INTERVIEW WITH THE VANGUARDMy intention is to contribute to the writing of the romance genre in Nigeria -
By McPhillips Nwachukwu.
Myne Whitman is a Nigerian born and United States based writer, poet and blogger. Recently, she came out with her first novel, A Heart To Mend, a fictional narrative, which seeks to revive the fading romance form in nation’s narrative oeuvre. In this e-mail interview, the novelist, Nkem Okotcha, who prefers to write with the Pen name, Myne Whitman, a transliteration of her real names, brilliantly and critically responds to some engaging issues raised from the deep journey around her narrative universe. She spoke to McPhilips Nwachukwu.
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FEATURE ON THISDAY - MARY EKAHHave you got A Heart to Mend?
Going by her pen name, Myne Whitman, one would assume Okotcha is sort of running away from her identity, but this she refuted strongly. “Myne Whitman is a pen name which I prefer to use for my writing. I don't think it means I'm running from my identity unless you're referring to the fact that I use it to preserve my real identity. I use Myne Whitman for several reasons including for privacy due to the romance which I write and because the use of pen names is very common in that genre.
'I also like the choice which the use of pen names confers on people in the arts. I could give you several writers, singers and painters who used and continue to use pseudonyms”, she explained. And so, she prefers to keep her real name for personal and future professional use only.
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Available Where Good Books are sold
Publishers: Authorhouse $13.50
Amazon.com $18.50
Amazon.CO.UK GBP14.49
Amazon Canada CDN$19.08
Barnes & Noble $16.65
Borders: $37.78 (Crazy right? I don't know who's selling their copy.)
Kalahari South Africa R254.66
Books-a-million $18.31
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A Heart to Mend in Nigeria
For those in Nsukka, UNN, call 08065200621;
In Onitsha/Asaba, call 08066158599,
In Abuja Call 08036289794,
Port Harcourt 08136477573
Lagos Ikeja; 08098643221, 08059864322,
Festac 08069508842, 08023815724
For Agege Lagos 07034591699,
Iyana Ipaja Lagos 08084575936,
Ikeja Lagos (Computer Village) 08033556152,
Egbeda Lagos 08056387855...
Lagos Island TerraKulture, Silverbird.
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LadyBrille Personality of the month
LADYBRILLENigeria.com: Myne Whitman, first, let me congratulate you on publishing your first book. Also, I must say extra kudos for being confident to delve into the financial world. I loved it. Before we get into the many themes running through your novel, let’s get into the writing process and how our audiences who might want to self publish their fashion or similar related books might do so.
LADYBRILLENigeria.com: The first question that typically comes to mind are ideas on what to write. How do our LadybrilleNigeria writers get ideas on what to write?
Myne Whitman: I find inspiration from real life. From my own life, from the people around me and stories I read in the news or books. It could be just a sentence in a newspaper or a line in a movie and my creativity just feeds on it.
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AFRIKANGODDESS JULY SPOTLIGHT
Every woman thinks of love in its most ideal form – pure, unconditional and true – regardless of culture and upbringing. Some of us dream it, some of us read it, some of us live and experience it, and some of us write it. But, not all of us get to do all four in our lifetime, except, of course, women who dare to push the boundaries of their intrigues and childhood dreams. After all, they do say ideal love is for dreamers. But, what we forget is that dreams also, sometimes, do come true. At least it did for Myne Whitman! And today, she has dreamed love, she has read love, she has lived and experienced love, and she has written love. She is AG’s feature to kick off our summer of fun, love and laughter for very good reason - AG loves everything about romance and loving hearts intertwined into a good and believable story.
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African Loft interview: I was excited when I heard of Myne Whitman’s novel, “A heart to mend”. Written by a Nigerian — under the pan name “Myne Whitman”, with Nigerian characters and setting, “A heart to mend” is a fun and fast read.
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Jaguda Interview: I know growing up you must've been exposed to a good number of books and authors. From a literature standpoint, who would you say has been your biggest influence?
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QuestionMark Magazine Interview
Could you please introduce Nkem Akinsoto?
My name is Nkem Akinsoto also known as Myne Whitman. I sometimes come across as quiet and laid-back but do like a good loud debate sometimes. In three words, I will describe myself as friendly, caring and fun-loving. I have been a teacher, NGO consultant, banker, skate-hire attendant, researcher and Scottish government worker. After a postgrad degree and a few years in Edinburgh, Scotland, I now live in the United States with my husband.
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Femme Lounge: She is bold, she is brilliant, she is pretty, and we call her the Heart Mender! Myne Whitman is a young Nigerian woman and the author of A Heart to Mend, an exciting first novel that tells a powerful story of how love doesn’t strut, never gives up, never looks back and keeps going to the end.
Free Flowing Florida: Her book shows how love (even with all its problems) can transform a person and heal them enough to allow forgiveness in a heart.
Ahaoma Kanu (NVS): Take us back to those days while you were growing up in Enugu...? I grew up during the 1980's and remember as a child studying a lot, reading everything I could lay my hands on, and then trying to play as much as possible.
Bookaholic Blog Interview: Words to upcoming writers I will say that they should keep at it.
Gender and me (StandTall the Activist): Is there a concrete gender dimension to " Heart to mend"? There is indeed a gender dimension to the book.
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