Sabine Adeyinka

Probably when I was out of university and working in London. I wrote short stories about growing up in Nigeria for fun and because I wanted to entertain others. Looking back, I think I may have been homesick.

I think once Chicken House were involved and I thought the book may be published, I began to panic that perhaps my writing wouldn’t be good enough. I started to second-guess my ideas and writing style. Eventually, I reminded myself that these publishers had been interested in my writing and so it couldn’t be that bad. I made up my mind to just write my heart on to the page. Chicken House were also very skilled and encouraging so I was in safe hands.

I read all Enid Blyton’s Malory Towers and St. Clare’s boarding school series growing up. It’s the main reason I wanted to go to a boarding school. Now, I love a good murder mystery so Robin Stevens, Agatha Christie and Anthony Horowitz are really brilliant.

I try to fit in writing wherever I can. On the train, an hour in the middle of the night or I go for a walk and make up stories in my head. Sometimes, I just pick up my laptop before I go to bed and just write.

Letitia Wright who played Shuri in Black Panther would play Jummy. I’d take her a big box of agbalumo and a pot of Jollof rice - The best Nigerian delicacies.