I wouldn’t say we struggled – there was just a sort of a back and forth on the ways we could go about projecting the true emotional struggle in the mind of a child that suffers discrimination at home
Elsie Ijorogu-Reed – 28 July 2013
About the book
What is the book about?
There’s a strong and well-proven link between parental favoritism and the abuse suffered by the unfavored child. In an emotive and insightful new book, the unfavored child’s story is told with frank and raw honesty. Love Me Mama: The Unfavored Child will resonate with parents and adults around the world. This book is a story of an unfavored child called Victoria. Vicky suffered because of the favoritism her mother showed among her four children, discriminating against Vicky. The difficulties of life led Vicky to build a wall of defense around her. Vicky’s difficult life led her to master the art of escaping the pains of rejection by becoming a high achiever. She thought she was fine and doing all right until the day when her mother died. At that moment, Vicky realized that she never had a mother who loved her. She never would because life cheated her out of a mother and now death had too. The book takes you through the trials and tribulations that Vicky faced before she emerged successful.
When did you start writing the book?
I began writing the book in November 2012.
How long did it take you to write it?
About two months.
Where did you get the idea from?
I got the idea from a plethora of experiences of my own and of people around me.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
I wouldn’t say we struggled – there was just a sort of a back and forth on the ways we could go about projecting the true emotional struggle in the mind of a child that suffers discrimination at home, and to project the thought process of a parent who favors one child over the other.
What came easily?
What came easily was the narration. Once I started, it was extremely easy to put the story together.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
It is hard to really say. Much of what we experience finds its way subconsciously into our work – so I’d say that my characters are a good mix.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
There are so many writers whose works are wonderful. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Jean Sasson, Lloyd Jones, Susan Abulhawa, Jason Stearns and Philip Gourevitch’s works have always been fantastic reads. I suppose the matter-of-fact rendition of their stories has been a huge influence on me.
Do you have a target reader?
Yes – parents and young children.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Yes. My co-writer Kirthi and I would sit together to brainstorm. It was very easy because we know our work styles. Once we brainstormed, we’d spend some time on the chapter to decide the way it would sound.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
We went chapter by chapter and the outline was drawn up accordingly.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
We did a bit of both, actually. As we went along, grammar and spellings were edited. But in the end, the whole manuscript had an edit done.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Not really – sometimes there was music playing, sometimes there wasn’t!
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
The expedited publication process, and the fact that we are in charge of the process.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I did it myself – I had a photo shoot of my daughter Gabby for the cover.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
We have a marketing plan – using Social Media. But for the most part, we are winging it!
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Just put your faith in your project and do it!
About You
Where did you grow up?
In Nigeria.
Where do you live now?
The United States of America.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I am the Founder and CEO of an NGO for women and youth called Delta Women.
What are you working on now?
Plenty of projects with the NGO – specifically building a community centre and creating a youth empowerment initiative there for the youth of Adeje in Nigeria.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of Love Me Mama: The Unfavored Child from Amazon US (paper or ebook), Amazon UK (paper or ebook) or Barnes & Noble.
I happened upon this book searching for my mothers name which happens to be Vicky Ella. She left home when I was only an infant and never returned. Her life is very very similar to this books description of an unwanted unloved child which caused her to leave home. I find it fascinating as some of the characters seem familiar. Since we never found out what happened to my mother this book reminds me of what I’ve been told about her.