Hello Africa, welcome to another edition of our KA Interview Series. How are you doing? We recently hosted another exceptional young lady on the Konnect Africa Network – the Facebook Community of KonnectAfrica.Net.
She fondly calls herself a scribe for the Lord. She is the owner of “Beautiful Feet Publishing” – a publishing house that helps authors birth their books through publishing services and online courses.
She is also the founder of “The women at the well Ministries” (@twtwinternational) and as a social entrepreneur she is the founder of Awakening Youthful seeds for Christ Initiative (@ayscnigeria)
I am talking of none other than the highly ingenious Hephzibah Frances.
In this interview, she discusses how one can get started as a writer in Africa. She also sheds light how aspiring writers can birth their writing dreams and profiting hugely from it. Indeed, It is a loaded interview. We trust you will benefit from it and use the knowledge shared to accomplish great things with your writing talent.
Read on:-
Hephzibah Frances, Let’s get up, close and personal; Give us a bit of your history and ethnicity
Thank you for having me. My name is Hephzibah Frances from Zion. Lol. I wanted to write Delta State, but kingdom identity first. Lool. So yes. I am from Delta State. A home of 5 siblings. Lawyer by profession. I found writing by calling.
Now let’s get to know why you write: Why do you write?
I write because woe betide me if I don’t. It’s not just a passion. It’s a call. He has called me as one who has WORDS FOR THE NATIONS. Writing is one ways I spread His life and light to a dying world.
How can one get started in writing?
I believe to start in writing, it’s best to start small…hone your craft. Write for a blog. Write in your diary. The more you write, the more you get better at it.
Hephzibah, what is your best piece of writing advice you have received?
Little by little… it all pays at the end (my own advice from experience though)
Great stuff. So, tell us Hephzibah, what inspires you to write?
I write from a place of pain sometimes. A place of pain and burden for the souls who need what I share. I realize that many lives need the TRUTH and I am inspired to write to get to them.
How important is a writing routine to a Writer?
Discipline is the backbone of a writer. Otherwise, all ideas would stay rooted in the head and never come to life.
A writing routine is the means by which you ensure that YOUR writing DREAMS LIVE.
this IS VERY IMPORTANT for a writer!
Hephzibah, can you tell us about your writing routine/process? What is a typical writing day for you?
My writing routine consists, first of all, WRITING FROM ANYWHERE.
Most writers say they are so busy. I found out how much of an excuse this is when I wrote a 31,114 words novel in a week finishing it in traffic (with the help of the Holy Spirit). Then, I realized that busyness is just an excuse.
But generally I try to work in the morning. mornings work better for me than night time except i have a deadline to meet, then I work all day or all night as the case maybe. But night time is my most dreaded work time. If I can avoid it. I do.
Where do you get your ideas?
I know this might be weird but I call the Holy Spirit my best writing muse. Once I am good with God, ideas flow.
I also write with ears plugged in speaking in tongues. It works for free flow of ideas.
I have also woken up from sleep during a time of deep intimacy with God to an ability to write fiction never taught me before.
It’s safe to say with no shame and all sense of gratitude that My ideas come from heaven.
Can you also tell us: Where you do write?
Yes. I love to write in quiet spaces. In my house, if I have electricity or at cafe or my church. If it’s a noisy place, I plug in my earphones.
I’m sure many of our audience will really like to know this: Is there money in writing? How can one profit from writing?
There are many ways to profit from writing but I must add that money must not be the goal or one would get frustrated before they start.
That said, writing gives you authority in the area you write about. People can come to you to speak at their events thereby widening your platform. That’s money in another form every writer should appreciate.
Asides, that sales of books also give profit but one must be wise to invest the seeds and not eat it all. Since sales may come little by little… profiting from it takes wisdom.
Wow! Moving forward. How important is reading to the writing process?
It is very important. Reading floods your creative juices.
Which writers do you admire?
Hands down Karen Kingsbury. Francine Rivers.
What’s your latest literary work? Are you able to tell us a bit about it?
My latest book is titled PRAYERS FOR YOUR FUTURE SEED.
It’s the latest in the line of prayers for your future husband and wife series.
It’s a book that advocates why we should pray for our future children and had a 40day prayer for both an unborn and born child.
We are filming the video series for the book for YouTube and plan for it to go live in June. It would be available on Amazon and few ordered hard copies also.
Where can your books be purchased, online and offline?
Hard copies of my books “Making a difference with your nysc year” and prayers for your future husband” can be gotten by emailing me at okorofrances@gmail.com
Also available on Jumia, Okadabooks and Amazon.
“MAKING A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR NYSC YEAR ” e-copy is free for now on my blog at www.hephzibahfrances.com
Hephzibah, what are the major challenges you have faced as a writer?
I think discipline is the biggest issue for writers. Beat that and you are on your way.
Have you ever attended a writing class / training? Do you feel it benefitted your writing? If yes, in what way?
Funnily enough, I get this question a lot. I HAVE NEVER ATTENDED A WRITER’S TRAINING but teach aspiring authors with online courses through Beautiful Feet Publishing.
Well. God. Go figure. Mine is a story of grace and sheer gift turned to one that gives God alone the glory.
Writing classes are good. If I see one I am led to attend. I will.
Interesting! My next question is this – do you ever suffer from writer’s block?
Not really. Like I said. Once my relationship with God is tight, Ideas flow for His glory.
Okay…. what’s the best perk of being a writer?
Infuencing lives.
What advice would you give to an aspiring writer in Africa?
Keep going.
As simple as it sounds, you need this truth when all doesn’t make sense.
KEEP GOING. Someday the light shines. Someday, soon.
Where can we find out more about you and your products (website, social media handles etc)?
Hephzibah Frances:
Website: www.hephzibahfrances.com
Social media channels Facebook and Instagram: @hephzibahfrancesTwitter: @hephzibahfran
Email: okorofrances@gmail.com
Books@hephzibahfrances.comFor publishing services email beautifulfeetpublishing@gmail.com
Social media channels @beautifulfeetpublishing
Join the authors hub at https://m.facebook.com/groups/1666783073634178?tsid=0.9980432736294895&source=result.I would love to give us a FREE gift…
If you would love to receive a FREE e-copy of my latest book PRAYERS FOR YOUR FUTURE SEED by being a part of my launch team, please email okorofrances@gmail.com.
Woow! This interview has really been awesome. Thank you Hephzibah Frances, we really appreciate you for sharing with us.
Thank you for having me. I am honoured. God bless you.
It is a wrap. To be part of our ever-growing and highly useful Facebook Group, click here. For more interviews and stories on successful African writers, click here
Important Announcement:Â
The first Money Making Writers’ Course holds on the 25th and 26th May 2018.
In this course, you will learn how to build a high-paying business using your writing skills and make cool cash. This course covers the following: –
Session 1 – Writing with the Right mindset – The Game-Changing Attitude of a Money Making Writer
Session 2 – The 3 Most Profitable Ways to Make 5-6 Figures Income Monthly As a Freelancer
Session 3 – How To Make Money From E-book Publishing
Are you interested? Proceed to fill out the form below:-
[mailerlite_form form_id=3]
Thank us later.
