I first came across the incredible stillness and power of Yaa Gyasi's writing some years ago when reading a short story penned by the Ghanaian-born author in Guernica Magazine. Inscape, narrated from a daughter's perspective, told the tale of a woman and her Ghanaian mother, weaving between themes of religion, culture and mental illness with… Continue reading What an evening with Yaa Gyasi taught me about inspiration
Tag: writing
Feature: In conversation with Sanjida O’Connell
Thoroughly enjoyed being interviewed by the ever eloquent Dr Sanjida O'Connell and featured at Writersmosaic this past month. Sanjida, along with her PhDs in zoology and psychology, is an award-winning novelist and a gorgeous non-fiction writer. Which is partly why I was so excited about the opportunity to talk shop and dive into the nuts and… Continue reading Feature: In conversation with Sanjida O’Connell
The Black Man’s Burden
It sounds obvious, but it’s worth saying: the world was a very different place back in 1903, pre a couple of World Wars and all their geopolitical ramifications, before meaningful broadcast media, household telephones, petrol-driven cars, CCTV, pop music, space travel, personal computers. And let’s not get started on the internet, smartphones and the cornucopia… Continue reading The Black Man’s Burden
I Thank Whatever Gods There May be
It was the ancient Greeks who first coined the idea, and word, ‘icon’ – or eikenai – meaning ‘to seem’ or ‘to be like’, and in so doing captured the symbolism of the religious practices through which supplicants were drawn onto some higher ideal. Their gods – who were in essence their values abstracted –… Continue reading I Thank Whatever Gods There May be
Reasons to write
Although my love for writing came late, I think I’d always had a special regard for the power of the written word: the way life – with all its colours and vicissitudes – can be funnelled into the cool, clinical science of grammar and syntax, sentences and spellings; a domain of rules and laws. I… Continue reading Reasons to write
Life, Learning & The Secrets of the Universe
Probably the most fun I’ve had being interviewed to date. I had the very rich and real pleasure of chatting with Rachael Kearney of the Call on Courage podcast (highly recommend). In short, we take in everything from Thundercats to the education system to philosophical ruminations on the creative process, on the way to talking through my… Continue reading Life, Learning & The Secrets of the Universe
The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy
So the plan today was to fly out to Dublin, around about 3.15 this afternoon for Worldcon - a plan that has been scuppered by illness, rendering me duvet-bound within the cosy confines of my home, gazing at the grey drizzly skies outside. On the one hand, I'm gutted to be missing out on what… Continue reading The Beautiful Lady Without Mercy
The Power of Empathy
I had the rich privilege of chatting with the very smart folks over at the Fantasy Hive about the journey behind the writing of my sophomore novel, Pale Kings. Really fun conversation. You can check out the full interview by clicking right… here.
Betrayal, Blood & Gods
So a cool thing that happened recently was I got to speak with the very lovely folks over at The Nerd Daily about writing and my upcoming release, Pale Kings. It was a very fun and lighthearted chat, and one in which I shared a few things about my writing process and what readers can expect to… Continue reading Betrayal, Blood & Gods
On the Beauty of the Tree
Every so often you come across words – a passage of literature, a quote, a pithy aphorism – that perfectly capture some truth inside of you; a long-held belief, an inward conviction, a sentiment so true it resonates, it seems, in every cell of your being like a well struck chord. For me, I’ve perhaps… Continue reading On the Beauty of the Tree
Micah Yongo 