It's been a long walk to literary appreciation. What became a success (a published author) started out on grounds of uncertainty as a young 22-year-old.im 2006. Then, I was aiming at having my articles being published but was challenged on how to go about the process. From pillar to post, I was playing the gallery of showing friends and family members my write-ups. Yet, nothing concrete was made to get them out there!
By the name, I go by the names of Chimezie Benedict Ihekuna. Despite being born and raised in the ever-hustling and bustling city of Lagos, Nigeria, I have always dreamt of being a published author. My parents suggested to me I take writing as a hobby but focus more on my mechanical engineering course as my mainstay. However, I was really not having it funny at all.
The University of Agriculture, Abeokuta was home to my higher education endeavor..Towards the close of second semester of my first-year of study, It became obvious I won't be able to continue any further. But my parents, being career-minded individuals, have always wanted me to become a certified engineer. Though they weren't financial handy, they really wanted me to graduate an engineer. However, I had always had this burning desire to become an author. The lack of communication between my parents and I in charting the course of my future resulted in me taking the bull by the horns: chasing my writing career at the expense of my education without informing them!
My literary journey began February 26, 2006. This was few months to my second year in school. Actually, I wanted to study aerospace engineering overseas but due to financial constraints and no available and accessible scholarship facilities and grants, I had to settle to settle for what was available: mechanical engineering. Sadly, I got admitted into an Agriculture-based university. I knew after my first year I had to change focus towards my writing. The deplorable and superficiality of teaching were the impetuses for me to direct my energies towards my writing endeavor.
For the next three years, I would engage in a difficult walk-around and follow-ups on lecturers and other academics, within and outside campus for feedbacks, suggestions and if it where possible, links to getting them published. Unfortunately, all was aborted. During this time, I wasn't a core internet user. But after I got no concrete responses from those I considered as being mentors, I had to take that lonely walk to take the driver's seat and pursue indefatigably my passion.... becoming a published author.
Though my colleagues decided to honour my first article "An Overview of Engi (o) Sophy....A Phase Of True Modernization" by awarding me The Most Creative Student of the entire Engineering Department In 2008, I had to work out the path to publishing my articles (I developed other works as well). I had earlier met with publishers but I couldn't afford their costs. I dreamt of traditional publishers, since I didn't have the money.
I started searching for possible publishers online. During this time, 2008, I had to, for mainstream concern write on what was relatable. Hence my first fiction piece, Wake Up, Dream Boy! (It was published this year!). I endured over two hundred literary rejections from publishers and literary agents. It took me six years to get my first book publication (in print) in 2014 in Lebanon, though my articles were eventually published in 2010 by Ezinearticles.com.
From 2014, I had other several publications that were done at no cost to me. Also, there were several literary agents I had but one thing leading to the other and resulting in irreconcilable differences, I went through over six agents. On my part, I wasn't really patient. However, I realized the role of patience would go a long way!
Today, not only have I fulfilled the dream of being a published author, I have my books adapted into screenplays and am currently being represented by Anita Elizabeth Holmes Management, UK.
That's been my literary journey....
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