living the dream with curveball
Storytelling As Freedom: A Novelist's Evolution
Published: 9 April 2025 at 06:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
Stories have power—especially when they challenge expectations and break barriers. This is exactly what novelist Nkrumah Mensah demonstrates through her fantasy series that starts with "Anne of Survivor," featuring a young woman who flees an arranged marriage in the 1500s and finds herself entangled in kingdom-wide intrigue.
During our captivating conversation, Nkrumah reveals how her own background shaped her storytelling journey. Despite facing dyslexia as a child, she comes from a lineage of natural storytellers on both sides of her family. What began as tales for the children she babysat eventually transformed into published novels when her daughter discovered an old manuscript in a dusty box.
The spark that ignited her first novel came unexpectedly—sitting up all night with a college friend before her arranged marriage, wondering: what if they ran away? This thought experiment, transported to the limitations of the 16th century, became the foundation for a seven-book series featuring different female characters who each overcome unique challenges. Unlike many authors who create fictional versions of themselves, Nkrumah crafts protagonists with qualities she admires but doesn't necessarily possess—women who act decisively without hesitation.
Nkrumah's writing process reflects the beautiful chaos of real life. Working construction by day and writing by night, she steals moments whenever possible—sometimes with late-night sessions accompanied by popcorn and tea, other times in five-minute bursts throughout a busy day. Her approach balances planning with spontaneity, allowing well-developed characters to navigate situations authentically, often leading to surprising yet satisfying conclusions.
Want to discover more of Nkrumah's empowering stories? Find her on Instagram @theNkrumahMensah or visit her website at between-the-line.com. And remember her advice for aspiring writers: "Just keep on reading. And if you're looking to write and you want to know how to get started, all you have to do is take a blank page and get started."
Want to be a guest on Living the Dream with Curveball? Send Curtis Jackson a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1628631536976x919760049303001600
