Joseph Nnamdi is a writer of horror and speculative fiction, drawing from African folklore and the haunting beauty of everyday life in contemporary urban Nigeria. His new dark fantasy novel, ‘For the Condemned’ is being released this June. Ahead of the release, we caught up with Joseph about the new book, his writing process, and what readers can expect from the new title.
Q: What was the inspiration behind the book?
Jospeh Nnamdi: The ENDSARS Movement. It was very personal for me because of my prior perspective on the Nigerian police system. I started doing a lot of reflection on justice and power during that period.
Q: ‘For the Condemned’ is such a striking title; can you tell readers more about its significance?
JN: I got it from a significant conversation in the story that made me contemplate what the term condemned implies, especially in Augustine’s story. At what point was his fate sealed?
Q: What kind of research did you do that helped shape the novel?
JN: I spent a lot of time studying writing by reading books like Stephen King, On Writing and Francine Prose, Reading Like a Writer; plus, all the YouTube videos and my short stories on my Medium. There was also substantial research into the structure of the Nigerian police system.
Q: What aspect of the book do you identify with the most and why?
JN: I relate a lot with Augustine’s feelings of helplessness and loneliness. It’s one of those universal tragic feelings that can take the mind to dark places.
Q: This is a work of ‘dark fantasy’, what does that genre mean to you?
JN: Dark Fantasy means a lot to me because it is a genre that doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable. It uses the grim parts of reality and exciting parts of fantasy to navigate through convoluted ideas. It is a powerful genre that I hope to keep doing justice to.
Q: What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
JN: I want readers to feel the hopeful subtext of Augustine’s journey. There is no finality to any bad decision, and remorse through action is a step in the right direction. I would also like people to think more critically about the influence of their actions or inaction on the lives of those around them
Q: What was your writing process like?
JN: I started with an outline that I disregarded halfway through the story. I also had a rough writing timetable and kept researching at every point in the process. However, the moments I really enjoyed were writing the first draft, which took me two years, and reading the final version.
Q: Can you tell us your favourite quote from ‘For the Condemned’?
JN: “I be your girlfriend?” I always smile when I read it.
Q: Why should readers pick up your book as their next read?
JN: I wrote this book as an attempt to understand the thought process of someone going through guilt and atonement. The deeper I got into the process, the more I saw the connection this has to larger questions about power and justice. People should pick up this book for that unique experience.
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For the Condemned will be available for pre-order on the 1st of June, with the virtual book launch set to take place on the 26th of June (time TBC). Stay tuned for any updates and make sure to grab your tickets for the release when they come out! If you enjoyed this post, look out for our interview with Chukwuemeka Famous on his upcoming release ‘Many Ways to Die’ – coming soon.
