Life in Catholic church inspired my novel

By Henry Akubuiro

Christy Obidike is the author of the amazing debut novel, Partial Innocence. A geoscientist, her novel has a religious ring about it because her Catholic background influenced significantlylifev how the story’s tapestry was shaped. Hers is a remarkable literary family. Her husband is a novelist and two of her children are all writers, creating stuff way beyond their ages. In this interview with Daily Sun, she digs into her family background and how it impacted on her debut novel. She shares an encounter with Lai Mohammed, the former Information minister, and his impression on her daughter’s writing.

It took you decades to publish your first work, do you see yourself as a late bloomer?

Not really. My people say, whenever a man wakes up, it is his morning. Besides, as a geoscientist, I am not considered to be in the literary space, going by my training. So, I don’t see myself as a late bloomer.

What inspired your novel, Partial Innocence? The title hints on trials and tribulation.

The novel was inspired by my participation in the Catholic faith right from childhood. I have always wanted to write about how things are done in the Catholic church, because I was introduced to it even before I started school. I was fascinated by the orderliness, the sequence and the well-respected hierarchy.

Is this a one-off thing?

I can’t really say. I don’t earn a living Soley from writing, I work as a geoscientist. It would have been a different story if I depended on writing to foot my bills. I write when I get inspiration and am moved to pick up my pen.

What was going on in your mind while developing the plot?

I was concerned about making sure I didn’t mix up the sequence of things, especially in the life of the main character. He was a bit controversial, so I was careful to capture him in the best way that I could.

Were you satisfied how the story ended, or could you have done something differently?

Yes. It ended in an unexpected manner, but it was what I wanted. I feel writing should capture a reader’s attention. It should be fun but, also, it should be suspense-filled, a bit annoying; sometimes comforting, but, most importantly, disappoint the reader in the eventual outcome. Otherwise, how would readers talk about the book? How would they express their thoughts and how they envisaged things would turn out? When they feel disappointed in the outcome of an episode in the book or how a book did not follow a preconceived narrative, they are forced to discuss the book with friends and loved ones or even reach out to the author. That, to me, is the essence of writing, to make the reader talk about my book.

Which character (s) gave you the toughest time to develope?

The lead character, Nnamdi.

Why write the book as a work of fiction instead of non-fiction?

I chose fiction, because I wanted to tell a story about the things that are happening in our society, most especially in the church without making it sound boring. I also wanted to put my imagination to work, because I am gifted in that area.

Do you think writers like you have a big role to play in a society like ours?

Yes. We have a big role to play, because we expose the ills in society in an interesting way. Sometimes the manner with which a message is passed matters a lot. In fact, it is as important as the message, if not more important. Think about it: one tends to accept a well-presented idea, suggestion or advice rather than a boring or antagonistic one.

Who is your greatest influence as a writer?

Chimaamanda Ngozie Adichie and Chigozie Obioma are my biggest influences. Back home, my husband and children are just amazing. My husband has published two novels, Aladinma and My Conversation. On the day of school resumption, I took my daughter Tonia to school to resume, like other students. In her school, they usually check their luggage on resumption day for contraband items, as it was a boarding school. In the process, the lady that was checking Tonia’s bag saw a poem she had written at home while she was on holiday. After reading a few lines, she got locked in, she continued until she finished the one-and-a-half-page poem, not minding that others students were waiting to be checked. When she finished, she raised her head and screamed in excitement, “Woah, then followed a question. I hope you will come and join us at the literary club.’’ And my daughter gave a smile that did not feel reassuring. Her direct elder sister Laura makes writing feel so real and interesting. Her debut novel was published when she was 9yrs. Leaps towards the Sun’ is a collection of short stories. You will be disappointed if you feel it’s a novel written by a child and so it lacks substance.

In fact, the former Minister of Information and National Orientation. Mr. Lai Mohammed, after reading the novel, did not believe the book was written by a child. Like Thomas, who requested to put his fingers where the nail pierced Jesus’s palm when he was crucified, that was how Mr Mohammed maintained that until he spoke with Laura, he would not believe that the book was written by a 9 year-old. The discussion did not happen until a few weeks later when we visited her in school. We called the minister and handed the phone over to Laura, and they spoke for a while. When she returned the phone to me, the minister was so impressed. He ended by saying it would be nice for the world to know that a child born in Nigeria who attended Nigerian school could write so well.

Are you thinking of making a career out of writing like Chimamanda, your idol?

Well, time will tell. I say so because of the cliché “Never say never’’. That said, I don’t think of making a career out of writing for now.