What ultimately happened is that my country had a war. I think it would be extraordinary, as a writer, not to want to write about that. Aminatta Forna countryextraordinaryhappen Change image and share on social
A hospital is a good place to set various dilemmas. Aminatta Forna dilemmagoodhospital Change image and share on social
I was always at heart a novelist and wanted to tell a bigger story, so I wanted to create people who told other kinds of truths than literal truths. Aminatta Forna bigcreateheart Change image and share on social
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
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
Everyone thinks I have a coffee plantation in Sierra Leone, but I have a cashew crop project. I wrote about a woman who owns a coffee plantation! When you are talking about a woman writer coming from a hot country, there's a complete assumption that she is writing about her own life. Aminatta Forna assumptioncashewcoffee 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
I'm at my desk for about 9:30 A.M., and I stay there all day. Then there's a lot of checking Facebook and eBay and that sort of thing. Aminatta Forna checkdaydesk Change image and share on social
I'm a doctor's daughter. I'm not squeamish at all. Aminatta Forna daughterdoctorsqueamish Change image and share on social
