R Magazine, Ex-TeenArt_Issue 1_Authenticity Ap. 2014 | Page 35

We live in a global village, where you have
to give and receive. It is certainly important
to receive, but we do not have to become
acculturated by giving up all the things that
make our individuality.

very hard to convince, their sensibilities is
different from ours and after several negative answers we may feel the need to throw
in the towel, but we must absolutely not
give up!

What kind of response did the book get? Was
it rather praise or criticism?

do

There is always a strong enthusiasm about
the book; the Bookstore Harmattan of Senegal is going to make a 3rd edition and the
one in Paris is in its second. Many people,
especially young people tell me about their
satisfaction after reading my book, and I
am very happy.
However, there will always be some critics
and I try to take it into account as much as
possible.

I am totally free in what I write ... Writing is
a creative art so if you are under any kind
of pressure this could impede on your creating process.

What

gave you the desire to Write and for
hoW Long did you feeL this passion?

As a child, my dream was to become a writer.
I was fortunate to be initiated to reading
at a very
young age,
BECAUSE
and I grew TO ME WRITING up with a
passion for
reading.
IS AS
The more NECESSARY I read, the
more I my AND VITAL AS desire
to
write and
publish
a
THE AIR
book grew.
The idea of
I BREATHE.
writing
a
book became more obvious to me after I created
a blog where I could express myself as a
writer.
One of my main sources of inspiration is
my dear grandfather and model, Cheikh
Hamidou Kane, for whom I have respect
and admiration, and who embodies values
that I believe in: rooting and openness.
hoW Long did it take you to Write this book?
and What did you Learn from this first Writing eXperience?
It took 6 months to write this book, but by
the time I sent it to the publishers and they
validated the manuscript, it took 1 year ...
The principal thing I learned is that all beginnings are difficult ... The publishers are

you get infLuenced or pressured by the
pubLisher or investors?

hoW

did you knoW When the book Was finished? do you use drafts?

Yes, since I write on paper, notebooks and
pen are my daily companions. So when I
had the book project in mind, I recorded
all the ideas for this book in a notebook.
And when I came to the end, I knew that
the book was almost finished.
did you organiZe book signing sessions? hoW
do you feeL When you meet fans?
I organized a major book singning session
to launch the book. Since then, I went to a
few schools to meet readers and potential
readers ...
Each time, I feel a lot of emotion because
I get lots of questions and I do my best
to answer them all. I don’t see a reason
why should I refrain from talking about my
modest experience so far, if it can inspire
someone.
It is important to meet the public, because
they are the one who give feedback regarding my work and make me want to
continue.
do you have other proJects in mind? can you
give us a hint about a potentiaL sequeL?
I have many projects in mind, particularly
writing projects... I will take the time I feel I
need to work on them.
All I can say is that it will be about Africa, a continent that is so dear to me and I
continue to represent at all times and in all
places.

TEEN’ART Magazine - Roots