It’s my tour stop on the Hear Our Voices Tour for Love in Color, in commemoration of the US release. I’m having an interview with the author, Bolu Babalola!!!
HI Bolu, it’s a pleasure to be doing this interview with you today! I read and really enjoyed your book, Love in Colour. I’m really excited to know more about this book.
Which story is your favorite?
I have no favourites! However, I do have a soft spot in my heart for Naleli because she is the youngest of the girls, and I really relate to her confidence-within-insecurity. She grows so much and I am so proud of her journey! I also really loved getting to play with Egyptian myth in Nefertiti and completely invent this dystopian Kemet. Also Osun! My petty, powerful goddess. Like I said: no favourites!
What was the rationale/inspiration behind writing such fierce and amazing female characters?
It wasn’t so much a decision as far as it was something that is natural to me. It didn’t cross my mind to write my heroines any other way- women are nuanced and multi-dimensional and strong and can also be vulnerable and sensitive and I think it’s important to show us in all of our colours- no pun intended! Strength doesn’t need to negate our softness and embracing love and romance does not weaken us
If Love in Colour ever gets adapted for TV, which of these characters do you see yourself playing?
All of them 🙂 (Orin)
Which story was the hardest to write?
Most of them had a few moments, but Attem took a few tries because I had to get the balance right of making sure it was detailed and rich, but not too heavy and convoluted.
How did you pick the tales that you rewrote, and were there any tales you started to rewrite and then cut off?
The stories picked me! I read them and saw something that I could work with. I thought about who the heroine might be, what I could bring to her and then it kind of fell into place. And yes there were some I left! I won’t say which lol, but there are some that were just too rich and too detailed to fit into a short story whilst doing it justice and making sure it was original and also paid homage to its roots in an appropriate way.
Thank you for your time! I can’t wait to read your next book!
Connect with the author on Instagram @boluberry / Twitter @beebabs
I love talking about books 📚
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