Author Interview: Tolulope Arogundade

Can we know you, sir?

Can you know me? Initially, I used to be just a bookman. People know me to be a lover of good books, but currently, I’m into many things aside from books. My name is Tolulope Arogundade, popularly known as Tolubooks. That’s a short introduction about me based on the nature of this interview.

When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I think it was when I was young. I started writing when I was a teen. I’m this curious person with pictures in my head that I just want to put down in words. To be more specific, I started putting my thoughts down in words when I was 14/15 years old. Before then, I’d always been attracted by words in magazines, journals, novels, etc. This was part of what spurred the spirit of writing.

Where do you get your ideas from, and what’s your research process for every new book?

Although I write, I’m more of a book consultant and publisher. I work with authors to develop their manuscripts and publish them.

To start writing, I read and listen to almost everything about the subject I intend to write about. You can never be a good writer if you’re not a good reader. This is to prevent your write-up from being shabby. Reading, listening to people, and deep research are the major techniques I use in writing any book. The Bible says, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh.” You can’t produce what you don’t have inside of you.

Kindly brief us on some challenges you faced as a writer and how you overcame them.

I’ve heard a lot about writer’s block. Seth Gordon said something about it in one of his books where he expressed his view on this. The truth is that anyone can bypass it by investing in proper information even before you start writing your book.

Another challenge faced by authors is the question of ‘who is going to buy my book?” The solution to this is to be strategic. Even before I hit the ground with a book, I always have a marketing strategy in mind already. You shouldn’t write without having a target audience in mind. I currently have a project that I’m working on of which I have my marketing strategy mapped out for it already.

Also, if only a few people buy your first book, it’s fine. Don’t let that put you down. Keep writing, keep investing, don’t stop.

This discussion is for another symposium; we can probably talk about marketing strategies for a book another day.

What is your favourite childhood book?

That should be “The boy who rode on a lion.” I’ve been looking for that book, but I don’t think it’s still in circulation. I can’t remember the author again. I read it about 30 years ago.

Presently, what’s your favourite book from another author?

I have tons of books. I don’t think I have any favourites for now because almost every book I pick is my favourite. But let me think of one. I think I like “Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg, I’m not sure of the writer’s name, but I love that book.

I also have books that I advise people to read at least once every year. It includes; “how to win a friend and influence people – Dale Carnegie,” which is my all-time favourite book. I also love “The richest man in Babylon.” I read a book about two years ago by either the former president or prime minister of Israel titled “no room for small dreams,” it’s also an outstanding book.

If you were not into writing and publishing, what other things would you be doing?

As I said initially, I’m a guy with different acts. I’m currently also into banking, real estate, consulting, and other things. There was a time when writing and publishing were my mainstream of income, but it’s not even my mainstream of income now.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with good and bad reviews?

Feedback is a gift from readers to their authors. Just know that you can’t satisfy everyone. Whenever negative feedback comes, I look into it and try to incorporate the changes where necessary. Maturity helps a lot in handling feedback.

Can you give us the title of some of your books?

I published an eBook last year titled illumination. I wasn’t the only author of that book. Other authors had their views on a topic written in that book. It talks about what we can do after the pandemic.