Hephzibah Akinwale, a talented 11-year-old champ who recently set the world record for the longest book fiction for children with a word count of 58,000, speaks with Grace Oni, a correspondent of PurpleWorld Media on her writing journey and experiences.
Congratulations on breaking the record with your newly published book! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Hi! I am an eleven-year-old girl from Cambridgeshire, UK! I have two sisters, Beulah and Sovereign, who inspired me to become the best version of myself, even though they can sometimes be annoying. My parents are by far my biggest cheerleaders and mean a lot to me, so I am so grateful to God for all the great people in my life.
When did you start writing generally? And when did you begin to write Chronicles of the Time Keepers Whisked Away?
As soon as I could write, I have always loved writing stories! I have loads of little notebooks that I love to write in daily. I started writing my book when I was 8 years old, on December 2, 2021.
What motivated you to start writing the book, and what kept you going while writing?
As a child of my age, it is hard to stay motivated, especially with all the digital and social media distractions life has. My mother encouraged me daily to keep writing and be the change I wanted to see.
Can you tell us a little bit about what your novel, Chronicles of the Time Keepers Whisked Away, is all about?
My book is about a girl who was transported to a futuristic world by a mysterious clock she found over the summer holidays. Ever since she was young, she has experienced dreams that make her feel as if she is a part of the dream. In this new world, she makes some friends at a school of talents called the World Intelligence Academy (WIA), where she has to defeat a robot army to return home within 14 days.
What were the challenges you encountered while writing your book?
Most of the editing was done when I was about 9 to 10 years old. I previously wrote my story on a notepad, and it took a fairly long time to type it up and edit it. The editing was probably the most challenging part of writing my book.
How did you achieve a 58,000-word count? Do you always have a target word count for each day?
I strive to write each day, and it took me almost 2 years to finish the book. However, I didn’t realise just how long the book would end up.
What were your support mechanisms? Did you get any help while writing, or did you do it all by yourself?
After typing my story up, my mum checked for spelling and grammar, and then we got a professional editor to check.
How do you combine writing with other activities, like school?
My mum is very organised and has made a timetable for me and my siblings. We had to do each activity for an hour. It would have things like reading, writing, choir, gymnastics, art, and homework, to name a few.
Can you tell us about some of your favourite authors or books that motivate you to write?
When I was in the process of writing my book, some other books came out, like Amari by B.B. Alston and Onyeka by Tọlá Okogwu. These books were about black girls like me, which sparked my interest.
“What advice would you like to give other kids who might want to challenge themselves to try writing a novel?
I would like to encourage fellow kids to just be themselves. Because everybody is different, and we have different interests. Also, there are many different genres out there, and you could write about something you like or any imaginative adventure. Once you have made up your mind to write, consistency will help you achieve your ultimate goal.
To purchase a copy of the book click on the link below: https://linktr.ee/hephzibahworkshop
You can also buy a digital copy from:: https://www.hephzibahworkshop.com
