In a Not for Vanity first, Nigerian author Akinola Peace discusses with us her debut novel ‘Beyond the Stain‘
CAN YOU GIVE US A SYNOPSIS OF YOUR BOOK?
This novel chronicles the life of Rose Adesewa Chukwuma, a young Nigerian novice who begins the early stage of her life on a bumpy ride. With her father’s mysterious death causing the first blow, her mother, a Yoruba woman following the strange widow’s rites of the Igbo tradition, was labeled a “witch”, called barren, and held accountable for the death of her own husband.
Both Rose and her mother, Folakemi, experience financial and psychological hardship as a result of these strange occurrences. Rose is left on her own to navigate life while Folakemi finds solace in her job and tries to manoeuvre her way through single parenthood. Twelve-year-old Rose, who has an absentee mother and a non-existent father, is quickly overcome by the acceptance and love she receives from the Soul Sisters’ clique. Only she was oblivious of the major reason why she was accepted by the pentagon members in the Soul Sisters’ clique.
As she wraps her arms around the clutches of Demola, the pink-lipped choir master and Yoruba demon; Fred, an internet fraudster she meets as a university chick at LASU; and Zaddy, her wealthy sugar daddy who is determined to make her his second wife, a young novice transforms into a powerful veteran who is unconcerned with the impending karma.
Follow Rose as she struggles with drama, pressure, addiction, betrayal, balancing faith with an audacious lifestyle, forgiveness, love, and a plethora of challenges an average girl can be sure to face in this intriguing book!
WHAT ARE YOUR BOOK’S UPSs? WHY SHOULD READERS PICK YOUR BOOK OVER SOMEONE ELSE’S?
I’ll say this book is a direct guide to a life of liberty and peace for people with past scars and scathed lives. People with pasts that haunt them. Those who believe they can never get a way out of that, they can never be forgiven, they cannot find love, and God hates them. People who bottle up things in their heads and minds, not knowing how to share what they feel with anyone.
It is a book you can pick up, read and follow its directions without having to share your pasts or problems with a million people.
TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF…
I’m Akinola Peace, my pen name is Phoebee_writes and I’m popularly known and called Phoebe. I’m a Nigerian and I was born and bred in Lagos State, Nigeria. I just recently completed my bachelor’s degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun state, Nigeria. My love for writing earned me diplomas in Rhetoric writing, Creative writing and Copywriting. I am a bibliophile and the founder of The Readers’ Circle, a book club that upholds the reading culture. Beyond The Stain is my first debut novel.
WHERE DID THE INSPIRATION FOR ‘BEYOND THE STAIN’ COME FROM?
The Inspiration for Beyond the Stain came from the Creator through my friend and partner, the Holy Spirit. It also came from listening to stories of young ladies who were/are going through a lot of struggles which they couldn’t/can’t speak up about. It compelled me to write this story and go all out for it.
IS THE BOOK’S TARGET AUDIENCE YOUNG ADULTS ONLY OR IS THIS CLASSIFICATION TOO NARROW?
The book’s target audience is Adults and Young Adults, since two of the major characters fall in that category.
CAN YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHER, IMAGINE NATIONS, AS IT IS NOT CURRENTLY ON OUR RADAR?
Imagine Nations is a one-stop book writing and publishing service. Their services range from ghostwriting and book coaching to editing, restructuring, designing and publishing. Based in Nigeria, they’ve worked with a number of clients, virtually and physically to help aspiring authors and business/career professionals cater for their content writing and publishing needs. For further enquiries, kindly contact Onifeloluwa via email at adebajoonifeloluwa@gmail.com
ARE YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA? WHERE CAN OUR READERS FOLLOW YOU?
I am on Instagram and Twitter, my handle for both is Phoebee_writes
‘Beyond the Stain’ is available for purchase at: https://amzn.to/3xYGqL7 (free to read on KU)