WRITING SHOULD NOT BE A SHORTCUT TO WEALTH, IT MUSTN'T BE COMMERCIALIZED. IT MUST BE USED TO DRIVE THE COLLECTIVE GOOD – TUNDE AKINGBODERE
Tunde Akingbondere is a prolific author of so many books, a vibrant public speaker, poet and Columnist. He is the author of the best-selling "Okonkwo, the poor Orphan". The prose, Okonkwo, The Poor Orphan had been adopted as an approved literary text since 2018 by the Ondo State Ministry of Education, for junior secondary school one. In this interview with Wole Adedoyin, he talks about his writing career.
WA: WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING?
TA: I write because I have the conviction to affect my society positively. A lot of values have changed in the system; we must learn to operate via the instrumentality of writing as we correct so many things.
WA: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
TA: I have been in active writing for six solid years
WA: WHEN DID YOU START WRITING?
TA: I discovered my passion for writing while I was in secondary school. That was during the year 2014. The school really contributed to the development of my artistic dream.
WA: HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER?
TA: Sure! I was a fan of books. That inspired my interest in writing. I could not just afford to digest without birthing my own idea. I continue to improve on my craft each day.
WA: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A NEW WRITER, SOMEONE JUST STARTING OUT?
TA: Writing is what every living being should do. Nobody has been able to fathom the number of untold stories. Appalling too is the fact that these stories could have made bestsellers. Emerging writers must learn how to be tenacious, forthright and painstaking. Writing might not be a shortcut to wealth, it mustn't be commercialized. It must be used to drive the collective good.
WA: HOW DO YOU HANDLE WRITER'S BLOCK?
TA: Writer's block is to be handled with seriousness. It is an avenue for the sharpening of one's ideas and innovations.
WA: HOW MANY BOOKS HAVE YOU WRITTEN?
TA: I have written so many books. But I only have 3 published books at the moment.
WA: WHAT IS THE MOST SURPRISING THING YOU DISCOVERED WHILE WRITING YOUR BOOKS?
TA: Writing apart from being one of the greatest callings, has taught the susceptibility of an average human to mistakes. Nobody is perfect when it comes to writing. One learns while writing too.
WA: WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER?
TA: Okonkwo of Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart".
WA: DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE CHARACTER THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN, IF SO, WHO? AND WHAT MAKE THEM SO SPECIAL?
TA: Okonkwo, the comedic hero of my first book.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?
TA: I am inspired by situations of people, events and happenings around. I was inspired to write about student unionism on witnessing the state of the leadership in our universities.
WA: WHERE CAN READERS PURCHASE YOUR BOOKS
TA: I have my books on AMAZON, Boldscholar and some others.
WA: WHERE CAN READERS FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BOOKS?
TA: A type of my name on Google would release most information about my books and Articles.
WA: HAVE ANY OF YOUR BOOKS BEEN MADE INTO AUDIOBOOKS?
TA: None!
WA: IF SO, WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES IN PRODUCING AN AUDIO BOOK?
TA: I have not done any. I might not be in the best position to talk about that.
WA: WHICH OF YOUR BOOKS WERE THE MOST ENJOYABLE TO WRITE?
TA: Okonkwo, The Poor Orphan
WA: TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST BOOK
TA: I titled my first book Okonkwo, The Poor Orphan". It was published in the Great Britain. It has to do with a very young boy, who seem to be very far from most opportunities. He was forced to go through the rigours of life as an orphan but later became successful. A story of determination, didactic too!
WA: WHAT WAS THE JOURNEY LIKE?
TA: Not too easy but we scaled through
WA: WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF GOOD WRITING?
TA: A good writing must be able to clarify itself, it must be simple and loaded with ideas that can champion improvement and developmental initiatives.
WA: WHO'S YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR OF ALL TIME?
TA: Professor Wole Soyinka
WA: YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK BY HIM?
TA: The Trials of Brother Jero
WA: ON YOUR LATEST BOOK, CAN YOU SHARE WITH US SOMETHING ABOUT THE BOOK
TA: My latest book tallies salient issues as to student unionism. I titled it "A History of Student Unionism in Nigerian Universities". The book is an authoritative document on the resonance of student unionism in Nigerian varsities.
WA: ARE THERE ANY SECRETS FROM THE BOOK, YOU CAN SHARE WITH YOUR READERS?
TA: The secrets are still sacred. It will be laid bare soon.
WA: WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THE STORY?
TA: The inspiration behind the book is the level at which students' union leadership had descended in Nigerian Universities.
WA: WHAT IS THE KEY THEME OR MESSAGE IN THE BOOK?
TA: Student Unionism and its Paradigm Shift in Nigerian Universities.
WA: WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR READER TAKES AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?
TA: I like to imbue my readers with the inspiration to fire into the actualization of some ideals, capable of redefining leadership at the level of the student union.
WA: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE?
TA: The title inspires leadership in Nigerian Universities.
WA: HAS A BOOK EVER CHANGED YOUR LIFE?
TA: Sure! Leadership Jigsaw by Yemi Akinsiwaju did a lot to bring some changes to my leadership career. I did love it.
WA: WHAT GENRE DO YOU LOVE?
TA: I think I am in love with prose works, lately poetry. Prose works are meant to unleash your ability to tell stories. They continue to expose the metaphysical realities.
WA: ARE THERE ANY GENRE YOU DISLIKE?
TA: NONE!
WA: WHAT AUTHOR (WHO IS STILL LIVING) WOULD YOU LIKE TO MEET?
TA: Professor Wole Soyinka! He is an hero I met a long time ago. I long to meet him again.
WA: DO YOU LIKE TO DISPLAY YOUR BOOKS ON A BOOKSHELF OR KEEP THEM IN A VIRTUAL LIBRARY?
TA: I like to see my books on bookshelf. That's the only way to immortalize those who have taken their time to birth a book. Online distribution of books has contributed in no small measure to piracy of intellectual properties.
WA: DO YOU PREFER FLASH FICTION, SHORT STORIES, NOVELLAS OR NOVELS?
TA: I prefer novels. The bible, including so many big books like autobiographies (exploring into life and times) are prose works. I am in love with them
WA: WHAT BOOK CAN YOU RECOMMEND TO ME?
TA: Watch The Watcher by Yinka Odumakin
WA: WHEN DID YOU LAST VISIT A LIBRARY
TA: I visit the library every week. Sometimes for research or genuine break into the world of some literary giants. Lawyers and students studying studying the course are advised to always use the library.
WA: HAVE YOU EVER HAD A CRUSH ON A BOOK CHARACTER
TA: Sure; I have always seen the picture of a mermaid while reading about Cleopatra of Greek mythology. I also have this enduring passion for young Nwoye of Bayo Adebowale's "Lonely Days".
WA: HAS A BOOK EVER MADE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD?
TA: Sure! So many of them. I remember laughing so loud on reading Wole Soyinka's "Trials of Brother Jero". I wonder how sporadic his metamorphosis was.
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