WRITERS FOCUS: MEET NORA SANYA
Since Nora Sanya self-published her first book, "Dear Mother" she has been up and about promoting her debut literary work and appearing at festivals and book readings. In this edition of Writer's Focus, she chats with Francisca Okwulehie about her journey into writing and the joys around it.
MGC: Can you start by introducing yourself and providing some background about your journey as a writer? What inspired you to pursue writing, and how did you come up with the idea for your recently published book?
NORA SANYA: I am Ebuzhafe Annora Ogunsanya with the pen name: Nora Sanya. I am an avid reader and writer.
At the age of 5 in primary 2, I sat on my father’s porch from dawn to dusk reading Chike and the River by Chinua Achebe. I first learnt the word ‘miser’ from that book.
At the age of 13, I enjoyed Chinua Achebe’s books so much that I copied all the flowery proverbs in Things Fall Apart and all the other books he had written in a notebook and shared it with my family and friends.
Books were my chocolates growing up and my profound love for literature made me want to weave words into a tapestry of sweet stories that would leave my readers yearning for more.
At the age of 14, I wrote my first book titled: The Adventures of Regina Rowland. It was written in long hand in an exercise book which I cut into an A-4 size. The story in the Adventures of Regina Rowland mirrored the relationship between my parents. The theme centred on the intricacies of love at first sight. I remember my dad read the book and commended my efforts but it was never published.
Dear Mother my recently published book is an upgrade of my very first book; Warm Embrace. The idea of Dear Mother came when I was working on the third edition of Warm Embrace. The new dimensions, twist and turns in the plot made me give it a new name.
MGC: Every author has a unique writing process. Could you share some insights into your writing routine? Do you have any specific rituals or habits that help you stay focused and productive during the writing process?
NORA SANYA: I don’t have a specific writing routine. If I want to write a book, I simply decide on when I want to launch the book, create a deadline and start writing.
MGC: Characters often play a crucial role in a book's success. How do you go about developing your characters? Are they inspired by real people, or do they come entirely from your imagination?
NORA SANYA: The Characters in my book are either inspired by real people or from my imagination.
MGC: Writing a book is undoubtedly a challenging task. Can you discuss some of the challenges you faced while working on your recent book? On the flip side, what were some of the most rewarding moments or triumphs you experienced during the writing and publishing journey?
NORA SANYA: My greatest challenge with writing Dear Mother was sticking with the theme in a way that I don’t come across to my target audience as preachy.
On the flip side, my most rewarding moment was my Pastor’s endorsement! He commended my writing style and loved the book! I can’t get over that experience. My best friend informed me that he announced the book in church during one of the Sunday services and promised to get a copy for every teenager. When he contacted me after the Launch for 50 copies of my book, I was literally over the moon in excitement!
The book Launch was glorious. I was almost in tears with the level of support that I got from friends, colleagues and family. I self-published.
MGC: Books often convey messages or explore specific themes. What themes or messages were you aiming to communicate through your latest work? Are there particular ideas or issues that you hope readers will take away from your book?
NORA SANYA: Dear Mother is a quick easy read that immerses readers into Dayo’s captivating life, filled with formidable challenges and relatable humour. As Dayo explores his beliefs in the book, readers are compelled to reflect on their own. The theme is on healing from a traumatic childhood; the essence of the tools of faith, hope and love in surmounting difficulties as an adolescent. I hope my readers take-away would be the ultimate power of salvation.
MGC: Many authors draw inspiration from various sources. Are there any writers, books, or other forms of art that have significantly influenced your writing style or the themes you explore in your work?
NORA SANYA: My writing style has been significantly influenced by Buchi Emecheta, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Chinua Achebe, Flora Nwapa and a host of other Nigerian creative writers who explore the rich culture of Nigeria vividly. I have read their books over and over again marvelling at how easily mental pictures are formed in my imaginations simply by turning pages. It helped me write my book Dear Mother.
My methodological communication of the gospel in an entertaining way to my target audience was significantly influenced by Francine River’s Redeeming Love and The Atonement Child.
MGC: How do you envision your target audience? Is there a specific demographic or group of readers you had in mind while writing your book? How do you think your work will resonate with different types of readers?
NORA SANYA: My target audience are children in secondary schools between ages 9-14.
At my book launch, Mcee Beebe mentioned that she enjoyed reading the book. My Pastor loved it too. It’s an interesting read that will crack your ribs. It’s not preachy, so everyone who reads the book will enjoy it and glean some lessons.
MGC: Now that your book is published, what are your plans for the future? Are you working on any new projects, and can you provide a glimpse into what readers can expect from you in the coming months or years?
NORA SANYA: Dear Mother is the first of the Loving Daddy Series. I am currently working on the second book in the series which is Home Bound. Hopefully, the final draft will be ready in December and ready to go to the press.
MGC: Are you on social media? Please share your handles so your readers can connect with you.
NORA SANYA: Yes, I am on social media and here are my handles.
Instagram: @norasanya
Twitter: @norasanya2020
Facebook: @norasanya
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