Liberian Literary Magazine
Author Interview 3
SPOTLIGHT AUTHOR
TOLULOPE POPOOLA
A Writing Coach
Promoting Liberian literature, Arts and Culture
Why writing?
I’ve always been drawn to
words, reading and writing.
Growing up, I was the
typical
introvert
who
preferred to stay indoors
with a book, while everyone
else was out socializing.
My earliest memories of
writing are from way back
when I was a little girl, about
six years old. I used to read
a lot, and I would write my
own versions of stories that
I’d read, or I would make up
my own.
Tolulope Popoola
Thank you for taking this
time with us, we appreciate
it. Let us kick off by you
telling us a little about youchildhood,
education,
upbringing etc.
Tell us a little about yourself
My name is Tolulope
Popoola and I’m an Author,
a Publishing Consultant and
Writing Coach for Aspiring
Authors. I was born in Lagos,
Nigeria, sometime during
the 1980s. I grew up in a
household where reading
and academic pursuits
were
positively
encouraged.
I moved over to the UK in
2000 for my university
education, I have a BA in
Accounting and Business
Economics, and a Masters
in Finance and Investment.
But I got teased in school by
my friends who thought I
was weird, so I stopped.
However, I never lost my
love for reading and I read
anything I could get my
hands on.
As I grew older and
became a teenager, I used
to write in secret, because it
just came naturally to me.
I kept diaries and journals
throughout my teen years,
and writing was my therapy
whenever I was upset. I
loved and did well in English
and Literature effortlessly in
school.
What books have most
influenced your life/career
most?
Every book I read has
influenced me in one way
or the other, but the most
important books I’ve read
are:
How do you approach your
work?
43
I approach my work with a
combination
of
excitement, structure and
expectation. I start with an
idea, and I try to create an
outline for how the idea will
develop into a full story, but
I also leave room for
surprises to happen.
What themes do you find
yourself
continuously
exploring in your work?
Family,
friendship
and
relationships. Most of my
flash fiction stories have a
theme of betrayal, secrets,
loss, or surprises and they
are based on human
relationships.
Tell us a little about your
book[s]storyline,
characters,
themes,
inspiration etc.
My most recent title is a
collection of flash fiction
stories titled “Looking For
Something”. I got inspiration
for these stories from all
around me. It could be from
a conversation with a
friend, from song lyrics, or
even a dream.
I’ve put these 14 stories
together
to
educate,
entertain and surprise my
reader. Most people who
read my flash fiction stories
say they enjoy the twist at
the end.
One
recurrent
theme
throughout this collection is
fatherhood. I didn’t plan it
that way, but when I sent