Romance novelist, Lara T. Kareem, discusses her fondness for writing love stories: ‘I take comfort in romantic stories and films; these mediums are the best modes of escaping reality. Due to the fondness I have for romance and soft love, I found a calling in writing stories with a strong focus on these themes.’
First Draft is our interview column, featuring authors and other prominent figures on books, reading, and writing.
Our questions are italicized.
What books or kinds of books did you read growing up?
I fell in love with reading when I was nine. You see, I was involved in a car accident that left me with a fractured ankle. About 60% of my left leg was in a cast and I was crutches-bound for months. You can pretty much imagine how miserable it was for a pre-teen who loved running around to no longer be able to do that. The librarian felt sorry for my idle self, and took me under his wings. I ended up spending all my free time surrounded by thousands of books and gradually, I got engrossed in the magical world of fiction. It started with Rainbow Magic Book Series by Daisy Meadow, books by Enid Blyton, all sorts of Goosebumps by R.L. Stine, the Percy Jackson series, lots of Jacqueline Wilson, Roald Dahl, and Archie Comics. The types of books I read changed as I aged, and it didn’t hurt that my parents would buy me any book I requested and more. So, the simple answer is I grew up reading works of fiction from the western world.
If your life so far was a series of texts, which text (fiction or non-fiction) represents you at this moment?
I thought long and hard to provide an answer to this question. However, my life so far is uniquely mine, especially in this stage I am presently in. There is no text or film that captures it.
What’s the last thing you read and disagreed with?
If we are talking about everyday life, it is someone’s opinion on Twitter. More often than not, people go on that platform to be loud and extremely wrong. For instance, the recent The People of the State of California vs Daystar Peterson trial concerning Megan Thee Stallion’s shooting back in 2020. It is ridiculous but thank goodness the block button exists.
I ended up spending all my free time surrounded by thousands of books and gradually, I got engrossed in the magical world of fiction.
What’s the last thing you read that changed your mind about something?
I spent the majority of 2022 reading manhwas and mangas. I’m currently reading an action manhwa called Weak Hero by SEOPASS. I never thought I would enjoy a strictly action manhwa, but here I am excited to consume all the available volumes. Because of Weak Hero, I’m no longer opposed to checking out other works in this genre.
What is your writing process: edit as you write or draft first, then edit?
I don’t necessarily have a writing process. I am a sporadic writer. So I tend to have to read the story from start to finish whenever I have to write the next scene or a new chapter due to time passing. This means I am always tweaking something as I write the first draft. However, I am a planner. I tend to outline the chapters before I start writing them, but it never goes according to plan.
What was your process for writing your collection of short stories, Love is Beautiful When in Bloom?
This book features a collection of short stories I wrote over the years. The oldest story in there dates back to 2012. I wrote the stories at different moments in life when I was looking to have fun; when I was heartbroken; when I needed to take a stand; and when I needed an escape. There were many more stories, but only the seven in it made the cut.
What stories in Love is Beautiful When in Bloom was the easiest or trickiest to write?
The easiest story to write was Can I Still Love You. It was the last story I wrote, and I had fun writing it. The trickiest story I wrote was A Rose in Bloom, funny enough it’s the longest story. I found it tricky to write it because the story in itself is entirely fictional as I didn’t borrow any element from a reality I had experienced or had close proximity to.
Love is Beautiful When in Bloom explores themes on love, relationships, and romance. What motivated you to write about this topic?
My favourite genre is romance. I take comfort in romantic stories and films; these mediums are the best modes of escaping when I need a break from reality. Due to the fondness I have for romance and soft love, I found a calling in writing stories with a strong focus on these themes.
I take comfort in romantic stories and films; these mediums are the best modes of escaping when I need a break from reality.
Do you wish to explore other themes or genres in the future?
Definitely. I have written thrillers, dabbled in fantasy and plan to continue doing so in future. I’m highly interested in contributing to Sauútiverse.
What is the first love story that you read?
Cinderella Story? Children’s storybooks have been pushing romance and love our way since we were kids. I vaguely remember the first love story I read; I just know it was a Christian Romance…but I would say Girls in Love and all the books in the Girls series by Jacqueline Wilson. I reread the series so much and I know I definitely picked advice on love from it. But that isn’t to say I’m recommending her books to teens because when I think back to some of Jacqueline Wilson’s books I read when I was a teenager, the subject matters are kind of problematic and Love Lessons is the biggest red flag of all flags.
What is the greatest love story that you have ever read?
I tend to steer clear of answering questions like this because it completely overwhelms me and I can’t think of or pick a story. But after minutes of deep thinking and going through a list of many 5-star reads, I’m going to choose Autoboyography by Christina Lauren because just seeing the title made my entire being remember the feelings I felt while reading this wonderful and brutal book.
What books would you recommend for Valentine’s season?
I would recommend Love is Beautiful When in Bloom, sorry that was very easy. To name a few books, I would recommend my debut novel, Not Just Another Interlude; Call Me Enitan by L. Leigh; and Queen of the Fields by Tomilola Coco Adeyemo. Here’s a growing list of actual romance books by African authors, which anyone can add to.
What’s the most interesting reaction/feedback you’ve had about your writing?
I won’t call it feedback, but the thing that always strikes me and is interesting is how some readers come back and ask me invasive questions about my sexuality.
What’s something simple but surprising about writing a book?
No matter how many times I outline what is going to happen in a chapter or scene, the story always takes a life of its own when I get to writing. And more often than not, I deviate from the original outline. I have come to accept that it is what it is.
What is the most meaningful piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
I can’t remember the words exactly, but it is when writing a story, it’s important that main characters have a goal they are trying to achieve. It is our job as writers to showcase them going for it, as well as their struggles throughout the story until they get the desired result. Hearing that changed the way I went about creating my characters, their goals and what drives them.
What’s the best book you read in 2022?
The best book I read in 2022 is a Sci-Fi novel that I did a sensitivity-read for a client. The novel is still being edited but it was such an exhilarating experience. I can’t say much about it because it’s still unpublished but it’s a space-expedition-years-into-the-future based on Moby Dick.
What are your expectations for 2023?
The one thing I’m pretty excited to see to completion in 2023 is my project Challenging The Writers. It used to be a bi-monthly contest for Nigerian authors with cash rewards, but the dynamics have changed for the better. This means more work, but it fills me up with joy knowing I’m helping aspiring Nigerian authors. Aside from that I hope to finish writing my next novel.
Who’s an author you wish you had discovered earlier?
My answer will forever and always be Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi. She is a spectacular Ugandan author, and I recommend you read all her books.
What is your favourite topic to write or read about these days? (Please include the names of articles and books, if possible)
Aside from working on my current manuscript, I find that what I enjoy most is watching and talking about Korean dramas. I’m currently watching Kokdu Season of Deity and The Interest of Love to name a few.
When writing a story, it’s important that main characters have a goal they are trying to achieve.
What are you currently working on?
A romance novel about a young woman in her twenties who is trying to make a name for herself in the art world. The book explores how she falls in love with the love of her life…That’s about as many spoilers I can give at this moment.
Question from Ore Agbaje-Williams: What’s a book you wish you had written?
I would say My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite. I remember the first thriller I wrote was in 2012, the main character’s younger sister was the unsuspected villain who was killing people. I wrote it in a notebook, gave a friend to read and I never saw the book again, it still hurts to this day. I picked My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite because her writing style in the story is one that I love and reminds me of mine.
Bonus: Please suggest a question for a future author’s First Draft
When was the first time it hit you that you were no longer an aspiring author and what was happening?⎈
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