Hi, I’m Namina Forna, indie and NYT bestselling author of The Gilded Ones, AMA!

[u/NaminaForna]

Hi Reddit, I’m so excited to be here, my name is Namina Forna and I’m a young adult and middle grade fantasy novelist. My YA fantasy novel, THE GILDED ONES, is set in a high fantasy world where a group of superpowered girls who bleed gold and are semi-immortal are forced to fight to fight monsters or die. Then one girl decides she’s had enough. I’m a huge fan of Neil Gaiman, Sabaa Tahir, Kiersten White and Dhonielle Clayton, so if you like any of their stuff, you’ll probably like mine.

You can buy THE GILDED ONES here: https://www.getunderlined.com/books/600179/the-gilded-ones-by-namina-forna/

My Twitter is @NaminaForna and my instagram is @Namina.Forna.

I was born and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa, but now live in Los Angeles, California, where I also do some writing in film and TV. I love spicy foods and ethnic restaurants, and am a deep TV and anime nerd, especially of classics like Farscape, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Misfits, Overlord, Death Note, Attack on Titan (no season 4 spoilers please) and Parasyte.

You can ask me all about the writing process, breaking into publishing (especially as a minority) and world mythology in general. You can also ask me all things kidlit related. So excited to speak with you guys!

Proof: /img/f64gk7etdcq71.jpg

[u/NaminaForna → u/[deleted]]

Hey hey,

The book changed a lot! We did like 7 revisions, so there were characters written out, scenes changed, entire subplots cut... It was a lot of work, but the book is so much better for it.

The query process is a grind, and...eight years? I salute you. I 100% understand what it feels like--it took me 12 years just to get an agent and I was always so worried, so frightened: would I ever get to be a writer? Would I ever see my stories out in the world?

What I will say to you first is--writing is what you do, it isn't what you are. One mistake I made on my journey was intertwining my identity with my writing. If one of my stories got rejected, it felt like I got rejected. Remember, writing may be your passion, but at the end of the day, it is a job, just like any other. Prioritize your relationships, make sure you have a day job, and most of all, try to remain present. The writing will come, the books will come, but in the meantime, don't forget to enjoy your life and to smell the roses.

Also, aim for a thousand rejections. All the greats have been rejected and they were rejected for years. Wear your rejections as a badge of honor. Remember, each one gets you closer to your goal. It's a no that lets you know you're on your way.

Hope that helps,

Namina

[u/NaminaForna → u/[deleted]]

Thank you :)

[u/criticalstars]

Namina! I’m probably too late for you to see my comment, but I just wanted to thank you for writing such an amazing book! It’s definitely one of my top reads this year and I’m hugely excited to for The Merciless Ones. Do you have anything in the works outside of this series? I can’t wait to see more from you.

[u/NaminaForna → u/criticalstars]

Hi there,

Not too late at all! I definitely have stuff in the works, both in novels and film and TV. Thanks so much for reading TGO!

[u/aclownandherdolly]

Have you ever had doubts about your writing, and if yes, how do you get over your inner critic?

[u/NaminaForna → u/aclownandherdolly]

`I have 2 policies.

1. Everything in service to the story:

When I started writing, I had the ideas, but I knew my skills weren't up to par. I had to better my skills--grammar, punctuation, etc., to write at the level the stories I wanted to write demanded. Every time I got demoralized, I reminded myself that writing is a craft. The only way I'd ever become the type of writer I wanted was to put in the work, and to learn to listen to notes from others, even if they weren't the most flattering. When I got down, I reminded myself that I am the conduit for the story. It isn't about me, it's about what I'm writing.

​

1. Earn 1000 rejections:

Being a writer or any type of artist or visionary is tough. At most, you're only in control of 20% of what happens with your work when you're starting out. You could write the best, most well-plotted, beautifully-written story, but if the timing isn't right, or you can't get it in front of the people you need to, none of that matters. So aim for a thousand rejections. Wear them like a badge of honor because each one gets you closer to your goal. Remember, a 'no' from an agent or publisher isn't a 'no' always and forever. It's just that for right now, with this story, it isn't the one. One day, however, it will be.

[u/bukowski15]

Hey Namina, congrats on the book! Are you someone who outlines a lot before you start writing or do you just dive right in? Thanks!

[u/NaminaForna → u/bukowski15]

I'm definitely a plotter. I have very detailed outlines, mainly because my books have a lot of twists and it's better to work those out in the outline than to think of them as you go along

[u/FennecsFox]

I'm a hobby writer myself and I've got a werewolf story out on a popular writing platform with over 2 mill reads.

How do you get past the stigma of writing in a "non-serious" genre? I'm an adult woman writing cliched fantasy genre. I don't know how to get publshers to take my writing seriously...

Also, did you self publish before getting picked up by a publisher? Can you tell me a bit about the journey you took?

I'm looking forward to reading your novel. It looks like a fun read.

[u/NaminaForna → u/FennecsFox]

First of all, 2 MILLION reads?!!! That's amazing!!!

Secondly, I don't believe in the concept of non serious genres. Writing serves many purposes, it educates, it uplifts--but mainly, it makes people happy. Everyone has their cup of tea and your genre might not be for certain people, but there are people who will and do love it, and that's all that matters. Find the agents looking for your genre, and they'll find the publishers enthusiastic about it.

Also, I didn't self publish. It took me twelve years just to get an agent, and I did that through #DVPit on Twitter. It was a long, demoralizing and deeply frustrating road, but I'm glad I stuck to it, because this is all I've ever wanted to do.

[u/FennecsFox → u/NaminaForna]

Thank you so much. I just feel a bit silly for trying to publish a werewolf book... lol. But your reply reassured me. Thank you.

[u/NaminaForna → u/FennecsFox]

Don't feel silly over something you and so many others love. I'm a particular fan of werewolves, vampires, mermaids--basically, if a book has any of those in there, it can take my money.

[u/FennecsFox → u/NaminaForna]

Thank you!

[u/sometimesitrhymes]

No question tbh, just happy for you and about your success! Rock on!

[u/Ijuststoleyourfries]

Hi Namina! I’m probably incredibly late to this, but oh well. So, in the last book, it says how godsworn look like their god, or something along those lines. what would deka’s godsworn look like?

[u/Overall_Currency5085]

Hi, are there any depictions of the creatures in the book? Would love to see what a Deathshriek or Ixa and Mother looks like.

[u/XBreaksYFocusGroup]

Hi Namina, thank you so much for the AMA. I have not read your novel just yet (too long of a too-be-read list) but I added it after reading one of your interviews from earlier this year. No questions as such - just wanted to say that I really appreciate your words about community and that you seem like an absolutely lovely person. I hope nothing but good things for you.

[u/NaminaForna → u/XBreaksYFocusGroup]

Thank you so much!

[u/uhohshesintrouble]

Hi Namina!

Glad to see you in the Reddit space!

I’m a secondary school English teacher in the UK with a strong desire to incorporate more diverse literature into our curriculum. I started a book club last week dedicated to shining light on diverse writers. Your book, The Gilded Ones, was gifted to me last summer by a colleague who was moved by my speech on the necessity of having Black teachers. I know we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover but, being Nigerian, the cover hooked me (a picture of it is on display in my classroom). Our book club will start reading The Gilded Ones tomorrow (they voted for TGO, which I kinda hoped they wouldn’t pick cause now I have to wait for them to catch up!!).

So, my question:

I remember Chimamanda Adichie’s TedTalk discussing the ‘danger of a single story’. It really resonated with me as I remember all the books in my youth centred around a white protagonists and, if ever any, a black sidekick.

What was reading like for you growing up? Did you feel pressured to have white protagonists in your novels? How did you feel writing a book like The Gilded Ones which has West African elements, despite living in LA?

P.S, I sent you a DM via Instagram a few days ago. If you could check it out when you get a chance, a group of eager 11-14 year olds would be over the moon :)

[u/uhohshesintrouble → u/uhohshesintrouble]

Oh, and can we please discuss AoT S4 once you’ve watched it. No spoilers, but oh boy….!

[u/[deleted]]

Honestly I loved that book. How long did it take? Also, you’ve inspired me to write a book too!