An Interview with the Author

Hello, David, how old are you and where do you live?


I'm seventeen, I was born in Accra and lived there for about 99.9% of my life.

I'm just curious, what happen to the other 00.1%?


It went on vacation.

A very lighthearted statement, perhaps just like much of your story. So how did you come to write The Element of Freedom?

Well, I was already writing one story when the character of Aseye Mensah came to mind. She's mostly the sneaky and devious kind which I can behave like at times. She even has my middle names as her name; Aseye Mensah. Aseye could be masculine or feminine by the way. She's cunning and smart but lazy as well. She's sort of like the embodiment of the legendary Kweku Ananse. What happens to Aseye is very unique. Because of her character and her perception of life she constantly gets into trouble and in a way is a slave to herself, her decisions and actions, and their consequences. In The Element of Freedom, she disobeys her parents and sneaks out to a party with her best friend and cousin. She's found out. Her parents were going to take Aseye along with them on their family summer vacation trip. But instead they sent the ever-so-naughty Aseye to her Grandfather Nana Osei, who must people call Papa. Aseye's parents hope Papa can teach her a thing or two. But Aseye sees being sent to the village for her vacation as a punishment. Living in the village away from technology and all that is sane in this world, makes Aseye's first week in the village like a week in hell. But after a while, Aseye comes to see everything in a new light, a new perceptive; a new paradigm. After her vacation is over she faces the world with new senses so to speak. What happens then is remarkable.

Sounds very interesting. So what other stories have you written?


Well, I'm also writing Matrix Metamorphosis: Jonquille's Quest along with this one. I've had many ideas for stories. But let's just say they are a work in progress.

I've noticed that in most of your work many of the lead characters are girls. Is there a reason for this?


Well, on a personal note, I think the female mind is one of the most complicated intriguing creations made by God. But getting to write in that mind frame is intriguing. On the other hand I think writing from a boy's point of view will be too easy. I prefer a challenge.

You mentioned 'challenge'. What your biggest challenge when it comes to writing?


I must say it's laziness. I have numerous ideas and they seem to come together like a portrait when I start writing. But I'd say my laziness is like static friction; once it's overcome there's no stopping me.

What can you say to other up-and-coming authors?


There's a lot of good stories out there and you'd need yours to stand out. Every human is unique in their own way so just being yourself and writing what you want to will be good enough. Remember to get a test audience for you stories. I usually said; "Life is like a game of Tetris, you need to put the falling bricks in the right places." A story is not that different, you just need to put the different shapes and sizes of the ideas in the correct places; then everything will come together like a jigsaw puzzle.

When will we see any of your stories in hardcover?


Sooner than you think.