Q&A: author Lola Akinmade Åkerström

My journey to publication was a rough one with tons of rejections (70+) along the way. Those rejections also came with such high conflicting praise. Most of the editors didn't have the vision for publication as they stated. They didn't know who would want to read my book about Black women in Sweden and who would frankly care.

Some of those praise-rejection words: bold; ambitious; transfixing; intriguing; electric; engaging; well-wrought; sharp; smartly drawn; nuanced; poignant; textured; intelligent; energetic; entertaining; deftly captured; interesting; clever; brilliant; thoughtful; lovely; compelling; organic; unique voice; fresh; well-executed.

So the publishing process made me reflect on all the incredible authors we never got to read just because they gave up after the 30th or 40th rejection. I wish they had kept going.