357: Layers of World Building in Epic Fantasy - Interview with Suyi Davies Okungbowa

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Suyi Davies Okungbowa.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Suyi is a Nigerian author of fantasy, science fiction and other speculative works inspired by his West-African origins. His new novel,</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Son of the Storm</span></em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">, is the first in the epic fantasy trilogy called The Nameless Republic, and he is also author of the acclaimed and award-winning godpunk fantasy novel</span> <em><span style="font-weight: 400;">David Mogo</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">His shorter fiction and essays have appeared internationally in various periodicals and anthologies, including</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda</span></em> <span style="font-weight: 400;">and</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. He has taught writing at the University of Arizona and spoken at various venues and institutions in the US and beyond.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode Suyi and I discuss:</span></h3> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">How to create intricate contradictions within characters and the plot of your story.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">The role narrator and point of view play in the meaning and importance of a story.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Why he used a marketplace as a foundation for building his story’s world.</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Plus, his #1 tip for writers.</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For more info and show notes: <a href= "https://diymfa.com/podcast/episode-357-suyi-davies-okun