It’s very weird because I’ve had my book deal for a while. How did your friends and family react to your incredible book deal? I love Malorie Blackman and love Stephen Chbosky, the author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

He’s a huge queer author and he revolutionised queer books for young adults. I was really obsessed with an author called David Levithan. There’s a pressure to do something that’s more practical so I kept on thinking of trying something that feels a little bit more practical, so I was like let me try and see if I can seriously write a book during the four years I’m at university and see if it takes off.Ĭan you name some of your favourite authors?

In year five, I wrote a witch story which encouraged me to continue writing, and I have been writing ever since. I always wanted to be able to tell stories myself, because I really loved the way I felt when I had stories. My mum would read books to me and specifically recite folklore from Nigerian myths and legends. When did you realise you wanted to become a writer? Arriving in June, we sat down with the breakthrough writer to hear more about how her explosive debut book came together. Now, the university student has released one of this year’s most highly anticipated dark queer academia novels which follows gifted musician Devon and popular head girl Chiamaka down a path of mystery, rumours and racism. Born in London, Àbíké-Íyímídé sought out reading as an escape at a young age. The young writer has landed a million-dollar book deal in the States for her debut thriller Ace of Spades. Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the queer Black author taking the reading world by storm.

Faridah àbíké íyímídé