When a woman travels to Nigeria to attend the funeral of the father she never knew, she meets her extravagant family for the first time, a new and inspiring love interest, and discovers parts of herself she didn’t know were missing, from Jane Igharo, the acclaimed author of Ties That Tether.
We had the pleasure of speaking with author Jane Igharo again, this time about her new novel, The Sweetest Remedy, along with writing, book recommendations, and more!
Hi, Jane! Welcome back to The Nerd Daily! We last spoke with you a year ago. How has the last 12 months been for you?
It’s been such a joy. I’ve received so many emails from readers who enjoyed Ties that Tether and it’s truly been so wonderful. I’m still amazed by the number of people who are still discovering the book. It really means a lot to me.
Quick lightning round! Tell us the first book you ever remember reading, the one that made you want to become an author, and one that you can’t stop thinking about!
When I was in elementary school, I picked up Some Nerves by Jane Heller from the library. It was a romance, appropriate enough for someone my age. I was obsessed with that novel. And years later, after failing at writing two different genres, I suddenly remembered that book. It’s one reason I decided to write a romance novel.
Your new novel, The Sweetest Remedy, is out September 28th 2021! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Family, culture, identity, love, forgiveness.
What can readers expect?
The Sweetest Remedy will entertain readers and introduce them to an aspect of Nigeria they might have been unaware of.
Where did the inspiration for The Sweetest Remedy come from?
One of my favorite Nollywood movies, Chief Daddy. It’s about the death of the patriarch of a wealthy and prominent family in Lagos. I loved how the family members—all with big personalities—came together for the funeral. It was chaotic, funny, and heartfelt. The movie just really stuck with me, and I thought it would be cool to put a spin on it and make it my own.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced while writing and how you were able to overcome them?
The biggest challenge was understanding Hannah, the main character. It was often difficult to understand and then convey her insecurities and weaknesses while trying to make them believable. I didn’t relate to Hannah as I did with the main character in my debut novel, Ties That Tether. It took a few rounds of edits to truly understand Hannah as a character. I really had to put myself in her shoes.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
There are a lot of bold characters in this book, and I really enjoyed writing them. They were all so different, and getting into their heads was a lot of fun. The character I enjoyed writing most was Segun. He’s really just so loveable and a lot more complex than he lets on. He’s my favorite character.
What’s next for you?
Well, I just submitted my third book to my editor. I am so incredibly excited about it. I’m also working on another writing project I don’t want to say much about right now. But keep an eye out.
Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?
Yes! I recently read a YA novel called Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant, and it was soo sweet. I also read and loved The Fastest Way to Fall by Denise Williams. These two are such great romance novels!
