A CONVERSATION WITH LESLEY S. MUNYUKI (Interviewed by The RBM)
The RBM: Like Community Members Rhyme Cypha and Cold August, you self published. I've
asked them both this question so I'll ask you: How was that process and would you recommend self
publishing to those looking to be published?
Lesley: Hard work! (smile) the editing for me was a nightmare, it was time consuming and too technical, I
went through the whole book word by word a couple of times and kept on finding mistakes but it all worked
out in the end. I would definitely recommend self publishing because you get what you want without
compromise and you keep all the rights, however if your sole purpose is to make money then, it might not
be right for you unless you have the time to market yourself intensively.
The RBM: I remember a while ago reading a editorial piece from you asking about the publishing
industry, being a black writer, and the difficulties getting published. What are some of your
opinions about that now that you have your book and some time has passed since you brought up
that subject some time ago?
Lesley: Oh yeah I remember that, my opinion hasn’t changed that much, I still believe that over here in the
UK black authors are not taken that seriously in terms of selling potential of their material. Down here
society naturally looks down to minorities in terms of the material they write because the publishers believe
they target their material to an audience that does not tend to invest in the material, which is a shame because
I truly believe that’s false.
The RBM: For those who don't know, what is "On The Passage" about and what does it consist of?
Lesley: ‘The passage’ is place that’s between my point of sanity and insanity, there you’ll the ‘words’ my
thoughts (smile) On The Passage of Lost Words ’06 is like a journal but not as personalized, this way I
believed more people could relate, I did not want to make it strictly about me. It consists of poetry, spoken
word, form poetry, collaborations, some thoughts and sayings. All divided into different lists.
The RBM: How long have you been planning the book and how long was the process from the
writing of the pieces to the actual publishing of it?
Lesley: I started planning the book after I had written just a few pieces however, since I wanted to make it
different and personal, in terms of the format and layout of the pieces I was constantly changing it through
out the time I was writing it. Writing the book took me about a year and a few months and the editing took
me bout 3 months, it would have been less but, editing is not the most interesting thing to do!
The RBM: Most people here know you're from Africa, but for those who don't know, where exactly
are you from and how long have you been living in the United Kingdom?
Lesley: I’m from Zimbabwe, Harare to be specific and I came here when I was about 12..
The RBM: How does Zimbabwe influence your writing?
Lesley: I’m so conscious about the bad political scene in my country because it affects my family which is
still over there so most of my political pieces are fuelled by that part of me. Actually my second book which
I started a few months back is fictional but its political and the political scene in my country has a lot to do
with it even though the setting is not there. It’s not only the politics that affect my writing but, the memories
of I have of Zimbabwe, the life, everything, it all influences me to a point.
The RBM: How long have you been sharing your work on the underground writing and poetry
website scene? Would you recommend that a writer go that route, getting their name out there and
building a solid fan base, or if you believe that you have the talent, to just try and get your words
published?
Lesley: I have been sharing my work in the underground for about 2 years now. For me, the underground
scene is family, the authors from the Mecca Lounge plus other forums I have been to where largely the
reason I was confident enough to get published. I would not only recommend, I would drag you to the
underground scene myself if I have to! If you have plans on getting published in the future because not only
does it boost your confidence, you get help, you mature with the help of other writers who appreciate your
work and want to see you excel, you interact and develop yourself, that’s something you cannot do without
others to boost you up. My advice is, find yourself first, grow within the underground scene then go for it.
The RBM: Any plans for another book anytime soon?
Lesley: Definitely, I’m already working of a fictional piece now; I’ll give that one about 3 years (smile)
however sooner than that there will be another poetry book out.
The RBM: I've asked authors this before but how did it feel when you held your book in your hands
for the first time?
Lesley: More emotional than I thought I would be, lets leave it at that, (smile) I got inspired to do more,
achieve more. It feels good to know that you are immortalized, give or take.
The RBM: Who influences you as a writer?
Lesley: Anyone who lives an impact on me and gets me in deep thought.
The RBM: Finally, who influences you as a Man and how do they?
Lesley: Divinity, nothing is possible without it, the ones who look up to me because the sense of
responsibility I have over them shapes most of my decisions. And the ones who raised me, because I owe
them, I cant afford to think only about myself so the decisions I make are affected.
You can read more about Lesley by visiting: Myspace.com/blaccsol
The RBM: Like Community Members Rhyme Cypha and Cold August, you self published. I've
asked them both this question so I'll ask you: How was that process and would you recommend self
publishing to those looking to be published?
Lesley: Hard work! (smile) the editing for me was a nightmare, it was time consuming and too technical, I
went through the whole book word by word a couple of times and kept on finding mistakes but it all worked
out in the end. I would definitely recommend self publishing because you get what you want without
compromise and you keep all the rights, however if your sole purpose is to make money then, it might not
be right for you unless you have the time to market yourself intensively.
The RBM: I remember a while ago reading a editorial piece from you asking about the publishing
industry, being a black writer, and the difficulties getting published. What are some of your
opinions about that now that you have your book and some time has passed since you brought up
that subject some time ago?
Lesley: Oh yeah I remember that, my opinion hasn’t changed that much, I still believe that over here in the
UK black authors are not taken that seriously in terms of selling potential of their material. Down here
society naturally looks down to minorities in terms of the material they write because the publishers believe
they target their material to an audience that does not tend to invest in the material, which is a shame because
I truly believe that’s false.
The RBM: For those who don't know, what is "On The Passage" about and what does it consist of?
Lesley: ‘The passage’ is place that’s between my point of sanity and insanity, there you’ll the ‘words’ my
thoughts (smile) On The Passage of Lost Words ’06 is like a journal but not as personalized, this way I
believed more people could relate, I did not want to make it strictly about me. It consists of poetry, spoken
word, form poetry, collaborations, some thoughts and sayings. All divided into different lists.
The RBM: How long have you been planning the book and how long was the process from the
writing of the pieces to the actual publishing of it?
Lesley: I started planning the book after I had written just a few pieces however, since I wanted to make it
different and personal, in terms of the format and layout of the pieces I was constantly changing it through
out the time I was writing it. Writing the book took me about a year and a few months and the editing took
me bout 3 months, it would have been less but, editing is not the most interesting thing to do!
The RBM: Most people here know you're from Africa, but for those who don't know, where exactly
are you from and how long have you been living in the United Kingdom?
Lesley: I’m from Zimbabwe, Harare to be specific and I came here when I was about 12..
The RBM: How does Zimbabwe influence your writing?
Lesley: I’m so conscious about the bad political scene in my country because it affects my family which is
still over there so most of my political pieces are fuelled by that part of me. Actually my second book which
I started a few months back is fictional but its political and the political scene in my country has a lot to do
with it even though the setting is not there. It’s not only the politics that affect my writing but, the memories
of I have of Zimbabwe, the life, everything, it all influences me to a point.
The RBM: How long have you been sharing your work on the underground writing and poetry
website scene? Would you recommend that a writer go that route, getting their name out there and
building a solid fan base, or if you believe that you have the talent, to just try and get your words
published?
Lesley: I have been sharing my work in the underground for about 2 years now. For me, the underground
scene is family, the authors from the Mecca Lounge plus other forums I have been to where largely the
reason I was confident enough to get published. I would not only recommend, I would drag you to the
underground scene myself if I have to! If you have plans on getting published in the future because not only
does it boost your confidence, you get help, you mature with the help of other writers who appreciate your
work and want to see you excel, you interact and develop yourself, that’s something you cannot do without
others to boost you up. My advice is, find yourself first, grow within the underground scene then go for it.
The RBM: Any plans for another book anytime soon?
Lesley: Definitely, I’m already working of a fictional piece now; I’ll give that one about 3 years (smile)
however sooner than that there will be another poetry book out.
The RBM: I've asked authors this before but how did it feel when you held your book in your hands
for the first time?
Lesley: More emotional than I thought I would be, lets leave it at that, (smile) I got inspired to do more,
achieve more. It feels good to know that you are immortalized, give or take.
The RBM: Who influences you as a writer?
Lesley: Anyone who lives an impact on me and gets me in deep thought.
The RBM: Finally, who influences you as a Man and how do they?
Lesley: Divinity, nothing is possible without it, the ones who look up to me because the sense of
responsibility I have over them shapes most of my decisions. And the ones who raised me, because I owe
them, I cant afford to think only about myself so the decisions I make are affected.
You can read more about Lesley by visiting: Myspace.com/blaccsol
Check out our other
exclusive Spotlighted
Author interviews!!
June '06
Vincent Alexandria
July '06
Mary Monroe
August '06
Cold August
September '06
L.R. Hatcher
October '06
Various
November '06
Melanie C. Jordan
December '06
Mark Goggins
January '07
San Culberson
February '07
Rhyme Cypha
March '07
Lesley S Munyuki
April '07
Joseph Phillips
May '07
Hannah Drake
June '07
Kateb Nuri Shunnar
exclusive Spotlighted
Author interviews!!
June '06
Vincent Alexandria
July '06
Mary Monroe
August '06
Cold August
September '06
L.R. Hatcher
October '06
Various
November '06
Melanie C. Jordan
December '06
Mark Goggins
January '07
San Culberson
February '07
Rhyme Cypha
March '07
Lesley S Munyuki
April '07
Joseph Phillips
May '07
Hannah Drake
June '07
Kateb Nuri Shunnar
THEMECCALOUNGE.COM
The Community FOR Writers BY Writers
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
The RBM: What was your reason for writing "On The Passage Of
Lost Words 06" and what do you hope the reader takes away
from reading it?
Lesley: I would say escapism, I went through a lot of stuff in 2006,
things were not going my way and everything I did seemed to crumble
and fail so writing this book gave me a chance to getaway from it all.
What I hope the reader takes from reading this book is a sense of
understanding that we all go through things so, he/she should not be
afraid to relate to my words.