Kiru Taye Interview Published on: 17, Jan 2022
Do you have a simple childhood memory that you could never forget?
One of my best childhood memories was reading a book while curled up in bed and listening to the sound of raindrops on the roof.
Were you an avid reader as a child? Do you still read books?Yes, my love for books started when I was a child and continues to this day.
At what age did you begin writing? Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?I wrote short stories in my early teens. I started writing romance novels as an adult.
How did you discover that you wanted to be a writer?Over ten years ago I couldn’t find many romance novels about Africans, so I decided to start writing them.
How did you come up with the idea of your novel, His Captive Princess?His Captive Princess is inspired by current and historical political events in Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan and many other parts of Africa.
How was the "Royal House of Saene" series started?The idea for a series based on an African royal family was created in a writers group many years ago. The concept was refined until it became the Royal House of Saene series which included stories by other participating authors.
Why are your stories set mostly in Africa?The simplest answer is that I am African and I love to read about Africans in love. But also, so much of African literature is about African struggles and adversities. I want to write about African joy and love and rich cultures—the things the media doesn’t always show about Africa.
Which book took the longest to write in the Men of Valor series?Oh, that would be His Princess because it’s the longest story J
How does writing make you feel? When you're not writing, what does a normal day for you look like?When I’m writing, I’m in a happy space and I’m excited because it’s like rolling movie scenes in my head. Unfortunately, I can’t write all the time. J For my day job, I work as a publisher at Love Africa Press. I’m also a wife and a mother of 3.
Do you model your male characters after your husband?Hahaha. This made me chuckle. Well, one of my characters is modelled after my husband. I’ll let you figure out which one. LOL.
Have you ever found a typo in a published book?Is there any book without a typo?
How many hours in a day do you write? Have you ever pulled an all-nighter writing?I don’t write every day. But when I’m writing, it can be between 3 to 6 hours per day. Yes, all nighters are pretty standard when I’m writing.
What is the best piece of advice you've ever been given as a writer?Write what you know.
What are your plans for the future as a writer? Are you working on anything new?There’s always something cooking. When I’m not writing, I’m planning and coming up with ideas for stories. My next book out is the last of the Royal House of Saene series—The Future King. But there will be spinoff stories from the series out later in the year.
How has your experience with AllAuthor been?AllAuthor has been wonderful so far. It has taken some of the strain of book marketing away and made life simpler for me as an author. I definitely recommend it.
