Jennifer Makumbi: The Anticipation of a New Book

Author.

On a typical day, I wake up worried about something vague, something I had forgotten to do. Then I remember what I did the day before which reminds me of what I have to do. Normally, I procrastinate in the morning but when I get started, I work up until nine. When it is editing I tend to wake up turn on the computer and go. I will not stop until someone comes home and asks whether I have eaten.

The Hundred Wells of Salaga by Ayesha Harruna Attah. It is on my 2018 reading list. I am also reading Salt Slow by Julia Armfield who I am going to share a panel with. And Lives of Great Men by Chike Edozien which is a whooping laugh.

An abridged form of Mine Boy by Peter Abrahams.

Page folder, I apologise.

I don’t remember. All I know is that I have always loved reading.

It was a play. I think it was some love story. Poor boy rejected for wealth suitor, that sort of dumb thing.

At 15 I would have loved to read Zukiswa Wanner’s The Madams, Men of the South. At 25 I should have read Toni Morrison.

A story could knock about in my head for years but when I start to write, it tends to be fast because I write compulsively. Then I take years editing.

There are no three magic books in writing fiction; it is read, read, read. And read the kind of books similar to what you write. We tend to write what we enjoy reading.

Yvonne Vera, I had wanted to meet her.

Binyavanga Wainaina, he would keep everyone entertained.

Chike Frankie Edozien who is hilarious and the heart of a party.

Goretti Kyomuhendo.

Zukiswa Wanner.

I just bought The Missing Husband by Vijay Medtia, a crime novel. I was at the launch and enjoyed the reading by Vijay Medtia, the author. We were once writing buddies too.

Starting a new book, the anticipation. Then there is that feeling of compulsion as you are hurtling towards the climax.

Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi.

Absolutely not. I know how author manipulate their characters: I would not put myself in the hands of a writer. Having said that, I would like to give Jane Eyre a piece of my mind! What a terrible woman.

1. Listen most to people who say critical things about your writing.

2. When you write a story, ask yourself what new thing have I brought to this subject?

God’s Bits of Wood by Sembene Ousamane. Showed me how to use multiple main characters.

We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo. Kept going back to it for use of language and writing an African child.

One Day I Will Write About this Place by Binyavanga Wainaina and The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell.

Protection, Patronage, or Plunder? British Machinations and (B)ugandas Struggle for Independence by Apollo Nelson Makubuya. I suspect this is a gold mine. I suspect that Makubuya he has unearthed some tastey chunks of (B)Uganda’s History which the early historian ‘forgot’ to include.