In this interview we chat with up and coming indie author Caleb Ajinomoh. Read on to find out more about this exciting you writer:
If you use a Pen Name why did you choose it?
Don’t use one, yet. When I have need for one, Yung docu will cut it for me.
Why do you write?
I write because I pretty much suck at most other things. Trust me; I’ve tried music, football. Mostly, writing is all I’ve ever been good at.
When did you decide to become a writer?
When I decided to put all the good things people say about my essays into career perspective. Weeks after daystar 300 Level ministry school released me into my life purpose. I realized I’d be unhappy at any other job.
What genre are your books?
I have published one non-fiction in September last year. I have plenty more non-fiction coming but I’ve also developed my prosewess (when you fuse prose/prowess. No-brainer, right?) to delve into literary thrillers, dystopian and whodunits.
What draws you to this genre?
I find I have quite a few interesting things to say about quite a few topics. Turns out non-fiction is what they call it. I love whodunits because mystery is golden. Literary thrillers excite me solely because I never want to stop writing. And uh, dystopian themes are well… dystopian.
What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?
The minute I felt all I had to say would combust a blog space, I went full author.
Do you write full-time or part-time?
Full time, please.
Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?
That’s the thing! There is no special time. I’m in it full time so even when it doesn’t look like I’m writing, I am writing.
How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?
I have come a long way from penning my personal how-today-went diary aged 12, to writing plays aged 14 to composing poetry/music aged 19 to structuring business proposals from bottom to finish aged 24
What have you written?
I have written plays, short stories, music, flash fiction, non-fiction and several subgenres of fiction.
Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just seeing where an idea takes you?
I prefer ‘winging’ it or ‘pantsy’ as we love to call it. Only problem is you could end up with a terribly written project which could require double the time spent writing the first draft to edit it. NaNoWriMo does that to a person. Ew. I have recently taken to outlining.
How do you market your books?
I prefer audience-specific marketing; sell to who you wrote for. Easier and better managed.
Is there any marketing technique you used that had an immediate impact on your sales figures?
Audience-specific marketing. Bomb stuff. Even if you wrote with 6 people in mind, find those six and sell it to them
Did you make any marketing mistakes or is there anything you would avoid in the future?
Yes, definitely. Poor book covers will do your content and sales and reputation a lot of harm. Run from it.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Uh, stop aspiring. Start writing.
Give us an insight into your main character. What does he do that is so special?
She. Female assassin. Can end a life with a piece of chalk.
Where do your ideas come from?
Head stuff. Light bulb minutes. Sometimes, a fantastic movie or two.
What is the hardest thing about writing?
Getting your message across in the simplest sentences possible without appearing to be a simpleton (fool). It is not as easy as advertised, trust me.
What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?Um, forgetting to script an extensive outline before beginning so I ended up with a messy first draft. Also, defining my theme. Whew.
Which writers inspire you?
Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen, uh that Moby Dick guy.
What do you do to get book reviews?
Kiss ass, a lot, mostly. It is how the industry is structured, innit. Kidding. If you must get, you must first give. I try to be available to review other people’s works.
How successful has your quest for reviews been so far?
Not quite something I’ve put energy into so hard to measure.
What is the current book you are promoting?
Outback Wrangler, my first fiction
Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
Brian Calum-Wright. Because he has a great name and how many bisexual international journalists are in the world today, if we’re being honest?
Who is your least favorite character and why?
Uh, Goura. Too primitive for me.
If your book were made into a movie, who would you cast?
Brian Calum-Wright. Jeez!
What is your next project?
Uh, the madness at central park or this non-fic about masturbation. Not sure which I want to come first.
Who is your favorite fictional character and why?
I don’t know really. I don’t give stuff like this much thought.
What one person from history would you like to meet and why?
Nelson Mandela. What was going on in that man’s head?!
If there was one thing you could do to change the world, what would it be?
Probably put cuffs on the internet, have some sort of internet police machinery so the damage it does isn’t so large-scale.
How do you write your books?
Old-fashioned pen and paper. Still trying to get a hang of Scrivener.
Who inspires your writing?
Uh, I don’t recall ever tying my inspiration to one person but Robert Downey Jnr. Is not far. And it is not for literary reasons.
Where do you come up with your stories?
Uh, my space, your pace, their space. Anywhere really if it pops, I am penning.
Who is your favorite author?
Funny cause I read close to thirty of his books in 2014 but his name has refused my memory access. Some English author from the 20th century though.
What is one great lesson you have learned as a writer?
That I have the best job in the world, no matter what every other person says. Nothing beats explaining/expressing yourself on paper. Lucky for you if you can do it professionally and for a fee.
What is one thing you hate about being a writer?
Hahaha. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I mean I could go on about how people struggle to understand what you’re trying to achieve, but that’d not be reason enough to hate a job I absolutely love.
Tell us something unique about you
Um, I have masturbated longer than I have lived.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This was fun. Thanks!
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
Twitter: @queerpants
Lnkedin: Ajinomoh Caleb
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