This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with fantasy author Imani Erriu to talk folklore, fairytales, and the creation of her celestial universe. Imani shares how growing up in the English countryside shaped her imagination, the moment Heavenly Bodies first formed, and how TikTok helped launch her story to a wider audience.
We chat about her shift from indie to traditional publishing, the evolution of her writing process, the collaborative work behind her maps and covers, and what readers can expect from Holy Monsters and the expanding five-book saga.
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
2:07 - Early life & Growing Up
6:04 - How Imani Started Writing Heavenly Bodies
10:40 - How Imani Came Up With The Names of the Characters
12:32 - How Mythology Influenced Her Writing
14:50 - Creating The Map
16:05 - Indie Publishing to Traditional Publishing
18:23 - Imani’s TikTok Account
25:32 - Writing Career Timeline
20:20 - Olivia Rose Darling
32:25 - Book Covers
34:21 - Knowing It Was Going To Be A Series
38:18 - Imani’s Day to Day Life
42:20 - Holy Monsters
45:45 - What’s Next
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Morgann Book
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Imani Erriu
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorimanierriu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorimanierriu
Find her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/imani-erriu/
Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Imani%20Erriu%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall
Off The Shelf
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Hosted by: Morgann Book
Created by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston
Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston
Produced by: Stefanie Macchiusi
Associate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes
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