From West Africa to the Air Force: What Survival Taught Me About Writing

People often ask me where I find the inspiration for the intense situations in my books. The truth is, before I ever wrote a word of fiction, I lived through a story of survival.

Growing up in West Africa during a civil war, I learned early on that life can change in a heartbeat. I learned that safety is a privilege and that resilience is the most valuable currency a person can hold. When I later came to the United States and joined the Air Force, those lessons were reinforced by military discipline and order.

My memoir, Six by Nine: Memoirs of a Corrections Officer, is a reflection of that journey. It explores how a boy who fled a war zone grew up to patrol the corridors of an American prison. Writing it wasn't just about telling a story; it was about connecting the dots between who I was and who I have become.

Whether you are reading my fiction or my memoir, know this: the emotions are real. The grit is real. And the message is always that we have the power to carve our own path.

Read more about my journey in Six by Nine