Spotlight
By Chidirim Ndeche
29 March 2025 | 12:31 pm
With the Lagos Love Journals — a trilogy comprising The Lekki Bride, The Ikoyi Princess, and Meet The Duchess — Layemi Oyo-Ita thoughtfully explores themes of love, identity, duty, and self-discovery, demonstrating that romance novels can offer readers depth far beyond escapism. Layemi Oyo-Ita takes readers on a captivating journey through contemporary Nigerian romance with…
With the Lagos Love Journals — a trilogy comprising The Lekki Bride, The Ikoyi Princess, and Meet The Duchess — Layemi Oyo-Ita thoughtfully explores themes of love, identity, duty, and self-discovery, demonstrating that romance novels can offer readers depth far beyond escapism.
Layemi Oyo-Ita takes readers on a captivating journey through contemporary Nigerian romance with her Lagos Love Journals: The Lekki Bride, The Ikoyi Princess, and Meet The Duchess. Through vivid storytelling and relatable characters, she thoughtfully explores themes of love, identity, duty, and self-discovery, shedding light on deeper human experiences often overlooked in traditional romance novels. Once a contributor on Guardian Woman with her intriguing short stories, Oya-Iita sits down with Guardian Life to discuss the release of her trilogy.
What inspired you to write these books, and what message do you hope readers take away from them?
I have always been an avid reader, with romance being my favourite fiction genre. So when it was time to write my first novel, I knew it had to be a romance novel. However, beyond the romance, I wanted to write a story that explored deeper themes. Some of the themes covered in the trilogy include love, family, duty, self-discovery, identity, purpose, and so on. In summary, the core message I hope readers take away is to find yourself and love yourself.
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Can you walk us through your creative process for the books? How did you go from the initial idea to the final draft?
To be honest, the creative process was taxing. It took me a little over five years to write all three books. I was writing them while working a full-time job, initially in banking and now in marketing, so it was quite a journey balancing it all. What really helped, though, was the fact that reading and writing are therapeutic for me. No matter how busy I am, I always find the time to read or write.
Are there particular characters, scenes, or themes in the trilogy that are especially close to your heart? Why?
A particular character that really stood out for me — and stands out to most readers — is the matriarch of the family in the book, The Duchess. She was the hardest character to write, and seeing her become a reader’s favourite has been a very satisfying experience.
As for themes, I like the way the leading characters in the trilogy evolved through the story and eventually found themselves, so I would definitely say self-discovery.
What does a typical writing day look like for you? Do you have any habits, rituals, or routines that help spark creativity?
A typical writing day for me features jazz or classical music, scented candles, and some chocolate with a romcom I’ve watched a million times playing on the screen with no sound.
It’s a bit difficult to stick to routines because I have a full-time job. However, every time I get inspiration, I document it. Whether it’s the note app on my phone or a voice memo to myself, I make sure that I note down the idea so it doesn’t disappear. That really does help. Also, because I am in the marketing industry, I get to tell stories every day at work; even though they are brand stories, they keep my creative wheels turning, and so a lot of times, working on a work project sparks creativity on the writing side.
Were there any challenges or surprising moments during the writing or publishing process?
Most of the surprises came during the publishing process, and they were mostly around how much work is required after the writing process, especially when you are self-publishing.
What motivated you to become a writer, and how has your journey as an author evolved over the years?
I have always loved telling stories. I remember writing my first novel with a notebook and pen when I was in secondary school simply because I had read all the books at home, and I needed something new to read. My journey has opened me up to a lot of aspects of the creative and business world, and I love the fact that I learn and meet new people every day.
What has been the most exciting or surprising part of publishing your first book?
The most exciting part has been the warm reception and show of support from total strangers. It has been very heartwarming and wonderful to see.
Who are the authors or books that have influenced you the most, either personally or professionally?
The book that has influenced me most personally is the Bible. Authors who have influenced me professionally are Nicholas Sparks and Danielle Steel. I like how they weave deeper and stronger themes into romance novels. I also particularly enjoyed Ayobami Adebayo’s novel, Stay With Me, for the same reason.
How do you see the role of literature in today’s world, especially with the rapid rise of digital media?
I think literature is very important in today’s world. There is a narrative around people wanting shorter-form content and the likes, but I think that literature, specifically fiction, does so much more than entertain. You can learn so much about various cultures, history, and so on. Digital media does help by giving people various formats that integrate into their daily lives, like audiobooks one can listen to while driving or at the gym or e-books that can be read on devices.
Looking back on your career, what’s one piece of advice you’d give your younger self as a writer?
Keep writing no matter how many obstacles you face on the way. Don’t let rejection or criticism hold you back; take the learnings, get better, and keep showing up. People are waiting for a story like yours.
What book(s) are you currently reading, and what would you recommend to our readers?
I’ll recommend The Lagos Love Journals Trilogy to the readers. I am currently reading The Marriage Class by Adesuwa Nwokedi.
