“Wanting to meet an author because you like his work is like wanting to meet a duck because you like pâté.”
Tell us one thing about yourself
I didn’t grow up, I tumbled up.
What were you like at school?
I was naughty – an attention seeker. A primary school teacher called me a busy body because I had a lot of energy.
Since you write in English, were you good at it?
Yes, it was my strongest subject in high school.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
I want to be great enough to maintain a following.
Does it matter to you that it comes now or later or like Kafka, posthumously?
Yes it does slightly. I’d prefer it if it happened while I was still alive to witness what my body of work means to people, what right I’ve done and so on, just to know what people like about it. If, however, I manage to publish something, then I feel I have managed to leave something on earth forever. Its how I see it.
Which writer’s inspire you? Why?
I’m inspired by lyricist like Nas and Lupe Fiasco. They are unapologetic about what they find to be worthy or “hip” to talk about at any given time. I like that.
Do you strive to be like that in your writing?
Yes I do. Being unique (or stubborn) in a world of people who are trying to be like each other is refreshing. I don’t want to write like anybody or rather, express myself about a common topic in the same way somebody else does. I want to be that different that I become unpredictable in how I write.
What are you working on at the moment?
Poems About Her : Short stories and Poetry by Thibz
About Her? A specific “her”?
The term “her” is used universally here. I’m writing about women in different types of instances. I’m talking about women that cheat, abused women, independent, beautiful women, high-achieving women and so on. All of these women make up the “her” in my title. I’m honouring women. There’s no life/living without them.
Why do you write? Like, what made you sit down and actually start writing?
A feeling made me sit down and try it out. Then someone said I was pretty good.
And what was this feeling?
I don’t really understand it but I recognize it when I feel it. It nags me to write something, anything, down. It may even develop into guilt if I don’t act on it, telling me I’m wasting an opportunity to jot something unique, honest or special down. The feeling may even be passion. I don’t fully know yet.
Do you write on typewriter, pc, dictate or by hand?
By hand
Why? Is there like a special thing that happens when you write by hand that doesn’t happen when you use the other methods?
I don’t trust technology, first of all! I feel like adding a pc or laptop between myself and my writing is like an extra hurdle to overcome on top of the difficulties I already face when I write something down. I’m trying to be as close to the writing process as possible, and any instrument that’s more fussy than a pen and paper is really an intrusion. Haha. I haven’t tried a type writer yet.
Where do your ideas come from?
Emotion mostly but images from the books I read, movies and the pictures painted by lyricists in music.
What is the hardest thing about writing?
Explaining exactly what I feel.
How come?
I want the reader to feel what you felt when I was writing the poem or short story down. Its almost as if I want to put the reader within my heart and make them understand, with my descriptions, what it is I’m going through, beat by beat. If people comment on my imagery or the intensity of my words for example, then I feel like I’ve succeeded. I want you to feel what I feel. That’s the whole point, to take you with me through what I feel.
Do you ever get writer’s block? How do you get through it?
Yes I do. I just walk away from the piece completely. Come back to it some other time.
Do you read much and if so, who are your favourite authors?
Not enough. Lee Child. I like thrillers.
Which celebrated person, living or dead, would you like to meet and why?
I would like to meet somebody menacing or notorious such as Hitler, Joseph Kony or Al Capone to try and understand their train of thought or to try and understand at what point did they decide that it was okay for them to do what they did. I would do my best to enter their psychosis to see what they see and hear the story from their side. The things we know and can explain are all well but to truly expand our knowledge of the world we need to go to uncomfortable places.
Favourite book?
Tale of Two Cities, still. *laughs*
A Tale of Two Cities? Why?
Honestly speaking, the first time I read A tale if two cities I was in awe of how Dickens brought the coincidences or consequences of the characters to a full circle much later in the book. He made it possible understand how the world can be a small place indeed. I found it genius. The character Sydney Carton was my favourite. He had flaws that dragged him down but was intelligent and selfless. His sacrifice out love for a woman was something I didn’t see coming, amongst other great surprises in the book.
Favourite film?
I can’t remember. Any movie that shifts me conceptually and emotionally gets my vote. Anything from “Be kind, rewind” to Seven Pounds.
Favourite song?
“…I’m thinking ’bout plotting a scheme Ma plotting a scheme!”
—end—
You can read all of his work HERE
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