With the Writer Spotlight Series, we create a positive image for young girls to refer to by having conversations with different writers and illustrators. This month we have been doing Q&As with many writers, to get to know more about them and their work. Here, we are showcasing all the questions we have asked author Abiola Bello. We discuss her YA book, The Love Dare.
Welcome back Abiola!
Hello! So glad to be speaking with you again!
What inspired you to write The Love Dare and set it against the backdrop of the Notting Hill Carnival?
I wanted The Love Dare to be a fun romance set over one summer in London. An iconic staple of London is Notting Hill Carnival and you can meet the best people with a shared love of dancing, music and good food, so it seemed like the perfect place for Saint and Eva to meet.
How did your own experiences growing up in London influence the characters and setting of the novel?
I grew up going to Notting Hill Carnival, and I used to play the steel pans with my friends; I have happy memories from being there. I also struggled with that transition from college to university as I wanted a gap year, but my parents didn't want me to take one. Even though I was going to study Creative Writing, I wasn't sure if the uni I was going to was the right one for me, so I wanted Eva to experience the same issues. Also, like Saint, I was really into comic books and anime as a kid. Combined with the 90s influence of the bet troupe, I wanted to include themes and references that were popular in the 90s.
How did you develop the contrasting personalities of Eva, the popular girl, and Saint, the comic book enthusiast?
It was pretty easy as I knew that I wanted the bet troupe to not be the typical makeover switching from 'nerd' to suddenly hot, and more that Saint is so comfortable with himself that his behaviour draws Eva in to his world without changing him. Saint has lots of depth to him and is so poetic whereas Eva has no depth (sorry Eva) but she gains a purpose as the story develops.
How do you engage with your readers and fans? Are there any memorable interactions you’d like to share?
I love meeting readers at literary festivals, book clubs, school visits. YALC at Olympia in London is always fun, but I mainly connect online as I get lots of emails or DMs from readers. I enjoy knowing readers get into the book and become so passionate about certain characters. In this book, it's Oyin! Ha! The decision on her is split.
My most memorable interaction is when I went to a school visit and these kids were lining up to have my books signed but then asking me to sign their work planners and their arms and to take selfies. It was just really cute.
Quick fire round
One word to describe your writing style?
Hilarious
Favourite writing snack?
Tony's sea salt and salt caramel chocolate. Oh, my days it's the
best chocolate you'll ever have.
You Think You Know Me by Ayaan Mohamud
About the author
Abiola Bello is a British-Nigerian author from London, England. She is the bestselling, award-winning author of the children's series Emily Knight I Am and contributed to The Very Merry Murder Club anthology. Love in Winter Wonderland is her debut YA. Abiola has won London's BIG Read 2019, was a finalist for the People's Book Prize Best Children's Book and was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Award.