Lizzie Damilola Blackburn, YINKA, WHERE IS YOUR HUZBAND?: A Novel
[0:02]Hi, I'm Zivi Owens, the creator and host of the award-winning podcast that you're listening to right now
[0:07]Thank you so much. Called moms. Don't have time to read books
[0:10]It is a daily podcast
[0:12]365 days a year and each day we talk to an author about all of the things related to their career
[0:18]Their book their life and more in 30 minutes or less because who has time?
[0:22]I am now an author myself
[0:24]Although I wasn't when I started this podcast and you can get my new memoir book ends
[0:29]A memoir of love, loss and literature wherever books are sold starting July 1st and my children's book prints is charming
[0:36]You can learn more about me at Zivi Owens.com
[0:39]But really you're here to learn more about the authors and that is what we're going to do
[0:43]Also be sure to check out all the other podcasts in the zcast podcast network
[0:49]You can learn more at zcastnetwork.com and definitely check out those shows as well
[0:58]Lizzy Dami Lola Blackburn is the author of Yinca where is your husband a novel
[1:04]Born and raised in London Lizzy is a British Nigerian writer who won the literary consulting
[1:09]Penn Factor writing competition in 2019 with an early draft of her debut novel
[1:13]She has been on the receiving end of the question in the title of her novel many times
[1:18]And now lives with her husband in Milton Keynes, England
[1:21]Welcome, Lizzy. Thank you so much for coming on moms. Don't have time to read books to discuss Yinca
[1:26]Where is your husband?
[1:28]Thanks for having me. You probably say it better with your amazing accent
[1:32]I'll spend
[1:36]You did such a great job of developing these characters
[1:39]And immediately like getting us in the scene of the like twerking pregnant woman as like
[1:44]Bring moms and the aunties like the whole thing and nobody understanding that like to work in an investment bank
[1:50]You could do eight thousand different things
[1:53]Like IT support it doesn't matter
[1:55]But anyway, tell listeners what your novel is about and and how you ended up writing about this
[2:03]Yes, so Yinca where's your husband is a romcom and it follows Yinca who is a British Nigerian woman
[2:10]who lives in South London and
[2:12]Yinca is you know her life is a hot mess right now because her
[2:17]Her very traditional Nigerian mom and her many many aunties are pressuring her to settle down and then her cousin
[2:24]Had to devotees get herself engaged and so
[2:27]Yinca decides to take her love love into her own hands and she sets up this plan in a form of a spreadsheet
[2:33]To find a date in time for her cousin's wedding
[2:36]But in what kind of starts up at a very like simplistic goal turns into something way more drastic and Yinca feels as though she has to change herself in order to find love
[2:44]So in addition to this being a love story is also a story of self discovery
[2:49]Which he does on with the help her maiden friends
[2:51]I'm funny enough. Yinca's story started off as a short story that I had on a blog that I ran back in
[2:57]2014-2015
[2:59]So this blog was called Christian Death Dalemers because at the time I was looking for you know mainstream romance fiction with a Christian protagonist
[3:06]And I I couldn't find any so I decided for something about it
[3:10]And on this blog I had like different short stories with a Christian protagonist and it all had some sorts of like, you know
[3:17]Data Dalemers
[3:18]And Yinca was one of them and her story was inspired by my experience because even though I was only you know in my early mid 20s
[3:25]My mom my dear mom was asking me, you know, when are you going to settle down?
[3:29]You know, where's your husband or where's your boyfriend?
[3:32]And so that was kind of the inspiration behind it
[3:35]But the idea to turn into a novel came later on
[3:38]So I went to this blog and workshop and I met this fantastic author
[3:41]And all as all writers do I want to get feedback on my writing
[3:45]So I shared my blog with her and in addition to giving me some really helpful feedback
[3:49]I just said do you know what I really love this Yinca parrot
[3:52]So I feel like she turned into a novel and I guess the rest is history
[3:57]Well, I'm sorry to make you repeat that story
[3:58]I know I've heard you say it and
[4:00]You know an NPR and all these other places
[4:03]I love everything
[4:05]You know for those who didn't learn that until now there you go
[4:09]I love how you decided to share like 10 installments on the bookseller about how this book got made with
[4:17]Yeah, your experience and your editors experience. That was genius. Tell me about that. I loved that
[4:23]I like one of these thing. I don't know. It's amazing. I love it. Tell me about that
[4:26]So that was actually a spot by my former editor Katie. She's just left penguin now
[4:31]But she was great and she felt like it would just be a good idea to give like
[4:35]writers and insight into the publishing journey and
[4:39]Because I was so like consumed
[4:41]Trying to write my manuscript and everybody thought about the publishing process and what that entails so
[4:46]For me it wasn't a chance not just documents my experience, but also
[4:51]Like now it's a good chance for me to feel flexed back and to see how far I've come
[4:55]And hopefully, you know, it'll be helpful to other writers out there
[4:59]Who kind of feel like the publishing industry is some kind of like mystery
[5:04]Yes, no, I love it. I love how your editor was like trying to wear her nicest clothes to come meet you
[5:09]And it was so good because she had a very own real life. It's so cute. It's awesome. It's really great
[5:14]And I do feel sometimes there's feels like this, you know, closed box world, right?
[5:19]Or you don't know what happens behind the curtain
[5:22]So I don't know
[5:23]I just thought it was a very unique way to to share the journey
[5:26]So for people listening go to the bookseller and search up
[5:30]Lizzie or maybe just put in
[5:32]Inca wear this dress
[5:36]What part of that whole process?
[5:38]I know there was a part about the cover. Tell me about the cover journey and
[5:42]Looking at your two covers now. Tell me about having these two very different covers for different markets
[5:47]Well, first of all, I absolutely love them
[5:50]Like people ask me which is a favor, but actually I love them both
[5:53]I think that's great kind of for and bright
[5:56]The process was quite different
[5:58]So I was more included in the US process
[6:01]And I think it's because they wanted to get my insight as a British Nigerian
[6:05]And so I was able to kind of give some feedback on
[6:08]A few iterations before we reached a final version
[6:11]But with the UK one
[6:13]I didn't know what was happening until like months later
[6:16]And I think it does kind of stand in practice because
[6:19]The reason why the day once included author because we're not the expert
[6:22]And sometimes it might come through ideas
[6:24]Which might sound great
[6:25]But they know the market and they know what sells well
[6:28]And I was told that you know
[6:30]There had up to 100 iterations with the cover
[6:33]Because I really wanted to get it right
[6:35]And when they showed them in the end
[6:38]I was absolutely blown away
[6:39]And you know, and it had to offer a few tweaks really
[6:43]But yeah, absolutely love it
[6:45]It's so cool
[6:46]Very cool
[6:47]I didn't notice at first it was a ring
[6:49]But yeah, there it is
[6:51]On the British cover
[6:52]Yeah, anyway
[6:53]So what was it like the writing part as you were trying to turn it into
[6:57]From a short story to a novel
[6:59]Like did you have a day where you were like
[7:01]Now what do I do?
[7:03]Oh my gosh, so the first year and a half
[7:05]I was just winging it
[7:07]I don't know what I was doing to interview
[7:10]And that meant that I kept on like starting, stopping, starting again
[7:14]And it wasn't until I read this book called Story Engineering
[7:17]By Larry Brooks and I recommend it to all authors
[7:19]I think we've mentioned it in one of my book Solar Columns
[7:22]And that was kind of like my light bulb moment
[7:24]Because that's when I realized that storytelling is a craft
[7:27]And it needs to be like certain elements in order for it to be
[7:30]Engaging for the reader
[7:32]So like themes and structure and conflicts and stakes
[7:35]And it sounds basic
[7:37]But at the time I didn't know that
[7:39]So from that point forward
[7:41]I started to invest in myself as a writer
[7:43]So I attended like
[7:45]Workshops, I did an online creative writing course
[7:48]I read more
[7:49]I connected with other writers as well
[7:52]And yeah the process was quite long
[7:54]It took me like roughly five years to write your income
[7:57]And I think one thing that I really struggled with
[7:59]Was finding time
[8:01]And also when I got married I moved from London to Milton Keynes
[8:04]But I was still working in London
[8:06]So it was a two hour commute each way
[8:07]And I just struggled to write on the train
[8:09]But lockdown in the end was a blessing disguised
[8:12]Because it gave me more time to write
[8:14]And that's when I actually finished my manuscripts
[8:17]So was your mom really happy when she met your actual husband?
[8:22]Oh yeah, yeah she loved it
[8:25]I'm my dad as well
[8:28]When did he think about this being the topic of your book?
[8:32]Um, he was like
[8:35]He always knew that was going to be a writer
[8:37]So I'm quite well, now he says that
[8:39]Yeah, let's give him all the credit
[8:42]Yeah
[8:43]But my mom is well because she wrote it with being a week
[8:46]And she doesn't really read fiction
[8:48]And yeah, she was so proud of me
[8:51]And she was like I can't believe like this came from your brain
[8:54]Like I really respect you
[8:56]So that was really nice to hear to get that
[8:59]You know, sample approval from my mom
[9:02]It is amazing
[9:03]That sometimes it takes a novel for people to understand
[9:07]What you're even thinking
[9:09]Great or who you are or you know, communication
[9:12]For both communication can only go so far
[9:14]But spending a year like holding your interior monologue
[9:17]Yeah, it's funny
[9:19]What are you working on now?
[9:20]So I'm working on book two
[9:22]I haven't really told too many people
[9:24]I said for my editors and my agent about it
[9:27]But it's going to be
[9:28]But now you can tell me
[9:29]Well, I would say it's going to be another kind of colorful vibrant book
[9:36]With like an ensemble of parishes
[9:39]Which are hopefully as memorable as the one in the anchor
[9:43]And is this going to be a movie?
[9:45]What? Yincob or the pinker
[9:47]Yes, again, I can't say too much about it
[9:48]But it has been snapped up for film rights
[9:50]So yeah, watch this space
[9:52]Oh my gosh, so cool
[9:54]That seems really exciting
[9:56]Thank you
[9:56]So how has your life changed since having this book out?
[9:59]Oh wow
[10:00]So it's meant to happen to do it full time, which is amazing because that's like a dream
[10:05]come true. And yeah, just like it feels so surreal. And I just feel so grateful. Like every
[10:12]single day, I'm just like I wake up at all. That wow, this is my life, because when I was writing
[10:18]the ink, I don't know many times, but I thought that would I ever reach the end. Like I just
[10:22]kind of felt like I would constantly work in on a draft of ink. So yeah, it's just, I think
[10:29]anytime I'm feeling doubtful or question myself, I just have to think back to how far I've come.
[10:35]That's inspiring. Hello. What other advice do you have for aspiring authors?
[10:40]Oh, I've got so many. Great. Let's hear. Oh, I would say invest in yourself and you're worth
[10:45]investing in. And you know, the internet is your friends. Like there's so like much free resources,
[10:50]like on YouTube, for example. And sign up to news letters as well, because sometimes you'll get
[10:54]free device from there, or like free worksheets as well. I would say call yourself a writer as
[11:01]well, like own it. And don't feel afraid to tell people that you're writing. I feel like sometimes
[11:06]as writers, we can kind of be shy about that. But sometimes we have to put our work out, then get
[11:11]feedback in order to improve. And I would say yeah, don't give up. Like you need to have a lot of
[11:18]self-belief as well, because you know, it is quite time consuming. And you know, you will get
[11:25]rejected a longs of way. So you need to have that self-belief in yourself. And what kind of
[11:30]extreme? I do love a good bump come. I also love like mystery books as well, like literary books that
[11:39]kind of like touch on a range of issues. I love books that showcase like black joy as well. And
[11:45]very happy to see that a lot of books are coming out that are kind of like promoting that.
[11:50]Yeah, I said there's a my go to. Yeah. Amazing. Excellent. And do you have your whole crew of
[11:57]aunties? Did do you have like the same network of aunties? And are they also supportive of the work
[12:04]that you do? Yeah. So like, thankfully my aunties are not like the aunties. I never got pressured from
[12:12]my aunties. And when I was single to get married. So my aunties now, they had a very, very supportive
[12:17]like when it came to my both my US book launch, which is virtual, and my in-person one in the UK,
[12:24]you know, they were there cheering and you know, just being so super supportive. So I'm very
[12:30]blessed to have a very supportive network of friends, former colleagues, family members. So yeah,
[12:37]it really does help. Yeah, I bet. I was surprised actually in the book that there was so much
[12:44]pressure on her so young. Like, I was expecting in could be, I don't know, like 38, 39, but she was only
[12:49]with 31, 32. I was like, what? I feel like in New York, people are like, whatever. You know, settle in.
[12:59]It's funny because when I was writing in, I was in my twenties, you know, I think myself,
[13:02]how would a 31 year old person behave? And I realized so much different from, you know, being a 20.
[13:10]Oh, my gosh. I just finished reading a memoir about someone who was like, okay, I'm 38. I guess I should
[13:15]think about having a baby on my own. Like, that was the book I read before years. So I think after I
[13:19]got to years, I was like, yeah, she's got plenty of time. There's no rush. What will be, will be, you know,
[13:27]you do a great job, though, of setting the scene, like the contrast between the crazy,
[13:36]harried mom, you know, on the grand changing diapers and like the career woman in this whole,
[13:40]like, you know, grass is always greener a thing. Like, you, you want what someone else has.
[13:47]Yes, you've given, like, you didn't grow to college, but look at you, you've got this amazing
[13:51]child. You have this, you know, it's almost like, you're so like, you can't win with life in
[13:57]a way. Yeah, yeah, you're right. And I feel like social media has kind of perpetuated or field this
[14:04]idea that you need to have it all, but only because of like what people are portraying and what
[14:10]you see in like the highlight rules. And I just feel like it's, it's impossible. And it's not fair
[14:16]to put expectation on ourselves and on others as well. So yeah, I hope it can be something that
[14:22]people can relate to when they're reading her. Oh, 100%. Yes. Well, I really do think you have an
[14:28]amazing voice and pacing and all of the elements of storytelling, like, it's, it's just so fun.
[14:36]It's like fun to read and makes you smile, but also makes you think. And yeah, I, I just love
[14:42]your voice. That's really my favorite. Thank you. And anyway, I'm excited for your next adventure
[14:50]and all of that. So thank you. Thanks for coming on. Thanks so much for having me. My pleasure.
[14:56]Have a great day. Thank you. Thank you. Bye. Thanks, bye. Thanks for listening to this episode of
[15:02]Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram at Zebioans and at
[15:07]Moms Don't Have Time to Read Books. Also sign up for my newsletter at Zebioans.com and sign
[15:12]up for my virtual book club and meet lots of authors on Zoom every other week. Thanks so much to Steve
[15:17]and Ryan at Texture Sound for the Sound Editing. And thank you to Morning Moon Productions for
[15:22]providing this fantastic intro and outro music.