAEE INTERVIEWS THE FERTILE CHICK, AUTHOR OF “GOLIBE”

Are you blessed by this ministry? Why not partner with me?

SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY