Q: Welcome! To break the ice a little bit, my favorite question - tell me a little bit about yourself? Hobbies, interests, career, how you found Wattpad...? Were you immediately a writer on Wattpad, or did you start out with reading...
A: Hi! I'm AOFunke. I'm a Nigerian pre-med student with an excessive love for coffee and chocolate :) I love writing, reading, singing in the shower, eating, and listening to music at the highest volume possible. Asides my Wattpad career, I write articles and crochet whenever I get the chance.
I started out reading on Wattpad, then after a few months, I began writing. My first book was terrible though. So terrible that I had to delete my account and create a new one. Ha
Q: Can you share a little about your experience with Wattpad? What has your writing experience been, and what has the community been like?
A: I started my Wattpad journey around 2017 (or was it 2014) I can't really remember because I was quite confused with how Wattpad worked and had zero guidance. I recall I was so eager to read and write that I went ahead and put up my first book. It got about 70 reads and little to no votes at all. Due to how much I compared it to other books with hundreds of thousands of reads, I felt like a twat. Plus, the grammar was terrible. So I took it down and deleted my account.
In 2019, I returned to Wattpad with a little more insight about writing and published my first (ish) book. That one got A LOT of hate. Someone in particular went the extra mile to call everything about the book trash. So, after trying to edit the book and failing to get any inspiration for it, I took it down along with all the spin offs it came with.
Though at first, TWE didn't get any recognition when it was released in 2021, I had a few readers who voted and commented on each chapter and helped support me with the book till the end. I know I'm not the only author who struggled with this though. There are tons of amazing books with less than five hundred reads here on Wattpad but I'm happy that there are means put in place to curb this issue. It's what makes Wattpad so Wattpad :) Along this ride, I've met pretty cool people (and some mean ones but they don't bother me anymore)
Q: In reading a bit about you on your profile, I see you are a lover of romance! Tell me why! Why is romance your favorite genre to read and write?
A: For me, romance signifies a kind of hope. It's warm, it's fuzzy, and it could give you a heart attack, but that's all part of the thrill. I love seeing two people find love and explore all of its ups and downs. It just makes me happy.
Q: What inspired you to begin writing The Wedding Effect? Where were you when the idea came to you and what was the writing process for this story like? Was it different or similar to your other stories?
A: @Trish_DW, the author of the ichor series, invited me to her writing contest in 2021 and that was the turning point for me. I remember it was in the middle of the night on the eighth of January. I was on my bed and this idea of a wedding planner and her twisted love life and a one-night stand that ran away popped. I'd always wanted to write a wedding story so it just kind of clicked. I finished the entire book in less than three months (which is pretty huge).
I'm a plantser so most of my books end up going the same way: unplanned. Like most authors, my ideas just pop up and the next thing you know, I have sticky notes in my jotter.
Q: Do you have a favorite character in The Wedding Effect? My personal favorite is Simone :)
A: I totally understand why you'd pick Simone. She's so supportive and precious. For me, it was Camsy at first, but I've been writing The Right Choice and I'm falling in love with Mierda because of her wittiness and unabashed support for her cousin (even though she might be extreme). Then there's Parker and his gentle nature. I just want to put him in a box and place him at the top of the shelf. It's a hard choice really since I took all the qualities I'd like in a man and instilled them in him.
Q: I loved reading in your profile that you often give your characters headaches, putting them through challenges and obstacles. You certainly do that with Camsy (the protagonist of The Wedding Effect)! Can you tell me why you do this and what you hope your readers take away from your characters?
A: Without obstacles, life would be easy. And if life is easy, it's boring. I love it when something bad happens because then I get to show readers how you can stand through hard times and get out of them stronger. My characters are strong and goal-driven and I want my readers to see that. I want them to relate to these characters and learn from their mistakes and experiences.
Q: Writing is a deeply reflective process and your writing and engagement with your Wattpad community show great thoughtfulness. What have you learned through your writing?
A: Writing has taught me how to be patient. Bringing forth a read-worthy book takes time and effort and if you don't know how to handle these factors, you might end up losing that passion to tell your story. I've learned to see the good in comments (constructive or not). While I'm completely against inconsiderate comments, I still try to make sense of what the person is saying. From my experience, I've had a lot of feedback. Both good and bad. It took time, but I eventually learned to not take everything to heart and instead draw understanding.
Q: Where is your favorite place to write and why?
A: This is going to be weird to say. But, I get creative in the bathroom (I said it). I just squat in a corner and boom, ideas. It's probably because it's quiet in there and I can go a long time before my presence is missed.
Q: Why do you write and what are your goals in your writing?
I write because I have stories to tell. I have worlds to form, and since I haven't traveled before, it's a good way to imagine the rest of the world. I get to visit places I've never been to and taste coffee I haven't had in my life and it's super cool. Writing for me is also therapeutic. I apologize to my readers but if I'm mad, one of my characters is gonna get it ;)
A: It would be so cool to hold a copy of my own book one day. I know it's a big thing to achieve but I'll keep trying. And maybe one day, the world will see me :)
Q: In your life away from Wattpad, you are a med student! That is so amazing! How do you find balance and make time for your writing? How does being a writer fit into who you are?
A: Ah. This is a tough question. I don't really balance it. I just do it. School is really really stressful and writing helps ease off that stress (to an extent). So, whenever school frustrates me, I turn to my writing. Coupled with listening to music, it works like magic.
I'm an emotional person but I find it hard to express myself physically. It might be difficult to believe but I'm very awkward in person. I always stumble over my words and go quiet if all attention is on me. But when I write, it's like a safe place. I can freely talk about how I feel and not talk about how I feel. Like I said, therapy.
Q: The Wedding Effect is getting a sequel! Is there anything you can tease before the first chapter is released on July 7th, 2022?
A: Yassss! :) I'm so excited for The Right Choice. I have some of the chapters ready and I can't tell you how excited I am to release them. As we know, Camsy is finally getting married and though I'm happy for her, you can't have thirteen exes and not expect one of them to show up at your wedding. Duh ;)
We get to meet Shauna: he's a bundle of joy, just like his mom (lol :)) Expect heartbreak! You have been warned!
Also, I adjusted Mierda's name a little. I'm editing TWE, so you'll soon see the new name :)
Q: Is there anything additional you would like to share?
A: I'm grateful for all of my readers. For everyone that voted, commented, shared, and helped me in one way or the other, and not just with The Wedding Effect. To Yin-Mika, my number one fan, birdzeye my cappuccino, taicardi, nattieaustin, (aka the first Wattpad star to show me that Wattpad stars don't exist in their own planet :)), and hundreds of others that aided my writing journey one way or the other. Thank you so much and I'll see you at the top :)
YOU ARE READING
Interviews
RandomWelcome to the AdultFic interview book. Inside you'll find interview sessions with inspiring authors posted each month, as well as helpful hints for readers and writers alike.
