Interview With Author Daniel Ehiagwina
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an African, from Nigeria and grew up in Lagos.
I spent much of my childhood on a steady diet of World Wrestling Entertainment storylines, Jackie Chan movies, fiction movies, television shows and series, comic books and lots of local child plays. I encountered the muse in my teens when eating my favourite meal, beans and plantain. That jolt of inspiration produced a ten-page poem on abstract nonsense that metamorphosed into a subtle love of words.
I have a first book, a debut memoir, self-published. It is a Christian book on clarity of purpose. I also intend to write other genres, of which I am currently working on a thriller novel.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The title of my latest book is “Where Are You? God’s Call and Clarity in the Mist of Life’s Struggles”. It is a Christian book, a memoir about hearing God and gaining clarity of purpose for God’s glory.
I got inspiration to write this book after I gained clarity in 2022 when a special friend invited me to the Youths Ministers Retreat (YMR) by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, an event organised for the youths. Prior, I knew I had the gift of writing, but I was mystified on how to start, where and how to channel my energies.
Interestingly, a few days after I published it on Amazon in May 2023, I got inspired to write another one on prayer. I am working on this presently.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Well, I would say I have a chaotic writing habit that has somehow developed into a process. When a picture of what I want to write about drops in my mind, I allow it to fly and nest freely anywhere to attract ideas by itself from various sources, mostly the environment, my interaction with people and my experiences.
I do this before I actually decide to start writing. It is a process I absolutely enjoy because I have discovered that all my past experiences were crumbs of a bigger picture for this authorship journey.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have quite a lot of books that influenced me. Aside from the academic ones we were required to read for exams and school, I read loads of novels during my teens thanks to my wonderful, lovely sister who had over five large sacks full of novels.
Moreover, books from authors like Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Chimamanda Adichie, John Bevere, Diane Comer, Myles Monroe, William Shakespeare, Les Brown, Julia Roberts and Harold Robbins, Victor Ehikhamenor all influenced me greatly in different ways.
In addition, poets like Alexander Pope and Mark Twain as well as other African poets have played roles in developing my literary mind.
What are you working on now?
I have lots of works in progress wagging their tails, seeking my attention. However, I am currently working on a second Christian book on prayer. I also have another work, a thriller novel on the side – I am looking at publishing this by year-end in 2023.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have a definitive answer yet. Although, Amazon seems to be the most popular platform for authors looking to publish their works. I am leaning in that direction as well. I would say I am still exploring.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t worry excessively about selling loads of your book(s) early on. Worry more about building yourself up as an author and mastering your process. Write and publish three or four more books, get a feel for your muse and then buy a marketing hat or rent one offered by the pros.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
There are several. But none impacted me the way the one below did.
“When God gives you your vision, run with it”, by Pst Timothy Olaniyan.
This statement was the trigger, the smack in the head that realigned all the jumbled nerves in my brain to finally start my authorship journey.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading the following:
“On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft” by Stephen King
“He came to set the captives free” by Rebecca Brown
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to write and publish more books, network with other authors and build a community of readers that will encounter my muse and have life-changing interactions.
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?
Wow! Interesting question. For me:
The Bible
Excuse Me by Victor Ehikhamenor
The Man Died by Wole Soyinka
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Author Websites and Profiles
Daniel Ehiagwina Amazon Profile
Daniel Ehiagwina’s Social Media Links