Today we’d like to introduce you to Octavia Grant.
Hi, Octavia; please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am a self-published Author. My love for Creative Writing began when I was 16, as a junior in high school (2002). For that assignment, I was to create a folklore in my English III class. I had never written anything other than an essay. Once I started, I became so engrossed with the tale that I could not stop writing. After that assignment, I would write short stories and poems as a hobby. I often wondered if I could write professionally. In 2016, I took a leap of faith and reached out to a publisher. I signed my first literary contract in December 2016 and became an author. However, I chose to become self-published in 2018.
Can you tell us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth?
Writing and writer’s block can be a challenge. It can become overwhelming and frustrating. It takes time to make a story flow properly. There have been instances when I have had what seemed like a solid storyline in my head, yet when I write the words on paper, it doesn’t make any sense. Granting oneself grace is a lesson I learned the hard way. This journey has not been smooth. It has been a bumpy ride. Being a self-published author takes a lot of work and patience. It is also quite pricey. Hiring graphic designers to create E-books, paperback jackets, and hardback covers is extremely expensive. Purchasing ISBNs, running ads, promos, and marketing, not to mention an editor, are requirements for one book. In addition to those things, self-doubt often creeps in when I haven’t reached a goal I may have set.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar with it, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Self-Published Author who writes urban fiction. I have self-published since 2018 and have over thirty E-books (series, short stories, and standalone books) on Amazon. Thirteen of those books are available in paperback. I also have seven audiobooks on Audible and Apple Books. My literary catalog includes the following titles:
- I’ll Never Let You Go
- Black Husband, White Wife
- Nasty
- Ruthless Behavior
- Who Can You Trust
- Married Men Only
- Hoe Stroll
- Confessions Of a Divo
- Secrets Among Friends
- Work Husband
- Pregnant By My Daughter’s Boyfriend
- If You Ever Did Me Wrong, Don’t Trust Me
- Pretty Face No Substance
- The Manual
- Tax Rich: Based On a True Story
- Anything To Get Rich
- Body Count
- 666 Le Meurtrier St
- Unhealthy Love
- Captured By The Game Book 1, Captured By The Game Book 2
- Should’ve Chose Me
- Her or Me Choose Wisely
- Bitter Ex-Wife
- Captured Secrets
- Imani
- Frenemy Goals, and
- Don’t Call Me Crazy
What sets me apart from other writers is the trait I am the proudest of. That is my ability to create a tale so riveting that my readers don’t know if they’re reading reality or fiction. I pride myself on creating an emotional reading experience. Anyone who reads my books can expect to laugh, scream, and possibly throw the book across the room.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Being observant, engaging, and well-read are essential qualities for a writer. Simply listening is also very important. I’ve found myself listening to music, audiobooks, or podcasts that differ from my normal interests so that I can understand another person’s point of view.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/octavia_vs_otaneka/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/octaviatanekagrant
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tavi_vs_otaneka
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@otaneka?_t=8euJQkz3Omo&_r=1
