I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I wanted to share so I learnt how to write and kept going. If I could sing or paint, I would.

I don't have much of an imagination, but I have a mind bank of details, which I play with. It's how I daydream, so writing like that is natural for me.

What works for me is that I read widely and stay focused on my writing. I'm no longer concerned about what happens in the literary marketplace. It is distracting and can lead to discontent.

I never wanted to be a writer; I just had stories I needed to tell.

I don't remember being a keen reader, but apparently I was. My aunt told me that whenever I was teased for reading, I would say, "To each his own."

People don’t fear the wind until it fells a tree. Then, they say it’s too much.

I don't have a schedule, but I can write for hours non-stop. If I'm drafting a book, I try and do a chapter a day. I dislike first drafts. Revision is a lot more fun, but it takes years.

I have to say that writing about my writing process is more daunting than writing non-fiction.

I read Macbeth as a secondary student in Nigeria and it was like an African play to me. It had all the right elements - witches, kings and assassinations.

At some point, practicality requires that you reach out to people in the business. You have to take care of business if you value your work.

For all forms, writing dialogue is almost like writing music. I pay close attention to rhythms and tones.

Genius is seldom recognized for what it is: a great capacity for hard work.

There is no reason why the women of the country should not greatly advance themselves.

It's much easier when you have your co-workers who are just, they're there in the moment. If you were out of the moment, you would feel odd.

Pinterest is like window shopping 3.0.

I'm not as cool as I'm supposed to be.

I think you have to know exactly what you want. Whether you want to be a guitar player or a musician, you have to be really focused on it if you really want to do it.

The only hope we have is the Internet. We must strive to keep it free.

And if the reader has no taste for what he reads, all the time is wasted

The only force at the disposal of democracy is that of public opinion.

Treasure is uncovered by the force of flowing water, and it is buried by the same currents.