Nigerian writer and author of Broken, Fatima Bala, says that with her new novel, Hafsatu Bebi, she wanted to explore the realities of being a northern Nigerian girl: ‘I have always wanted to see different authentic depictions of northern Nigerian girls. And so, in the characterization, I was itching to write a northern Muslim who happens to be very different from Fa’iza from Broken.’
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 read anything and everything I could get my hands on. As a kid, I had this box set of fairy tales, Aesop’s fables and stories from the Brothers Grimm. That soon evolved into Enid Blyton’s adventures, Judy Blume’s coming-of-age tales, and the slightly darker worlds of V. C. Andrews. But then came a phase where I ran out of books, and in my desperation, I turned to anything with words—Encyclopaedia Britannica (the big brown leather-bound volumes) and my mom’s midwifery textbooks. Our family friends had a subscription for this magazine called Awake! and that was all I read whenever we paid them a visit, so much so that whenever they visited our house, they would bring copies for me. One weekend, I devoured My Book of Bible Stories—the one with the yellow cover and those gorgeous illustrations—which I got that from a neighbour. Then my older cousin’s stash of Pacesetters books came to the rescue, and I was hooked. Mohammed Sule’s The Undesirable Element was my favourite. But the real game-changer was the moment I discovered Harry Potter at thirteen years old—suddenly, books were not just stories; they were entire worlds I could live in. By my teenage years, I was deep into Sidney Sheldon’s twists and Nora Roberts’ romances. For school, I remember reading Chukwuemeka Ike’s The Bottled Leopard, J. P. Clark’s The Wives’ Revolt and Eddie Iroh’s Without a Silver Spoon.
If your life so far was a series of texts, which text (fiction or non-fiction) represents you at this moment?
I would say Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart. It is every single emotion I have experienced put into words.
What’s the last thing you read that changed your mind about something?
I have been questioning things a lot, in a very mindful way, since I read Adam Grant’s Think Again.
While Broken was the book I wanted to read, Hafsatu Bebi was a story I needed to write. As a huge consumer of literature, I have always wanted to see different authentic depictions of northern Nigerian girls.
What is your writing process: edit as you write or draft first, then edit?
Oh, I need to get the story out of my system first before I even think of edits. Some pages in my first drafts don’t even have quotation marks.
What was your process for writing your debut novel, Broken?
The conflict came to me first because it all started from a ‘what if’ scenario, and then I started thinking of what kind of characters would really amplify the tension that I was aiming for. I was writing anonymously on Wattpad at the time, so I had a structure in mind for every single chapter, I also had a beat sheet to hit all the notes needed for the romance genre because that was my first time writing romance, and I worked with my outline. A few changes happened as I wrote but the end product ended up being very close to what I originally set out to write.
Broken is a ‘beautifully rendered contemporary novel about the boundaries between romance and sin, about self-discovery and faith, and about the bounds that true love will go to for a happily ever after.’ What motivated you to write a love story?
I have always been drawn to love stories, and at that time, I wanted to explore the giddiness and the thrill that come with first loves: the butterflies, the uncertainty, the mix of anxiety and excitement. Most of what I read at that time showed romance and religion in a very black and white way, it was almost like there were unwritten rules about who the main characters should be, and I just wanted to read something that was different. I also wanted to see more morally grey characters as protagonists. I wanted to read more about people who knew better yet acted against their better judgement in a way that I could understand, and so I decided I was going to write a story about love and redemption through a northern Nigerian lens.
What is the greatest love story that you have ever read?
Maybe not the greatest, but I still remember how I felt when I read The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes. I like love stories that evolve over time. And when it is love that stands the test of time? Those are the absolute best!
What’s one thing about readers’ reactions to Broken that surprised you?
First of all, the overwhelming love that Broken received. Honestly, it has been so heartwarming, and I am grateful to everyone who loved it enough to recommend it to others. It was also interesting to see how, to some readers, Fa’iza was too careless by allowing things to go as far as she did, and to a different demographic of readers, the same character was said to be too uptight with all her rules.
I also wanted to see more morally grey characters as protagonists. I wanted to read more about people who knew better yet acted against their better judgement.
Your book, Hafsatu Bebi, is scheduled for release later this year. How did your approach to writing change while working it?
While Broken was the book I wanted to read, Hafsatu Bebi was a story I needed to write. As a huge consumer of literature, I have always wanted to see different authentic depictions of northern Nigerian girls. And so in the characterization, I was itching to write a northern Muslim who happens to be very different from Fa’iza from Broken. In terms of the storytelling, I wanted to write a story that is centred around Iddah, and why it exists for us Muslims. In the execution, I would say my writing was more fluid. I really allowed myself to fully explore various areas in the story as my main characters dealt with multiple internal and external conflicts.
Hafsatu Bebi is ‘a story of two women, birthed in the same society, while facing different realities, they both struggle to balance ugly truths and well-intentioned sins.’ Why did you want to tell this story?
I wanted to draw a parallel to the lives of these two women to highlight how, despite the passage of time, their very different socio-economic realities, privilege or lack of it, they both navigate relationships shaped by the grip of patriarchy in conservative societies. It was a story I could not get out of my head, the characters and setting felt so real to me, that once I started writing, it felt like I had no control over the words as they came.
What is the most meaningful piece of writing advice you’ve ever received?
Petina Gappah during her book chat at the recently concluded Sharjah Festival of African Literature said something along the lines of how a lot of writing is re-writing but first you need to get the whole thing out. Don’t worry about it being perfect, just complete it. Then you can start working on filling the gaps. Not exactly in these words, but this is how I received them, and my brain aligns with that message so much.
And what’s the first book you read that made you think you wanted to be a writer?
It was a book I didn’t like because of its depiction of Arewa girls. I didn’t have the energy to rant about it so I wrote about the girls I could relate to.
Do you enjoy rereading books? If so, which book have you reread the most, and why?
I re-read Harry Potter every year. It is almost obsessive at this point. I am currently on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (again). I should be done with the whole series in time for my annual Harry Potter movie marathon in September.
I was itching to write a northern Muslim who happens to be very different from Fa’iza from Broken.
Which three love stories should be on everyone’s bookshelf?
I would say Yasmin Mogahed’s Reclaim Your Heart. It is not your typical love story, but it is a self-love manual that explores self-acceptance and detachment from ego.
Anything by Kennedy Ryan, and my book Hafsatu Bebi—it is not just about romantic love, it goes beyond Eros and Ludus. There is Philia between Hafsatu and Ilham, or her sisters. There is Agape between a man and his daughter; Pragma between Ibrahim and his beloved; Storge and even Mania! All shades of love.
Who is your favourite fictional character, and why?
Dr River Song, in the science-fiction series Doctor Who, for her intelligence and her humour. I also think her story arc is one of the most perfectly written and executed twists in the history of storytelling.
What’s the last great book someone recommended to you?
My friend Tahir recommended Zoulfa Katouh’s As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow. While my mental health was complaining page after page, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it especially because it had the kind of twists I love in books.
What’s a book on your bookshelf that might catch people by surprise?
The Lost Book of Enki by Zecharia Sitchin. I indulge in Annunaki lore for entertainment, and I think this one gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the Sumerian texts.
Who are the Nigerian authors you’re most excited about today (and why?)
I am excited for the lineup of new writers that Masobe Books has this year. Then, there is Khadija Yusra; I am keeping my fingers crossed that next year, she will grace us with a brilliant project she has been working on because I cannot wait to rave about it.
What is your favourite topic to write or read about these days?
For reading, I would say speculative fiction. But for writing, it is the intersection between religion, culture and life among modern day Muslims.
I did a DNA Ancestry Test while I was thinking about writing Hafsatu Bebi. I used my results for one of the characters in the story.
What are you currently working on?
I call it my current work-in-progress, The Lies We Tell. My followers on Instagram know this from when I posted a chapter, and that title will probably be changed before its publication date. It is one that I am very excited to share with my readers.
Question from Tomilola Coco Adeyemo: What is the craziest/most unusual thing you have done/read while researching for your story?
I did a DNA Ancestry Test while I was thinking about writing Hafsatu Bebi. I used my results for one of the characters in the story. It also helped me understand their analysis model, how the results were communicated to clients, and I think writing that part into the story makes it a richer reading experience for my reader.
Bonus: Please suggest a question for a future author’s First Draft
In what ways have your personal spiritual experiences influenced the themes and symbolism in your writing?
Who should we interview next?
Umar Abubakar Sidi, the author of The Incredible Dreams of Garba Dakaskus⎈
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