Interview with Festus Obi
Published 2018-01-13.
How do you approach cover design?
My cover design depends on the genre. For instance if my book is for children, the cover will align with the title of the book.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
My five favorite books are "Things Fall Apart", and "No Longer At Ease" by Chinua Achebe, "Oliver Twist" by Charles Dickens, "Julius Ceasar" by William Shakespeare, and "Far From the Madding Crowd" by Thomas Hardy. I love Achebe's deft storytelling abilities and the fact that his themes resonate with my background. Charles Dickens painted a dichotomous picture of society in his novel and that dichotomy is still existing in every society today. William Shakespeare is the best dramatist as far as I am concerned. And Thomas Hardy provided me the opportunity of reading such a voluminous novel in high school and his work is excellent.
What do you read for pleasure?
I read serious pieces. However, I read the Bible for pleasure, inner peace, and spiritual growth.
What is your e-reading device of choice?
Kindle Fire
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
"The Humpback and the Python" is my first book of any genre. I have not tried any techniques yet other than epub platforms.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up in Igbo Nation of Nigeria. I grew up listening to stories told by master storytellers and elders. Every story I heard taught me some lessons or morals for life. That's how I view every piece of writing - what is the message? I write to send a message to my readers, especially children.
Describe your desk
My desk has a computer, pen-holder, notepad, books, and professional journals.
When did you first start writing?
I have been writing since my high school days; but nothing has taken off until this year 2018.
What's the story behind your latest book?
It is about kindness and not taking advantage of people or animals when they are vulnerable. There is a mutual benefit in helping those in need. The person helped might become a last resort in future or someone would be thrust up by providence to help. This message is very important for children as they grow up in societies that encourage individualism and selfishness.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
It is not easy to break through in the traditional publishing industry since those publishers are looking for known and popular names. The only way to put my name out there is to become an indie or ebook author until some agent or big publisher is convinced that my style of writing or storytelling is worth promoting.
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Books by This Author
The Humpback and the Python
by Festus Obi
This book is about an uplanned encounter between a farmer and a python. Although the farmer had every opportunity to kill the python in its vulnerable state, he decided to help the python instead. This act of kindness was never forgotten by the python which rewarded the humpbacked farmer in a way he never imagined. This story has lessons to teach children and adults as well.
