The book follows three (rather fabulous) friends, all Londoners with ties to Lagos, Nigeria.
What is the first thing ever that you remember writing?
Angst-ridden poetry as a spotty teenager.
Nikki May is the author of ‘Wahala’.Credit: Custom House; Mike Cooper
I still cringe when I remember my odious rhyming and obvious metaphors.
What is the last book that made you cry?
Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel.
Is it the piercing nostalgia?
The portrayal of loneliness?
Or am I simply crying at my inadequacy?
How does she write so beautifully?
Which book is at the top of your current to-read list?
Family of Liars, by E. Lockhart.
Where do you write?
Ideally in the garden on a warm day.
Which book made you a forever reader?
I stayed up all night, transfixed, terrified, thrilled, desperate to know what would happen.
What is a snack you couldn’t write without?
I can’t get started without an iced coffee.
And the promised reward of a glass of cava at sundown keeps me going.
If you could change one thing about any of your books, what would it be?
I’d put more food in it.
More cooking scenes, more eating scenes, more talking about food scenes.
you’re free to’t have too much food in books!
What is your favorite part ofWahala?
Fifi, the hairdresser, is a great character, she deserves her own book.
What was the hardest plot point or character to write in this book?
Sometimes it felt too much like self-analysis!
Write a movie poster tagline for your book.
“Mixed-race and mixed-up.”
