We chat with author Tobi Ogundiran about In The Shadow of the Fall, which sees a cosmic war reignite and the fate of the orisha lie in the hands of an untried acolyte in this first entry of a new epic fantasy novella duology.
Hi, Tobi! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi, I’m Tobi and I’m a Nigerian author of all things speculative fiction. Last year I released my debut collection of stories Jackal, Jackal, to considerable acclaim. And this year I’m swimming in the waters of longer fiction with In the Shadow of the Fall. I’m quite artsy and so love to express myself through painting and music (I play several instruments). It’s been a while since I painted, and I’d love to get back to it someday, but music is the one thing I’ve been pretty consistent with.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
If my parents are to be believed, I’ve been writing ever since I could hold a pen. But my first memory of writing comes from crafting a thinly-veiled Harry Potter pastiche as a teen. Because I wrote longhand, it was a slow process, and my friends took turns to read (and sometimes squabbled over reading!) each chapter, which did wonders for my ego.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: A picture book about Biblical Daniel in the lion’s den.
- The one that made you want to become an author: the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: A Wizard of EarthSea by Ursula K. LeGuin
Your latest release, In the Shadow of the Fall, is out July 23rd! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
The slow unravelling of truth
What can readers expect?
A deep exploration on the meaning of faith and apostasy; a rich mythological world full of magic and terror, and a fun adventure in the vein of classic adventure fantasy
Where did the inspiration for In the Shadow of the Fall come from?
A deep love of Yoruba culture and orisha, and an earnestness to see it portrayed in mainstream fantasy served as the main inspiration for the book. Greek and Norse gods are ubiquitous in literature; Yoruba gods not so much. I knew I always wanted a story centering Yoruba gods, but just needed the right story to tell. After reading Le Guin’s Tombs of Atuan, and following Arha’s journey, her dedication (perhaps un-dedication?) to the Nameless Ones and coming into her own as a priestess, the seed of the story was planted in my mind.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I really enjoyed writing the villain, who has but one chapter—an interlude, really—from his point of view, which I think is really great, if I do say so myself. I love how he’s introduced—you just get the sense that this is someone terrible, someone not to be trifled with, doubly scary because he does not see himself as a villain, but rather a faithful servant dutifully completing a task that needs to be done. Early readers agree that he is a particularly terrifying and “imaginatively dangerous antagonist” and I can’t wait for the world to meet him.
Can you give us a little teaser for the sequel, At the Fount of Creation?
Two words: war elephants
What’s next for you?
I’m in the process of drafting a full length project, which I hope to be my debut novel.
Lastly, what books have you enjoyed so far this year and are there any that you can’t wait to get your hands on?
I’ve enjoyed The Spice Gate by Prashanth Srivatsa and Wole Talabi’s Convergence Problems. I really want to read Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi, which is also West African-inspired fantasy.
