Fear of failure is what stops
us more than anything , if you think of it a lot of the time we do have good ideas, but we are
afraid of failing, But that is not the case of the young and beautiful lady Ijeoma Richards. …
She is a damsel and a book worm, was at continental broadcasting services ( TVC ) today for a life show, research was made on her and we realized the following from her.
Books are her greatest companion. According to her , she read her first novel at
primary two and by the time she was fully
grown she had read about a thousand books. Although, she readily admits
during this interview that she was penalized severally for reading too
much by her mum while growing up. “Reading got me into trouble as a
kid,” she says. “I was penalized severally by my mum.”
Interviewing her was like walking on a tight-rope. She was not only
tight-lipped about her private life; she also declared that certain
areas were off limits. “You can ask me about my books, I will tell you.
But don’t go into my private life” she forewarned at the beginning of
the session.
What inspired your love for writing?
I just love reading. I use to get penalized for reading by my mum while
growing up. While I was growing up she would leave me in the kitchen
and say, “Ijeoma look after the food on fire and make sure it doesn’t
get burnt, if you think it’s going to burn call me,” but my naughty self
will stay there while everything burns. So, on this basis I was
penalized for reading as a kid. For me, reading has become a natural
part of me.
Who were your early inspirations?
What can I say? In my own case, it’s chronic because I read everything
that is printed. Everything I saw, I read. I even picked up papers from
the ground. So, for my early inspiration, I can’t really begin to tell
you right now.
Now that you are fully-grown, what kind of books do you read?
Now I’m choosy about what I read because when you see a badly written
book it’s easy to know, after reading few pages because you get bored
already.
Is your new book sex oriented?
No, there is no sex. It’s more about relationship between countries and
what could happen if one nation doesn’t respect the other and stuffs
like that. So, it has nothing to do with sex.
But sex is hot and selling.
I’m not talking about selling; there are different types of book and
you could sell sex if you are so inclined. I’m not saying you can’t sell
sex but that’s not what my book is about.
So you mean there is no sex at all in your book?
Not at all, not in this one. Those who have seen it and those who have
read it have told me it’s awesome. Well, I hope it is. They said it’s
wonderful, but that means you can have wonderful books without sex.
Who is your favourite author?
Right now when it comes to fiction there’s a man called Lee Child.
What about him?
I still get riveted by reading his books. A lot of books don’t give me
that feeling these days. It’s hard now to get books that interest me.
But I can read Lee’s book back to back. And now we have lots of good
Nigerian authors
.
Like who and who?
I have read Odili Ujubuoghon. I read his book recently and he is an award winner, an NLG awardee.
Some people say they get orgasm from writing; do you also get orgasm from writing?
Getting orgasm from writing ? Mine is a bit strange . What I can say is that, my friend, my very close friend was surprised
when she came to my bedroom to put on the TV in my bedroom and discover
it worked. She said she didn’t know it could work. For me, It’s that
bad my TV could stay six months without coming on. I could stay in the
house for two months if I got a book, that is why i think mine is a bit strange.
So where do you intend going with your writing?
I intend to keep doing it. One thing I know is that in the next 100
year we are all going to be dead, nobody who is standing today will be
alive in the next 100 years. Nobody will know you built this house,
nobody knows who bought that land but we pick up books that are written
by people who lived 200 years ago. So, that’s the kind of legacy I want
to leave. I want people to read what I have written when I’m long gone
and forgotten.
Is writing a book like childbirth?
I suppose so, in the sense that you write it and then it goes away and
people use it, they translate it, you know, do other things and even
reverence it without consulting you.
What’s the difference between child birth and giving birth to a new book?
I think the difference could be that you don’t have to have sex to
write your book, do you? But if you want to have a baby, in most cases,
you may have to do that.
So what do you do for a living?
I have a company that publishes and then I do the writing, editing as well for a lot of people.
Do you write based on personal experience?
I wouldn’t say so. If I bring up what you have written I couldn’t say
all of them are personal. Sometimes, some people write a book and they
give it a title after they have written it. I get a title and then I
work from the title so I can’t be writing if I don’t know what I’m
writing about. I think my inspiration gives me the title, I get a title
and then with that title I go on. So, it’s not like I finish writing a
book then I start thinking what do I call this book.
What is life like as a writer?
Very boring, you know about it. If you get locked up somewhere. It’s
boring it’s not a career that you need company doing. It’s a very boring
life but if you like it you like it, I’m that kind of person. I’m a bit
of a loner and so it works for me.
How is your love life?
My love life? I will have to think about it and get back to you.
Where did you school, university I mean?
I had my first degree at Enugu State and I had my Masters from the
University of Lagos. I actually studied business all through,
surprising?
Does it pay to be a writer?
It pays enough to provide for me.
Do you have a life aside books?
Yes I do, I go to church. I have got friends that are writers too and
so I meet with them. But mostly I read and write and I do what pays. I
edit for people too, I just finished editing a wonderful novel written
by a friend of mine.
What’s your advice to Nigerian youths concerning reading?
They should read. I was at an event few months ago to speak on reading
and I left heartbroken because there were a whole lot of students and I
asked a question like who among you have read any book in the past three
months nobody came out. I wanted to cry. I think we shouldn’t blame
them but the government. There are no libraries in schools.
What does it take to write a bestseller?
Well, what it takes to write a bestseller is to sit down and write it,
you sit down and write it and if it becomes a bestseller good for you.
Are you saying achieving that is by luck?
I believe there is no luck in life.
Do you think you are a successful female writer?
I am not there yet; I’m working towards that.
Are you successful in terms of income?
I am successful because I am happy and comfortable. I’m working hard and for me that is success. well done IJ as your friends will call you.
From Entertainment Express .
2 comments:
Riri she is not a known face. well the message sinks
she doesn't have to be a known face to pass a message or write a book. but i wounder why celebrities find it difficult to say their live histories.
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