Qwerty Thoughts Author Interview With Omoruyi Uwuigiaren

Q. How would you describe yourself? 

I am hard working, easy going and fun to be with.

Q. Tell us something about the books that you have written and the story behind them. 

I have published several books which include "The City Heroes and other stories from the heart of Africa", and "The Adventures of Nihu". The City Heroes is a collection of short stories and suitable for middle grade readers. The stories within the collection contain messages about forgiveness, charity, redemption and loyalty.

Q. What place does writing hold in your life, how has been your writing journey so far? 

Special place. I enjoy writing and the journey so far has been wonderful. I am so fortunate to meet some good publishers like the Open Books. They've been wonderful. Irrespective of my flaws, they stood by me.

Q. What is your writing process, a typical writing day routine? 

Terrific! Once I get down to write, I hardly do other things. I am easily lost in my world as a writer.

Q. What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you? 

Meeting people on Facebook and having good relationship with them. I have also benefited from Twitter. Facebook stands out.

Q. What do you think makes a book sell, or makes a reader buy it? 

It takes a lot to sell a book. You need to have a good cover, blurb and most importantly positive reviews. People buy books when they feel the author can be trusted. Your chance of making it as a writer is high if you have nice reviews about your book on Amazon or anywhere that your book is sold.

Q. What's the most moving or affecting thing a reader has said to you? 

My book was terrific!

Q. What are your favourite three books, and why? 

My favourite books are David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, The Trail of Brother Jero by Wole Soyinka and The Famous Five by Enid Blyton. These book stand out.

Q. Who are your favourite three authors and what do you like the most about them? 

Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, and Enid Blyton. They are very descriptive in their writing. It is easy relate with their characters. A writer is considered great if only he can leave the reader with positive experience.

Q. Tell us about the books that you are currently writing and their progress. 

I am currently working on two books. One is a fantasy novel and I have gone over 60,000 words and the other one is a romance. I hope they see the light of the day.

Q. What challenges do you think are faced by writers, what's the worst thing about the book industry according to you? 

Writing a book and getting it published are no longer the challenges that writers face. We have so many platforms like Amazon Kindle, Create Space that are willing to publish your books for free. The problem now is getting people to read and buy the books. So for me, the worst challenge now is marketing.

Q. Apart from writing, what goals do you want to achieve in life? 

Life is short. I want to enjoy, win awards, and retire rich!

Q. What message do you want to share with budding writers? 

Don't give up. It is normal for any publisher to reject your manuscript, but it is not normal if you decide to quit because a publisher rejected you. Always find out why your book or manuscript was rejected before moving to the next publisher. Polish your work and move on. From experience, there is a publisher for every writer. You can take to self publishing if you are not patient. Stay happy and keep winning.

Qwerty Thoughts

Book Review: Short Stories of Africa

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THE CITY HEROES by Omoruyi Uwuigiaren is a series of short stories introducing the reader to the lives of different characters in Africa, from animals to humans. Lovely artwork throughout the book adds a nice touch, giving the reader a glimpse of what is to follow in that particular story. We meet cats as they discuss their problems in life. One story introduces the reader to a priest and his wife. Then there are the jungle ants and their struggles to survive. And so much more. 

Each story has a message, such as “fighting doesn’t solve anything” and “learn from one another and work hard,” to name a couple. The stories also gave me a glimpse into the lives of a different culture, that of Africa. This is a delightful group of short stories to make a person thankful for his or her blessings. The author gives the reader a good look at another world, that in some ways is much the same as my world yet also different. 

Middle grade readers and even young teens should enjoy reading about the adventures of the cats, rats, and ants, while also learning about the people of another country, Africa. This 

would make a nice addition to school libraries, public libraries, and your own private library. 

Reviewed by: 

Beverly Stowe McClure

Most of the time you'll find Beverly in front of the computer, writing stories young voices whisper in her ear. Other times she's snapping pictures of wildlife, clouds, and flowers. She has fifteen books published for children and teens, some of them award winners, like the Children's Literary Classics, Sharp Writ Awards, and Next Generation Indie Awards, as well as others. 

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