Interview With Author Abasiama Udom
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Abasiama Udom is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. Her stories and poetry are created from a wild place of trying to learn more about the spiritual, mysticism and why humans act the way they do.
Abasiama is a football fan, chocolate lover and new pad brand tester not forgetting to mention that she loves music that requires translation or tongue biting at-least. She enjoys books with secrets, missing bodies, the spiritual and suspects and it is no surprise she writes them too.
I have written 7 books with the latest being Then Surrender.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Then Surrender was inspired by the facts of the Niger-Delta Emancipation movement in Nigeria around 2007 and the loss we witnessed.
As a writer I tried to imagine the pain of parents and family who had lost people in the midst of it all and how they still held on to life, faith and hope. Maybe I was selfish when I bean this project as I was thinking of how to free myself from the shadows of my past.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I do not know if it is unusual but I enjoy writing with a paper and a pen before transferring to my laptop and I can taste colours I write about especially the red.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Heather Graham is my best and overall influence. I also love Pam Munoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising as well as Lola Shoneyin’s Baba Segi’s wives. Lately, I also find that I am dreaming of beautiful romance like Erica Ridley and Tope Omotosho.
What are you working on now?
I am rewriting my food story: Royal Court and at the same time I just began fleshing the Truly series and book one is titled: I am truly lying. It’s a thriller mystery book.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
At the moment I do not have a best but I use my social media pages and I am trying to build my newsletter. Another thing someone pointed out recently to me is the guest blog option most publications on medium have. I am experimenting with that.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It is beautiful to be able to create, re-live and even live with the words on paper so just take your time. Don’t worry about finding a big tribe yet, one consistent reader first and keep at it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Best advice ever has to be: Talk about your work Abas! A friend was concerned that I promoted others better than I did myself. This changed everything for me. I am learning to self-promote effectively. To carry my market on my head.
What are you reading now?
Pilgrim Bell by Kaveh Akbar
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want my books to reach more readers and I am trying to find better ways to make that possible while I also explore other channels of publishing like audio and video book series. If it is possible, I dream of having one of my books on the big screen. It is a war thriller so, I have much to learn before I can accomplish that project.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Heather Graham’s Dead on the dance floor
Anne Lamott’s Stitches
Brian Tracy’s Eat that frog
Elnathan John’s Becoming Nigerian
Author Websites and Profiles
Abasiama Udom Author Profile on Smashwords
Abasiama Udom’s Social Media Links