The Christian Author Interview with Collins Samuel – Episode 14

And, yet and again. We are down to Episode 14 of the Christian Author Interview. Have we introduced you to exceptional individuals across the world? If not, you can send us a complaint email at [email protected]. But, if Yes, keep reading. We are glad to have you join us again. Our Guest author today is COLLINS SAMUEL, AUTHOR OF THE BOOK THE BRISK OF DUSK.

Interview Team Lead: Hello, you are welcome. I am so glad you joined in today. Let me tell you a secret (don’t tell anyone, winks). Anyone who uses glasses is brilliant (argue amongst yourselves) but, that’s the truth. Our guest speaker is brilliant, not a doubt. Perhaps, I should get a glass; there is an aura of intelligence around those who use it. Anyways, we have Loveth and Samuel joining us today; stay seated and be blessed.

Loveth: Can we meet you?

Samuel: I am Collins Samuel, a storyteller, writer, editor, and author of the novellas, “The Brisk Of Dusk, and Stump Of A Tree,” and the novel “Cold Breath Of A Grave” – a  story that portrays the harsh realities of sexual abuse of a teen who was subjected to several bouts of unfortunate events and unhealthy experience that underlined gender discrimination as a whole in the society she lived in. I have a B.sc in Industrial Physics, and I am known for leading teens on the adventure of purpose through my social media pages and Facebook group, “Teenvolution.”

With about a decade of writing, I have a silvery voice that etches in the hearts of my audience. Also, I have been a lifelong reader and began creating words and characters as a sophomore in the university. By the grace of God, I am the CEO of the bookstore,  Inspireyou bookstore – a platform that evolved to nurture people to accommodate reading as a companion.

Interview Team Lead: I said it, didn’t I? Fear those with glasses; the introduction alone is enough to keep one wowed. I am definitely ‘borrowing’ someone’s glasses. (I said, borrow just in case glasses doesn’t fit me, I can’t have what I might end up throwing away)

Loveth: Seeing that you didn’t study literature or arts in school, what influenced you into writing so well, most especially fiction?

Interview Team Lead: I can’t wait to hear your answer

Samuel: Almost everything inspires me – a picture on a wall, a piece of soft music, personal experience, color, the gentle touch of the wind on my skin, and the desire to draw readers into my imagination.

The sense of breathing life into characters and making them speak for themselves have also motivated me to write. My first story, “The Brisk Of Dusk,” sprouted because I wanted to explore the past – the historical past. I wanted to feel what Blacks felt as slaves during the era of the slave trade. I wanted my readers to experience romance in storms.

Interview Team Lead: I guess, in a more straightforward explanation, you were inspired through ‘feelings.’ The need to make people feel what someone has felt or what you have felt through your imaginative thought. That’s quite cool.

Loveth: You’ve written two fiction books, and we know writing fiction isn’t an easy task. Does writing fiction energize or exhaust you?

Samuel: I’m so energized and ready to write more whenever I explore fiction. I also get exhausted. You know, I am human too.

Loveth: How do you cope with the exhaustion that comes along with writing?

Samuel: Whenever I get exhausted due to my inability to hunt down ideas or my creative juices stop the flow, I unwind by sleeping, watching movies, listening to songs, strolling, reading a book, getting some snacks to eat, or abandoning the book for a while.

Loveth: ‘Cold breath of a grave’ is about a girl child who was sexually abused, got depressed, and later found peace in God. What prompted you to write that story?

Samuel: The atmosphere of injustice rape victims experience, especially relating to the Nigerian girl-child, prompted me to write the book. A  burden settled on my mind and pushed me to create characters with similar experiences before then. I had read so many rape stories. Determined to give victims a voice, I wrote it.

Loveth: Tell us about your book, ‘Living your best life,’ and what you hope readers will take away from it.

Samuel: Living your best life is a book of hope. It tells the stories of people who surmounted hurdles to accomplish their dreams. One of the reasons people fail most times is because they do not accept they can succeed. The book attempts to inspire them to initiate the move, set goals,  and dream big. Only when we put our minds to embrace success,  we change how to do things and ultimately alter how we live our lives.

Loveth: Is writing a sort of ministry for you? Or do you think God has called you to serve him via writing?

Samuel: God called me to serve Him through writing. The scriptures say in Psalm 68:11, “The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Writing for me is God saying, “what you see, write.”

Loveth: Do you prefer writing in silence or to music? If music, then which type of music?

Samuel:  I’m a lover of solitude. Silence is my best companion and motivator. I write better in quietness, especially when I’m writing fiction.

Loveth: How does your faith inform your writing, seeing that you’re a Christian?

Samuel: My Christian faith steers my writing. The scriptures say in Philippians 4:8, “Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

So, I’m mindful to walk with that Christian character when I write.

Loveth: How do you balance the demand for writing with other responsibilities?

Samuel: I often plan when to write. Most times, I stay awake at night. If necessary, I write during the day,  but I usually make sure it does not clash with other responsibilities. However, writing is a season for me, mostly when I want to write novels.  During this time, other duties are ignored, minimized, or managed, so they don’t drain my muse.

Loveth: Who are your favorite authors and why?

Samuel: Chimamanda Adichie and Chinua Achebe are my favorites because I feel connected to the African spirit, the release of their books. It’s personal to me. The intriguing nature of their words often echoes in my heart whenever I explore them.

Loveth: Your advice to Christian authors and intending ones

Loveth: Start writing, no matter what. You never experience the beauty of deep waters until you step into the deep. Get down with the leading of God, and allow God’s Spirit to navigate your fingers and thoughts as you put words together.

The idea is that you have a system of operation that is God-driven, not human-controlled. So, you’re enabled to etch harsh words because, “Your heart bursts its banks, spilling beauty and goodness. You pour it out in a poem to the king, shaping the river into words…” Psalm 45:1

And you have to know, “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” – Stephen King

Loveth: Lastly, give us brief details about all your books and how they can be purchased?

Samuel: The Brisk of Dusk is an intellectual work of fiction that creatively portrays the pride of the African culture, captures the beauty of the African scenery, and features the bravery and courage of the African son(Okike); in the face of uncanny tyranny and barbarity imposed by the Europe of old. It is the story of love and hate, bravery and cowardice, bondage and freedom, oppression, and justice, and it is my firm opinion that the world should hear it.

 “Cold Breath Of A Grave” is a novel that portrays the harsh realities of sexual abuse of a teen who was subjected to several bouts of unfortunate events and unhealthy experiences that underlined gender discrimination as a whole in the society she lived in.

Living your best life is a book of hope. It tells the stories of people who surmounted hurdles to accomplish their dreams.

Cold Breath of A Grave and Brisk Of Dusk can be purchased as hard copies. Interested buyers can reach me through my email address: [email protected] or they can buy them from Okadabooks. You can also contact me via Facebook at Collins Samuel

Interview Team Lead: I kept quiet all through this interview; I was digesting and learning. My take-home is this: You never experience the beauty of deep waters until you step into the deep. Do you enjoy this interview as much as I did? Then, leave the author a comment below. And do us a favor, click on the bell notification to stay subscribed for updates.

It was a lovely time today; we hope to see you join in for another episode.

Until then, be satisfied in Christ.