#33: Folklore, Fairytales & Fantasy with Imani Erriu

This week on Off The Shelf, Morgann sits down with fantasy author Imani Erriu to talk folklore, fairytales, and the creation of her celestial universe. Imani shares how growing up in the English countryside shaped her imagination, the moment Heavenly Bodies first formed, and how TikTok helped launch her story to a wider audience.We chat about her shift from indie to traditional publishing, the evolution of her writing process, the collaborative work behind her maps and covers, and what readers can expect from Holy Monsters and the expanding five-book saga.CHAPTERS: 0:00 - Introduction2:07 - Early life & Growing Up6:04 - How Imani Started Writing Heavenly Bodies10:40 - How Imani Came Up With The Names of the Characters12:32 - How Mythology Influenced Her Writing14:50 - Creating The Map16:05 - Indie Publishing to Traditional Publishing18:23 - Imani’s TikTok Account25:32 - Writing Career Timeline20:20 - Olivia Rose Darling32:25 - Book Covers34:21 - Knowing It Was Going To Be A Series38:18 - Imani’s Day to Day Life42:20 - Holy Monsters45:45 - What’s NextFOLLOW US:Morgann BookTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@morgannbook?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morgannbook/?hl=en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MorgannBook Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/morgannbook Imani ErriuTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorimanierriu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorimanierriuFind her books at Indigo: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/imani-erriu/Find her book at Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Imani%20Erriu%22?Ntk=P_key_Contributor_List&Ns=P_Sales_Rank&Ntx=mode+matchall Off The ShelfInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/offtheshelf.podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@offtheshelf.podcast?lang=en Hosted by: Morgann BookCreated by: Bookish Media, Morgann Book, and Thomas Johnston Executive Producers: Morgann Book & Thomas Johnston Produced by: Stefanie MacchiusiAssociate Post Producer and Editor: Ricki Biramontes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.