I think human beings exist in a social world. I write realistic fiction, and so it isn't that surprising that the social realities of their existence would be part of the story.

I had consumed a lot of American culture, but I was not quite prepared for the reality of American poverty.

We teach girls that they cannot be sexual beings in the way that boys are. If we have sons, we don't mind knowing about our sons' girlfriends, but our daughters' boyfriends? God forbid. But of course when the time is right, we expect those girls to bring back the perfect man to be their husband.

I divide my time between Columbia, Maryland, and Lagos, Nigeria.

I write from real life. I am an unrepentant eavesdropper and a collector of stories. I record bits of overheard dialogue.

My characters are usually composites. I wish I could pretend that I make up all of these characters, but no. I steal from people. But people will say to me, "Oh, that's me!" and I'm thinking, no, that's not you!

People have crushes on priests all the time, you know. It’s exciting to have to deal with God as a rival.