Interview: Yewande Daniel-Ayoade

Yewande Daniel-Ayoade is a Canadian author of diverse children’s books. Her first picture book, SADE: WE'RE MOVING TO CANADA, was released in 2019. This month, she will release her second book, WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? Here she shares about her writing journey, including her experience in self-publishing.

The kindle version of WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? is free on Amazon from Feb 3-5, 2020.

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself
I was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. After getting a bachelor’s degree in economics, I moved to the United States in 2003 to attend business school. I had my second immigration experience in 2010 when I moved to Canada. I currently live in Calgary, Alberta with my husband and five children.
 
Q: What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always been an avid reader and writer. I was that child for whom you had to bang on the bathroom door to make them come out because they were reading a book on the toilet. I wrote short stories that my dad would take to work and get his secretary to type up and put in a binder. But growing up in Nigeria, if you had half a brain, your choices of professions were pretty slim. You became a doctor, pharmacist, engineer, or lawyer. Studying creative writing was out of the question because my parents didn’t consider it to be a money-making profession. Economics was my attempt at rebellion that they could live with.
 
Q: Why did you choose to self-publish?
I did try going the traditional route first, and I have the rejections to prove it. I decided to give self-publishing a try because I wanted my stories to be read, but also because I was at a point where I had decided to start a business and it made sense for it to be something I was passionate about.
 
Q: What has surprised you on your self-publishing journey?
I think what I have found most surprising is how much I have enjoyed the creative process. I thoroughly enjoy collaborating with illustrators on every aspect of the book design. I can truly say that these books are mine because I gave very detailed directions to the illustrators that I worked with based on my vision for the books. 
 
On the downside, I have also been surprised by how much work it takes to market a book. I think in every author’s fantasies you imagine publishing a book and having a stampeding horde show up on the first day begging to buy it. Couldn’t be further away from the truth. I have poured blood and sweat into every copy I have sold.
 
Q: What advice would you give to authors considering self-publishing?
When considering self-publishing, it’s important to realize that the decision you’re trying to make is not whether to start a writing career; it’s whether to start a business. If you enjoy marketing, sales, and running a business then self-publishing is for you. If you don’t, you can still do it, but you probably won’t sell a lot of books.
 
You need to be honest about your motives in order to determine the right business model. Some people see self-publishing as strictly a money-making venture. Others do it to get their books in readers’ hands. Print on Demand offers a lot of flexibility but slim profit margins. On the other hand, if you print in bulk then you have to deal with inventory and getting those books out of the door. Thinking about these things ahead of time will save you disappointment later.
 
Q: What inspired you to write your latest book, WHAT'S THE WORST THAT COULD HAPPEN? 
The short answer is my children. I post a lot about their antics on Facebook and I remember a friend once remarking about how hilarious my kids were. I responded that they’re only funny on Facebook. If you visited my home, you would meet a bunch of kids cowering behind the sofa. I have very shy kids and so social anxiety is a reality for us. I wanted to write a book that empathized with kids that struggle with social anxiety, but also encouraged them to take a small step towards others. 
 
Q: So, what’s next for you?
There are five books in my SADE series, and all of them will be published by the end of 2021. The next one, SADE AND THE LANGUAGE MIX UP is due for release in May 2020.