So I told you guys about the Virtual Tour and the blog promo of my upcoming book, A Heart to Mend. Two bloggers were gracious enough to host me on their blogs in the past week. I want to say a big thank you to both Muyiwa and Pinkapplecore. Below are excerpts from the interviews, the full gist can be found on their pages linked with the blog names below.
An update on the book is that I'll certainly be holding a copy before Christmas and maybe you may too. You can pre-order from the publisher's website in the AuthorHouse Bookstore. In the meantime, I'm still open to interviews between now and January 31, let me know if you're interested...mulan.mine atgmail dotcom
1. From Muyiwa of PEOPLE IN THE LIMELIGHT
When you started blogging,what made you think you will create a niche for yourself in area of writing?
Most times, I am very private unless I feel I have established a rapport with the people I meet. So I knew I could never start off with a personal blog. I used to read two writing blogs which gave me an idea of what I wanted to do and they were by Favoured girl and Flourishing Florida. I'm happy I have been able to establish my blog as a story and writing site but it has just been luck. I salute all the naija blogsville members especially those who have stood the test of time and made it the community it is today.
How easy are you finding it now?
Blogging has been amazing especially in my chosen niche. I got overwhelming response to the Gladys and Edward story which is now a Heart to Mend on my blog and again when I decided to self-publish and open up the blog to other budding writers. In the four months since I started, I have won several awards and a couple of giveaways (an Ankara material from Olamild and an Ogoo Ogbata book from SolomonSydelle.
In a summary,is there any lesson to learn from the story?
In the book, Gladys is a young woman, newly arrived in Lagos and from a deprived background. She had been estranged from her aunt and is a bit cynical of rich people. While still working on her new relationship with her Aunt Isioma, she meets Edward, a wealthy egoist who is surprising kindhearted. She is smitten by his physical looks and his interest in her though she continues to feel he's out of her reach. Edward is highly attracted to her physically but as time goes on, he realizes he may have set up his heart for a fall. He is from a shadowed past and has been deeply scarred by events that happened when he was younger. They are able to surmount this and all other obstacles before them including differing views on premarital sex, social class and contrary advice from friends. Gladys and Edward decide to trust their hearts with each other and begin to prepare for their wedding. This main story line runs through the subplot of growing friendships, family reunions, the Nigerian stock market, business intrigues and a vendetta.
The novel details how we can be affected by events from our past and how it may limit our opportunities in the present especially in the area of love and relationships. Gladys obsesses over the divide between her and Edward, while he had barricaded his heart and was not letting anyone in, man or woman. The lesson is that none of us is perfect but we should be able to keep our heart open for that (sometimes one) person who has enough masking tape to cover our imperfections and make an ideal couple.
2. From Pinkapplecore of THE MAGICAL CHIP BAG
Is there a character you modeled after yourself or someone you know?
None of the characters in this book is based on myself or any one I know but on a cumulative of my world view and experience. Since I try to make my stories as real as possible, they also share our fears and hopes, our victories and our pain. Other than that, they're just people of my imaginings and therefore may seem free from some of the usual constraints real persons face.
If you could chose three words to describe the book what would they be?
Intriguing, fun, and lovely
Do you plan on writing more books or a sequel?
I definitely plan on writing more books. A sequel is not on the books right now but who knows what will happen? LOL. I am currently working on another romantic suspense manuscript and a couple of short stories, one of which I hope will be published before the end of the coming year.
