Interview with Lola Akinmade Akerstrom

Watch our chat for free on the Fane platform - available for the next two weeks!

Jul 21, 2023

https://fane.vhx.tv/products/a-night-in-with-kehinde-fadipe

Hello!

I had the pleasure of being interviewed by the wonderful Lola Akinmade Akerstrom, the bestselling author of ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ and the soon-to-be-published sequel, ‘Everything is Not Enough’, out this October.

I remember when ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ came out in 2021. What was memorable was not only the beautiful cover which drew me in instantly, but the feeling that more was right with the world because this book about three black women living in Sweden was out there and getting so much spotlight was as it should be and that we need more books like hers! It inspired me and spurred me on and I loved the three women’s stories, particularly the storylines of Brittany (‘juicy’ is the best adjective I think of to describe it!) and Muna (whose journey is heartbreaking).

I could never have predicted that two years later we would get the chance to chat on Fane, but I can’t think of anyone more perfect to dissect the journey of writing ‘In Such Tremendous Heat’, and my thought process behind the characterisation and intentions for the book.

We chat about how I came up with the characters, the themes of social status and belonging, my tips for authors who want to be published and recent reads I recommend.

It’s available for the next two weeks and it’s free!

Follow Lola on Instagram (@lolaakinmade) and on Twitter (@LolaAkinmade) and you can follow her newsletter for updates on her new novel.

She is an incredible travel writer and photographer, who has won multiple awards and written articles and op-eds that explore the nuances of life in Sweden. I loved her New York Times opinion piece on the fact that ‘In Every Mirror She’s Black’ has been published in 14 languages except Swedish, the country where it is set!

Opinion: Why is Sweden afraid of publishing this book on race?

A Social Media Takedown Is a Blessing in Disguise for Sweden

A 'blue hole' to the Northern Lights

xoxo

Kehinde