Building the city walls

Image by Ifeoma Onyefulu

Sankore Mosque in Timbuktu

'... this photographic alphabet captures the rhythms of day-to-day village life in Africa....'

Writer, children's author and photographer

Ifeoma Onyefulu

I like my work very much. When I am writing or taking photographs I forget the time, because I am having lots of fun - it’s like playing!

As soon as I have an idea I write it down with a pencil. I like writing with pencils, it is fun. Anyway, I have to write fast so that I don’t forget my idea. I can often tell if an idea is good, because it is in my head all day long!

Eventually I start thinking about how I can write it and make it interesting. I even do drawings on my writing pad, where the photographs will be on each page – my drawings are not very good but I try!

My first writing is my first draft, later I use the computer.

My books are set in Africa, so I will think of an African country where I can get the best photographs to illustrate my story, where to stay and who can help me there.
      
The next step will be to show my draft to my publisher. Sometimes I have to persuade them; to let them know how interesting the book will be once it is published. I am very thankful because they often like my ideas and trust my ability to do the book.

I always travel with my cameras and my writing pad, which has my draft. Every evening I will go through my list of things to photograph and see what next I need to do.

Finally, after taking down notes and photographs I return to England, and rewrite the story several times to get it right.

It can take up to two years for each book to be published.

How I write my

children's books...

by Ifeoma Onyefulu

Image: Stirring an African imagination...