Fiery Scribe Review presents an interview with Stanley Umezulike, the co-editor and co-author of the PROFWIC Crime Fiction Anthology, Vol 1, themed NIGHTSHADE.
Stanley Umezulike is an award-winning Nigerian author born in Enugu and raised in Anambra, Nigeria. He is the co-founder of IfeAdigo Publishing Company Limited, and the founder of Prolific Fiction Writers Community, where he helps fiction writers gain clarity and learn the art of storytelling. Stanley writes intriguing crime fiction, family drama, and romance set in tropical Africa. He is a graduate of Political Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and did his Masters in International Relations at the same University. He found his passion for writing at the age of fourteen, and he’s been writing ever since.
He is currently working on his next book. Apart from reading and writing, he enjoys watching thriller TV shows, listening to good music, and travelling to new places. He lives in Awka, Nigeria. Stanley loves to hear from readers, so follow or drop him a note on Instagram @stanley_umezulike, Twitter @stanumezulike, and Facebook at Stanley Umezulike, Author.
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Interviewer: Elisha Oluyemi (Editor-in-Chief, Fiery Scribe Review)
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Apart from what we have in your bio, could you tell us more about yourself?
Stanley: I am the author of Amazon bestselling novel, Ties That Bind. I write intriguing crime fiction stories set in Nigeria.
My writings have appeared in various publications including Daily Sun (Nigeria), Love Africa Book Club, Fiery Scribe Review, Creative Freelance Writerz-Africa, Spillwords, Medium, Love Africa Press and popular online bookstores across the world.
I am the co-founder of Ifeadigo Publishing Company Limited, a tech-driven self-publishing firm that publishes books in print and digital formats, connects authors with global readers, and helps them to shine on the global stage.
I have mentored over 11,000 writers from different parts of the world within the past three years. This is part of my mission to help writers get access to the knowledge, tools and resources they need to excel in their writing careers.
In recognition of my work of transforming lives through storytelling and sharing my stories with the world, I was awarded Top 40 International Leading Youth Award 2020, in the best author of the year Male Category, an initiative organized by Make Mee Elegant Foundation to commemorate the 2020 International Youth Day and celebrate youths across the world who have been truly outstanding and impactful in their various fields.
When I’m not working, I enjoy watching crime thriller TV shows, listening to good music and travelling to new places. I live in Awka, Nigeria.
You've got an amazing… massive profile, I see. Kudos to you. What genre(s) do you write?
Stanley: I write intriguing crime fiction stories set in Nigeria.
What do you always aim to achieve when writing crime fiction?
Stanley: Whenever I’m working on a crime fiction story, I keep my reader in mind. I want the reader to travel with me to the world I created. If I’m able to entertain the reader and keep them turning the pages until they reach the end, I believe I’ve achieved my aim.
My goal in every story is to entertain and enlighten the reader while exploring themes that I want to share with the world.
How long does it take you to write a short story?
Stanley: A day or a week. It depends on the story.
Short stories differ greatly from novels in terms of length, depth, scope, and so on. Do you often make outlines for your short stories; or since it's of a very limited scope, do you just delve into the writing and see where it leads you?
Stanley: When I’m working on a novel, I usually create outlines, but when I’m writing a short story, I just delve into the writing and see where it leads me. With or without an outline, writing a story is like climbing a staircase. The more I climb, the more I see the steps.
Beautiful closing, Stanley. That seems to parallel the truism that ‘writing is an exploration’. So, tell us, how do you get inspiration?
Stanley: I observe everything that happens around me. The inspiration for my writing comes from life, what happens in the world, and the books I read. I also get inspiration for my writing from watching movies and listening to good music. Anything can inspire me at any time.
For you, what makes a good story?
Stanley: A good story is one that has a great plot, well developed and unforgettable characters, and skillful application of literary devices that would keep the readers turning the pages. A good story should intrigue the readers and capture their attention.
Have you ever got a negative review? How did you respond to it?
Stanley: Yes. As writers, we should understand that everyone is not our reader. Negative reviews don’t deter me. I don’t allow them to worry me. With every story I write, I make sure I give it my best effort.
You are the curator of the PROFWIC Crime Fiction Anthology, themed Nightshade. What inspired you to create something this amazing?
Stanley: I’d like writers to be bold and tell their stories without fear. As the founder of Prolific Fiction Writers Community—a global writing community on Facebook—I was surprised when I discovered that many writers desire to write crime fiction but don’t believe they can. I also discovered that many young writers in my writing community especially those from Africa don’t really don’t know much about crime fiction writing. Most of their stories are romance and literary fiction. My desire was to create awareness about crime fiction genre using this anthology. I also wanted to use the platform to raise new voices in the crime fiction genre. I’m glad that we were able to achieve that. Many young writers in our community are now delving into crime fiction writing. This gives me great joy.
Oh, beautiful! And interesting! Now let’s talk about your short crime story, When This is Over. It features a female detective who is not only faced by a villain but also by a depressing marital challenge. This kind of move is typical of whodunit fictions, where bringing down the villain isn’t always the only goal in sight, but also that the sleuth confronts a trauma or personal conflict that they must overcome in the end. Do you think whodunits should always spare a moment to focus also on the personal life of the sleuth, or do you think diversity is best? Reasons please.
Stanley: When the writer takes time to capture the personal life of the sleuth, it gives the story depth and makes the reader to connect more with the character. However, everything depends on the story. I suggest writers should adopt elements that best fit their stories.
Hmmm… Speaking of, I've read a number of your works—short stories, at least—all of which are set largely in Nigeria. Can you tell us what you think of a writer who writes stories with foreign settings? Is it good if they do it often or just when their story idea requires it?
Stanley: The setting of any story should be compatible with that story. Everything should flow naturally. Writers should write the kind of stories they love to read. However, a writer should do proper research especially when setting a story in a place they haven’t travelled to.
Would you see a crime fiction as complete without the active involvement of a sleuth?
Stanley: Yes. A crime fiction story can be written from different perspectives. It may not have the active involvement of a sleuth. However, the story must be focused on a crime and how it unravels. Again, most crimes are not committed by a criminal mastermind. If someone invests time and effort looking for clues, they could uncover enough evidence to make an arrest and prosecution possible.
Your responses are pretty educative, Stanley; I believe your readers will appreciate you for having this conversation. So, for them, I’d ask, what do you think is the best way a writer can read a novel?
Stanley: Don’t just read it for fun. You are a writer. You want to learn from other experienced writers. One of the best way to learn writing is to read the works of other writers. As you read the novel, observe everything about how it is written and structured. Read and learn.
Your crime & romance novel, Ties that Bind, the first in the Ray-Okon series, was a real big hit. Can you share with us what plans are in progress for the second novel in the series? Are you on to a different WIP?
Stanley: Thank you (smiles). I’m glad that readers love the Ray Okon series. The second book will be released this year (2022). I enjoyed the writing process. I’m sure readers will love the story. I love the series. I have already started working on the third book in the series.
I say, fantastic! Real nice news! Your readers must be on their toes at the moment—I am, too. (Smiles). Now, can you tell us, what authors inspire you the most?
Stanley: James Patterson—I love his fast-paced crime thrillers, especially the books in Alex Cross series and Women’s Murder Club series. I love Harlan Coben’s psychological thrillers. His characters are unforgettable. Sidney Sheldon, Dan Brown, Robert Ludlum, Nora Roberts, Kiru Taye and Clive Cussler are also among the authors who have and continue to inspire me.
Speaking of, do you have plans to launch the second issue of the PROFWIC Crime Fiction Anthology anytime soon? What about anthologies for other fiction genres?
Stanley: Yes. Before then, we will launch anthologies on other genres. I think romance is next.
Great. Diversity is nice, friendly, embracing… Is there anything unique about you that affects (or lends more vibes to) your writing?
Stanley: In 2016, during my National Youths Service Year—where fresh Nigerian graduates serve their country for one year after graduation—I met agents of Department of State Services (DSS) and had the pleasure of observing how they work. This inspired me to create Ray Okon, my lead character, who is a DSS agent in the Ray Okon series. I’m a firm believer in fairness, law and justice.
Almost every day, I observe criminal cases in Nigeria get a lot of media hype and then go cold without being solved. All of these things inspire me to write crime fiction and use my stories to raise awareness about what is happening in the society and share my message with the world.
Can you share with us a bit about how you combine writing with coaching and being a publisher?
Stanley: Having a weekly schedule helps me to stay organized, manage my time effectively and achieve my goals. I plan ahead using my Google Calendar and Keepnote. I review my goals every day. I also have a personal assistant that reminds me of my important tasks and helps me stay on track.
You’re for sure a passionate writer poised to make huge impact in both the writing and publishing world; your creations and results speak for you. So, I’ll trust you with this question: what one or two thing(s) would you ask a budding writer to do every day?
Stanley: Before I answer this question, here’s my advice to every budding writer out there; read a lot of books in your genre and learn from the best. Read in different genres as well. Don’t be in a rush to write and publish. When you finish working on your first draft, revise it until it becomes better. Then, give it to beta readers to read and offer you feedback. The feedback you will get from these beta readers will help you improve the story. Work with an editor who understands the genre. The editor will help you polish the story and make it shine.
Don’t feel bad when you read books written by great authors and feel your writing is not good enough. Every expert was once an amateur. Practice makes perfect. As you keep learning and remain consistent, you will continue to get better in your writing craft and eventually get to the top. Don’t be afraid to write your own story. You are the only one who can do justice to it.
What one or two thing(s) would I ask a budding writer to do every day?
You will never regret doing these every day:
- Thirty minutes of writing
- Thirty minutes of reading a good book
- Creating valuable content in your niche on social media to help you build your brand and attract the right audience.
Say, Stanley, where do you see yourself ten years from today?
Stanley: Ten years from today, I see my works being adapted into movies. As the co-founder of Ifeadigo Publishing Company, ten years from now, I see us achieving our vision and touching the lives of millions of writers including individuals and organizations who need our products and services. I see myself being the voice of my generation, living my dream and achieving God’s purpose in my life.
All shades of good, yeah. (Smiles.) Thank you for your time here and for sharing a good deal about your writership and the motivation behind the maiden Crime Fiction Anthology. I hope, one day, to host you again.
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NIGHTSHADE, PROFWIC Crime Fiction Anthology Vol. 1, the maiden edition of anthologies by the global writing community, Prolific Fiction Writers Community, features six intriguing crime fiction short stories that will leave you breathless.
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MEET THE INTERVIEWEE:
Stanley Umezulike is an award-winning Nigerian author born in Enugu and raised in Anambra, Nigeria. He is the co-founder of IfeAdigo Publishing Company Limited, and the founder of Prolific Fiction Writers Community, where he helps fiction writers gain clarity and learn the art of storytelling. Stanley writes intriguing crime fiction, family drama, and romance set in tropical Africa. He is a graduate of Political Science from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and did his Masters in International Relations at the same University. He found his passion for writing at the age of fourteen, and he’s been writing ever since.
He is currently working on his next book. Apart from reading and writing, he enjoys watching thriller TV shows, listening to good music, and travelling to new places. He lives in Awka, Nigeria. Stanley loves to hear from readers, so follow or drop him a note on Instagram @stanley_umezulike, Twitter @stanumezulike, and Facebook at Stanley Umezulike, Author.
