No one ever sits you down at age eight and says, 'Aminatta, this is what's happened so far.' You have to work it out for yourself, and by the time you do, it's ancient history to many of the players. We're trying to make sense of the past, so we start to excavate our memories. Aminatta Forna ageaminattaancient share on social
Increasingly, there are those of us who write from outside the center, and those are the writers that I'm most interested in because they bring me into worlds that I did not previously know. And that, as a writer, is what I try to create. Aminatta Forna bringcentercreate share on social
I was brought up in a household where you stood up to be counted. Aminatta Forna bringcounthousehold Change image and share on social
I get a very vague idea and - perhaps because I once was a journalist, or perhaps because that's what made me want to be a journalist - I go off and explore it for a bit, rather than mapping out a plot and then filling in the research. Aminatta Forna biteexplorefill share on social
I don't have very many little fetishes, but the one I do have is that I like a particular mug to drink out of. It's just a small china cup, and I get very upset if my husband moves it. Aminatta Forna chinacupdrink Change image and share on social
Jung Chang was the first person to tell a grand historical, political story through a personal narrative. Aminatta Forna changgrandhistorical Change image and share on social
