Author's Hangout with Zizi
Mr Omoruyi Uwuigiaren, popularly known as Ruyi, is a former freelance cartoonist at Vanguard Newspapers. He is a seasoned writer, cartoonist, and publisher of children’s adventure books.
Ruyi is also a music enthusiast, he sings and plays the keyboard/piano. As a young adult, he loved music and composed songs for his high school band. Though he wanted to pursue a music career, his love for art and writing made him study Mass Communications. His literary works and books have appeared in Breaking Rules Publishing Short Story project, Moronic Ox Literary and Cultural Journal, Vanguard Newspapers, Open Books, Bambooks and many more.
Mr Omoruyi Uwuigiaren founded Ruyi’s World of Books and Stories. His books have that African flair that makes them exciting to read.
Tell us about yourself.
I am a friendly and outgoing person with a passion for writing, teaching, web design and publishing. My studies and previous experience have all been in these areas, and I am currently looking to progress my career in a more challenging role. I have excellent communication skills. I have successfully managed some projects and can supervise, manage, and motivate people. Most of my published books are distributed by African Books Collective, Nouvelles Éditions Numériques Africaines (NENA), and Fiction4All.
At what point did you realise you wanted to be a writer?
It all started in 1998. My journey into the beautiful world of writing began one cold evening. The wind blew with a vengeance as if there was no tomorrow. A pastor visited my home with a little book written by Bishop David O. Oyedepo of the Living Faith Tabernacle Church, Ota, Nigeria. After going through the little piece that was as good as gold, I told the friend that a few days would be enough for me to write a book like this. The pastor, who is as dark as midnight, thought I was a windbag. He said such an endeavour would make me a drudge in no distant time. As soon as he left, I went to work. That was it! I have not recovered ever since!
You write adventure stories for children. What prompted you to go into that genre?
Some of my stories are indeed adventures. But I have since moved on to add a touch of fantasy and horror to my works. I grew up in an environment that was close to nature. Seeing animals every day and connecting with nature’s finest left me hooked.
As a cartoonist, do you have any cartoon books for children?
Yes. The Famous Friends is listed in libraries in the Netherlands, UK, the US, Germany and Canada as a cartoon strip work because of the unique illustrations. Most of my cartoons were published by Vanguard Newspapers, Mirroronline.com and many more.
Where and how do you get ideas for your books? Most of them are fantastic.
As a communicator, you must know something about everything. You must be ready to learn and be open to new ideas. So, I read almost anything that crosses my path. I can be inspired by anything. Reading is my cornerstone.
Is there any author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?
Authors that inspired me: Enid Blyton, Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, Elechi Amadi, Chinua Achebe, and Daniel Defoe.
Books that inspired me: The Famous Five, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, David Copperfield, Oliver Twins, A Christmas Carol, Hulk Finn, Chike and the River, Robinson Crusoe, and The Bottled Leopard.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
It is intense because I do not want to mislead the reader. The volume of research depends on the book. Some works of fiction do not require much research. Sometimes the research runs into years. For instance, I spent almost 20 years writing and researching the Mystery of Taiwo Da Silva. I ended with four versions of the same book. However, research is not cast in stone. It depends on the work. It is best to write a book that is factual even though it is a work of fiction. The reader must not have any reason to doubt your story. They should be able to relate to the work. So, when you research, you do so to tell a genuine story. There should be a correlation between fact and fiction. I research so that my work will be believable.
What challenges did you encounter in publishing your first book?
As always, the case is finance. I was broke, but I had the dream that I must become a published author. So, I did not allow my lean purse to decide what I had to do with my life. I took a loan from my mother to publish my first book, The Adventures of Andrew Golgotha. Did I pay her back? No, I did not because the book was a fiasco. It was poorly packaged, but I was happy that I finally achieved what I had in mind.
How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?
I have written over 200 manuscripts. I have only published less than 10%. From the long list that I have published so far, “Pirates of the Sub-Sahara” is my FAVOURITE. The book is distributed by the African Books Collective.
What do you consider to be your best accomplishment as a writer/cartoonist?
One morning, I woke up to find over eight of my books in libraries in the Netherlands, UK, US, Canada, Germany, etc. It was like I won a trophy!
What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love travelling. I hope someday I will sail around the world to meet people and eat great meals. Most importantly, I love hanging out with positive people.
Where is the best way to reach you and learn more about your books?
My website: https://sites.google.com/view/omoruyiu/home
Author Links: https://www.africanbookscollective.com
Fiction4All: https://fiction4all.com/ebooks/a2753.htm?id=omoruyiu
NENA: https://www.librairienumeriqueafricaine.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/omoruyiu
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned as a writer?
Writing is in the rewriting.
What are the challenges of being a writer in Nigeria?
Book production and distribution are broken in Nigeria. So, it is a challenge for writers and publishers to distribute their works to the end users. Poor government policies, lack of grants for writers and an enabling environment do not help writers develop as fast as they should. We should not forget the high cost of printing materials. Writers who do not have a hefty budget do not stand a chance. If you cannot spend heavily, you are likely not going to self-publish your work.
What is your assessment of the Nigerian creative landscape today compared to years ago?
With the internet and technology, the Nigerian creative landscape stands a better chance when compared to some years ago. A tech-savvy writer can publish his works worldwide with a few clicks from the comfort of his house. This was never possible in the past. Though this still poses a challenge to writers, the influx of distribution companies like Amazon, Streetlib, publiseer, Kobo, BN, African Books Collective, and NENA, have made publishing on a large scale easy for serious writers.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers, especially in your genre?
DON’T quit. Make the internet your friend. Most of the notable writers have all been rejected at one time or the other.
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Stop at African Books Collective, libraries and bookstores to order my latest titles.
What else are you great at that few people know about?
I can rap. I believe someday I will become a rap musician.
What’s your favourite music/film?
Music: Tour by Ruger
Film: Lord of the Rings.
How do you relax and what are your hobbies aside from writing?
Hobbies? Rapping, singing…
