The Book Tour

My first book Kemi's Journal and the sequel Zack's Story are going to be published in Nigeria this month by Cassava Republic. I'm terrified and excited at the same time. I don't remember experiencing these emotions with the German and Dutch publications.

I know why. It's the 'home' factor. I'm going home, to Nigeria, and somehow, it's just more personal. I'm very good at separating Abidemi, the writer from Abidemi, the person, but on home ground? Somehow I don't know if I'll be able to do that. Grrr.

I've seen the tour schedule and no, I didn't scream in horror. I gave Cassava Republic carte blanche to do what is necessary and they have. I don't mind book tours/promotion work. It's a necessary part of being a writer in the 21st century. A writer on tour understands that she's a product flogging a product. Forget about creative sensibilites. That's what happens during the writing process, which, despite what all (yet-to-be published) writers think, is the easiest part of being a writer (even though it might not feel like it).

Promoting a book can be sheer drudgery. In the UK, you're usually faced by interviewers who've barely read the book you're promoting (they always flick through because they don't have the time to read it properly, too many books being thrown at them by desperate publishers, yada, yada), so you end up with banal questions.

Interviewer: Who's Kemi?

Abidemi (smiling through freshly brushed teeth): A character in the book.

Interviewer: So, what's Kemi's Journal about then?

Abidemi: A Christian lady who makes some difficult decisions.

Inteviewer: I thought it was about sex and abortion. That's what the press release says.

Abidemi: Well...not all of it. I-

Interviewer: So, are you Kemi?

Imagine this scenario being repeated for (almost) every radio, magazine or even television interview. And through it all, you're smiling. Well, gritting your teeth. Sales, I'm doing it for the sales, I tell myself. I also do it for God but He knows that I would like to purchase my own London property (or anywhere on Earth for that matter) this side of Armageddon.

The Dutch experience was so different. I spent the whole day being interviewed by different magazines, newspapers and one radio station, and they had all read my book. We talked about writing techniques, Christian-Muslim relations (I was born into a Muslim family), the writing process, what makes a great story...and I loved it. Sure, talking about myself for a 5 (or was it 6?) hour stretch was tiring but those interviewers made the time fly.

I will be taking creative writing workshops while I'm in Nigeria and I cannot wait. It's the one part of the tour that I can categorically say that I can't wait to do. There's nothing I like more exciting than being with yet-to-be-published writers, encouraging them, hearing what they have to say and watching their creative minds being stretched. The fact that I'm doing this on home ground makes it extra, extra special.

I'm quite curious to find out how the Nigerian interviews will turn out. I hope it will be a good mix of UK and Holland type interviews. And as for book signings, in the words of my editor, 'You need to learn to do it faster.'

Till we meet again.