Interview with Author Olutosin Ogunkolade

I’m of Nigerian parentage and was born in Nigeria, but I reside in London, United Kingdom. I had my education in Lagos, Enugu and Oyo states in Nigeria, Zurich Switzerland and London, UK. And I am still schooling. My life journey began on the 14^th of November when I was born into the Ogunkolade household, we are a family of 7, we are 5 children, all boys!

Deirdra: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

Olutosin: I first knew I wanted to be an author sometime in my teenage years. I have always enjoyed and liked good stories and I remember as a kid I used to look forward to the stories my class teacher at the International Primary School of Zurich would share with the class. He was a story teller by profession, that’s where the influence began but I was a teenager when I realised writing is something I had to do.

Deirdra: What is your writing and educational background?

Olutosin: My journey into the field of writing started from Primary School, I realised I was particularly confident with comprehension and essay writing and I got lots of credit from students and teachers alike for my ability to write even as I proceeded to secondary school and the University.

I am also a calligrapher, teacher and strategist.

Deirdra: What makes you passionate about writing?

Olutosin: I would say the creativity within writing is what makes me passionate. I love creativity, that’s why I am more inclined to fictional stories as a form of writing because through stories you made up (fiction) you can be as creative as you want from the realm of your imagination.

The idea of your thoughts /visualisations becoming a published work and something tangible is exciting to me.

Deirdra: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?

Olutosin: There was some research that preceded my publishing a book especially regarding the publisher I should use. I finally settled for Author House publishers for several reasons. It’s not been a bad experience so far, I tried to find out what it entails to publish a book before I went ahead to publish.

Deirdra: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?
Olutosin: Discouragement has a way of showing up whenever a man is on a worthwhile journey, but that’s where I permit discipline to come in. I tried to discipline myself and pursue my goal to the end. I kept the thought of what it will be like holding my work in my hand. It helped.

Deirdra: What is your writing schedule like?

Olutosin: I do a lot of blogging, writing new articles on my blog about various issues from my perspective. It’s a way I keep my mind active. I’m about to start work on a third book, a fictional novel. I perceive it will be captivating.

Deirdra: Where do your ideas come from? How do you know the idea is good enough to write a book about it?
Olutosin: I do not despise myself or my ideas, at times it’s the ideas we despise that have the potential to bring us success. I ‘roll’ with any idea that comes to my mind at that hour. I do not wait for perfection or everyones approval.

Deirdra: What do you hope readers will get from your books?

Olutosin: I’m hoping they will be inspired, entertained and possibly educated to something they didn’t know or think of.

Deirdra: What is your process of brainstorming a story? Do you just sit down and write, waiting to see what happens next? Or do you outline first?

Olutosin: I sit down and type or write as the inspiration comes to me at that moment. I develop it as time goes on. I wait to see what happens next.

Deirdra: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's block? If so, how do you deal with it?
Olutosin: When that happens I stop writing, I don’t believe in forcing things, when the situation is resolved and I feel motivated afresh, then I start writing from where I stopped.

Deirdra: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to have their manuscripts become books in print?

Olutosin: They should first of all make sure there work has a target ‘audience’. There is a lot of competition out there and for their work to make an impact their work must have a niche. Secondly they musn’t give up against all odds

Deirdra: What are you working on now?

Olutosin: I love passing knowledge across to people, helpful knowledge of course. I have finished a compilation titled ‘GREAT WORDS FOR GREAT LIVING’. It’s a book that will be available on Amazon and several online retailers including Waterstones. It’s a wisdom manual of some sort with pictures.

It should be available for purchase in about two to three weeks time.

My books can be purchased through Amazon and my publishers Author House Publishers.

On Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=makaira&x=10&y=24

Through Author House:

http://www.authorhouse.co.uk/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-000264761&sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d9c45acef7ea9c9%2C0

Deirdra: Any final words you would like to share?

Olutosin: Never give up on your dreams keep them alive and don’t despise your work. Don’t despise days of little beginnings, everyone has a starting point.