How did “Immortality Soup, Or, An Excerpt From The Cookbook Of The Gods” originate? What inspirations did you draw on?

This story was originally written for a FIYAH food-themed issue, but wasn’t a good fit so I polished it and sent it out four more times before it found a home in Lightspeed.

I have always been fascinated by Yoruba mythology, especially the many untold stories it contains. Eshu is a god who isn’t represented enough in the few stories that draw inspiration from Yoruba myths and I saw this as an opportunity to write a character I could have fun with.

What is your writing process like? Did this story fit the pattern?

I don’t do a lot of plotting before writing. Once I get a story idea, I put it down in my Docs and it could sit there for weeks without development. Sometimes, all I have is an interesting title that pops into my head, so I have to build a story from it.

With this story, I got the general idea and came up with a title at the same time. I couldn’t stop thinking about what I wanted to do with this really interesting character, so I started writing the first draft. I finished writing the first draft of this story in less than a day. I don’t usually write humorous stories, tending to favor darker characters and tones but this story and this character forced me to change and I’m grateful for that.

What are you reading lately? What writers inspire you?

I just finished The Bone Shard Daughter by Andrea Stewart and I’m currently reading the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown. I am inspired by many writers including R.A. Salvatore, Brandon Sanderson, Chinua Achebe, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, P. Djèlí Clark, and many others.

What trends in speculative fiction would you like to see gain popularity in the next few years?

I would love to see more work that resists—stories that push the limits and define themselves. More representation of Black people and our different myths and cultures.

What are you working on lately? Where else can fans look for your work?

I am always working on approximately twenty short stories in various stages of completion. I am also working on the first book in a novella duology focused on Eshu and his adventures.

My speculative stories and poems have been published in several mags. You can read them through this link: linktr.ee/oluwatomiwaajeigbe

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