Adeola Sokunbi is an author and illustrator from London with a passion for doodling and anything fantasy. Sokunbi studied computer animation and now works in the animation industry. During the Covid-19 lockdown, she picked up writing as a hobby and has been in love with creating stories ever since. Sokunbi's first illustrated early reader import, Destiny Ink: Sleepover Surprise (Nosy Crow), is available now, and the second title in the series, Talent Show Magic, will be published in September.
Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:
Do you know an emerging reader who is creative, anxious about new experiences, and/or loves animals? This is the book series for them!
On your nightstand now:
Jolly Monster Town by Rong Rong. I was lucky enough to receive an early proof of this wonderful book and I love it! The illustrations are fantastic and each page is packed with so much goodness. Every time I look at a spread, I see something new.
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. I've only just started reading this, but I've been told great things. As soon as I'm done, I'll watch the movie!
Favorite book when you were a child:
I discovered my love for reading when I was in my teens so I'm going to replace this with...
Favorite book series when you were a teenager:
Although I love a good standalone book, series have a special place in my heart. They give me more time to grow with the characters and get invested in their stories. I cannot choose one favorite series, so I'll give some of my top choices (not in any order):
The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine
The Hush, Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick
House of Night by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
The Angel Trilogy by L.A. Weatherly
Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
I was (and still kinda am) OBSESSED with vampires and fallen angels.
Favorite book to read to a child:
My Bum Is SO NOISE! by Dawn McMillan, illustrated by Ross Kinnaird (published in the U.S. as My Butt Is SO NOISY!). It's such an entertaining read and has a great rhythm to it. All the illustrations are packed with energy.
Your top five authors (in no specific order):
Malorie Blackman. She was one of the first authors whose writing I fell in love with. To this day, Noughts and Crosses is the only book that has ever made me cry.
Sarah J. Maas. Her books are so much fun to read. I get so engrossed in her characters and the relationships and drama between them.
Brandon Sanderson. His ability to weave multiple complex story lines into an epic story is mind-blowing, and his worldbuilding is inspirational. I also love that he posts writing lectures online. He's such a fountain of knowledge and an amazing person to learn from.
Brian K. Vaughan. Saga is my favorite comic series of all time. The story is so addictive, and the characters are incredibly relatable. I'm invested in all their stories. And I have to mention how FANTASTIC Fiona Staples's illustrations are. She's done an amazing job at bringing the story to life. Her character design skills are inspiring.
Richelle Mead. I have read soooo many of her books and I've loved every single one of them. She has a way of creating characters that are so easy to care for.
Book you've faked reading:
I didn't finish a single book that we had to read for our English literature exams in secondary school. (Sorry, Mrs. Stoddard!) There was something about being told I had to read a book that put me off reading it.
Book you've bought for the cover:
A lot of the books I've read have been chosen purely based on the cover! I love to go into books knowing absolutely nothing--I rarely even read the blurb. So, if a book hasn't been recommended to me or isn't by an author I already love, I usually just go off the cover. The things that usually attract me are dark colors, pretty patterns, a cool looking character, and pointy looking things.
A couple of books that I've picked up recently were Gild by Raven Kennedy and Rhapsodic by Laura Thalassa.
Best book recommendations you have received:
The Poet Empress by Shen Tao. This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster. It really is a master class on how a sequence of events can be seen completely differently depending on which character is telling the story.
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. This book was a game changer for me when it came to plotting stories. When I first started writing, I would just go with the flow and blurt out sentences as they came to me. This method works for some, but unfortunately not for me! This book gave me a basic blueprint for writing a well-rounded plot. It really made a difference in my writing.
Book that changed your life:
Marked by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. This was the first YA fantasy book that I ever read, and I was HOOKED. It was the beginning of my obsession with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, gods and monsters, zombies, magic, fallen angels, fairies, and anything that goes bump in the night. That obsession later expanded to include sci-fi, too. So, give me all the androids, spaceships, aliens, dying suns, and intergalactic wars!
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen. It's such a funny book, and the first time I read it I was cackling.
Which book character you most relate to:
Destiny Ink. It wasn't intentional, but Destiny Ink is very much like me when I was a child. Like her, I've always loved to draw and would use it as a form of entertainment and self-soothing. I didn't have a pet, though, despite how many times I begged my parents for a guinea pig. At least now I can live vicariously through Destiny!