I met Joy when she was...I'm going to say fourteen. She came to visit my then roommate, and forever friend, Cho. They both grew up in the same small town in Delta State, and now they were same University. Obviously, they had a lot to talk about. I hulked around, because this is what I do. Then I cowered because she didn't stop talking. It was a little scary. I mean, here's this tiny girl who's just going on and on and on, and I was like, "Who is this person?"
Well, that was Joy. She also had the *cough cough* annoying habit of saying things like, "You're so mean and sarcastic. I like you. You're going to be my friend". She said that to me. I didn't know how to feel about that but here we are about twenty years later, and we're still friends. Here's Joy!
Describe yourself in five words.
Spiritual,
optimistic, cheerful, caring, enthusiastic.
Why those five words?
Because
those are the qualities I have deliberately worked at cultivating and
preserving, and people around me affirm them.
What do you do for fun?Hang out with friends over food and drinks, or curl up in bed and read a fun book/magazine – it depends on my mood.
Which would you prefer – a quiet evening at home, or a night
out on the town? Why?
A quiet
evening at home; I’m a homebody.
What’s your favourite TV show? Why?
Desperate
Housewives. I loved the narrative style. 
What’s your favourite drink?
Amstel
Malta.
What’s your favourite snack?
Cake.
What’s your favourite dish?
Fried
plantain and chicken stew.
Do you like Pepper Soup?
I love
pepper soup!
What’s your favourite type of Pepper Soup?
Chicken
pepper soup.
Why did you agree to contribute to this anthology?
I loved the
idea of pepper soup, “comfort with a kick”. I just knew I wanted to be part of
it. I had avoided writing fiction for too long. I actually submitted a
nonfiction piece at first, and when the editor informed me it had to be
fiction, I knew the time had come. I did it afraid, but I did it anyway!
What inspired your story (stories)?
The way
people sometimes find a very special, once in a lifetime kind of love, and have
to give it up out of a desire to do the right thing, and be at peace.
Do you think happy endings are important? Why?
Happy
endings are very important because they aren’t very common in real life. I
believe we should at least be able to enjoy them in stories. 
What’s your favourite kind of happy ending?
The romantic
kind that suggests happily ever after.
What is the best part about writing happy endings?
Sharing in
the sheer joy your characters feel.
What is the hardest thing about writing happy endings?
Making it
work, especially when there have been daunting challenges and obstacles.
What’s your favourite genre? Why?
Romance. I
love love!
What’s your favourite book? Why?
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte.“I would do anything for you sir, anything that was right.” Deep
love does not mean throwing caution to the wind or ignoring conscience.
Who are your favourite authors? Why?
Francine
Rivers, Karen Kingsbury, Mary Higgins Clark. The first two because their books enrih me spiritually while satisfying my craving for romance, and the last because she is skilled at blending relationships of all kinds with her special brand of suspense.
Which books have most influenced your writing?
The
Pacesetters series I read as a teen - especially Helen Ovbiagele’s Evbu My Love-and Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter.
What are your ambitions for your writing career?
To explore
epistolary fiction and write an unforgettable novel in that style. I would also
love to write and publish a collection of fun, light, enjoyable poetry – the
kind I like to read.
Which writers inspire you?
Francine
Rivers and CS Lewis.
What have you written?
Most of my
writing has been nonfiction articles and reviews published on various online
platforms, and I have tried my hand at poetry as well.
Where can we buy or read them?
ConnectNigeria.com,
Sabinews.com, Ynaija.com
How can readers discover more about you and you work?
By visiting
my blog, www.anafricandiva.wordpress.com, and following @anafricandiva on Twitter.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joy.ehonwa
Twitter: @JoyEhonwa
LinkedIn: Joy Ehonwa
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions.
The
pleasure is mine!Pepper Soup is Now Available at Okada Books. Get it now!
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