Author Spotlight:Unveiling Epic Adventures with Omari Richards, Author of The Kimoni Legacy
Welcome to this edition of Author Spotlight on Mind The Typos! Today, I have the pleasure of featuring Omari Richards, an author whose work is making waves in the epic fantasy and sword and soul genres. With a rich background in Afro-centric worlds and a focus on exploring deep themes of tradition and community, Omari Richards offers readers a fresh and engaging perspective in his debut novel.
1. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your book?
Sure. My name is Omari Richards. I am an author who specializes in the epic fantasy and sword and soul genres, with a focus on Afro-centric worlds and exploring themes around traditions, finding your place in the world, and building communities. My debut novel, The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation, tells the story of three noble siblings—Kamau, Raziya, and Masilo—who, at the cusp of their respective adulthoods, discover a major conspiracy against their clan. Together, they must find a way to stop it while grappling with whether to follow traditions or tell the truth.
2. What inspired you to write your book, and can you tell us about it?
I always loved fantasy, adventure, and historical fiction books as a kid. The Redwall series, The Inheritance Cycle, The Iron Ring, Treasure Island, Kidnapped, Ivanhoe, Robin Hood, The Saxon Chronicles, and so many more decorated my shelves growing up, and my bookshelf has only grown since then. I’ve wanted to write my own book since I was eight or ten but never really knew what to write about. Then, when I was fifteen, I was reading Eldest, the second book in The Inheritance Cycle, and one of the characters asked if a dark-skinned, African-inspired woman dyes her skin. The main character, Eragon, shrugged and said her skin was always like that. I thought it was strange that they were acting like they had never seen a Black person before, but I realized I had never seen a Black person in fantasy either or read a fantasy book set in an African-inspired world; it was always Western Medieval Europe. So, that’s when I figured out what I wanted to write about. And 15 to 17 years later, here we are.
3. What themes or messages do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Primarily, I hope readers discuss and think about the idea of tradition vs. truth. As Black Americans, we are constantly trying to reestablish our connection with Africa and the tribes of our ancestors, and in doing so, we discover and create new traditions. However, sometimes those traditions can be harmful when misused or misunderstood. Oftentimes, these traditions are what define us as a group, and changing them risks losing what makes us unique. Can you speak up and say truthfully that what has been accepted as tradition is actually harmful? And if so, what next? How do you change it? Can you change it? Those are the ideas that The Kimoni Legacy explores through the journeys of Kamau, Raziya, and Masilo.
4. Are there any particular authors or books that influenced your writing style or inspired you?
George R.R. Martin and J.R.R. Tolkien are the obvious answers. But I was also influenced by Charles R. Saunders, the author of the Imaro series, which features a strong Conan the Barbarian-like Black male character in an African setting. That novel series was a "proof of concept" to me about what Afro-centric fantasy could look like. The late Brian Jacques was another influence. I loved his world-building, turn of phrases, and his fight scenes in the Redwall books. And on the more contemporary side, Evan Winter'sRage of Dragons novel really made me go back and rethink certain aspects of my world, particularly the caste system. In his novel, caste plays a big part in the characters' lives and how the world operates, and that made me realize I had barely scratched the surface in my own book. There is also N.K. Jemisin; her world-building is unmatched in my view.
5. In what ways do you think your book stands out from others in its genre, and what do you hope sets it apart for readers?
I hope the dynamic world-building and multi-layered characters help it stand out from the crowd. There are many fantasy novels out there now that are attempting to be A Song of Ice and Fire series but only seem to mimic the brutality, gore, and darkness of it. And while I am inspired by George R.R. Martin's masterwork, I don't linger too much on the brutality of things. I focus more on the central conflict of morality within the human spirit and the contradictions, ironies, paradoxes, and other complexities that go with it. I hope readers are captured by Kamau's desire to be seen as a man by his people, yet at the same time, hesitant and put off by what he has to do to get that acknowledgment. I hope Raziya's desire for intellectual freedom while facing and grappling with her own privilege sets her apart with readers. And I hope Masilo's devotion to his clan and people, along with his growing pile of personal sacrifices and the resentment building in his spirit, sets him apart for readers. But who knows—with all that, there may be an entirely different element that captures readers' attention.
6. Can you discuss any research or preparation you undertook while writing your book, particularly if it involved exploring new topics or settings?
I basically had to commit to a self-imposed crash course in West African history, mythology, and folklore. I went to write the first draft and realized the only African kings I could name were Mansa Musa and Shaka Zulu. They were both important and influential figures, but they hardly make up the whole of West African history. I had to search every bookstore, library, university library, article, and video I could find to not only learn West African history and mythology but also to understand the themes behind them and what they meant to their respective ethnic groups. I learned very quickly that the mythical songs and folklore, like the Epic of Sundiata, weren't just stories but spoken history (if exaggerated in certain areas). I also had to attend fencing classes and Historical African Martial Arts classes to better understand swordsmanship for the fight scenes. It was a fantastic experience all around. The research took far longer than I thought—maybe eight years of just straight researching and more—but the result is, I believe, a very strong and dynamic world that catches and keeps the readers' attention.
7. Can you provide an excerpt of a specific scenes or passages in your book that hold particular significance?
Here's a scene between Masilo and his second-in-command, Sule Ujelu, that I really enjoyed and think sums up their characters well:
“Boy or girl this time?” Masilo asked.
“Akanke prays to Omutonzi, the Mother, for a girl,” Sule said. “She said that Varasha has enough of a presence in our house, and it’s starting to seep into our children. Before we left, I caught Nkuli running around the gardens with a stick as her spear, smacking her brother around, saying he was a Red Spider and she was the next Iron Shepherd driving him out.”
Masilo laughed. “It sounds like we need to add her to our ranks!”
Sule snorted. “The day I put a real spear in my daughter’s hands is the day I failed as a father.”
“The Owuo say if one has functional arms and legs, they are obligated to fight and defend the homeland, man or woman,” Masilo said.
“Maybe that’s why their numbers are dwindling,” Sule replied.
“Maybe you should stop filling Nkuli’s head with our tales of warriors and fill them with tales of savants, healers, or traders instead. Raziya always loved the tale of Savant Adaora and how she released 500 innocent men from the dungeons during the rule of Empress Nolwezi the Wicked. There is always the tale of Zahira and the tortoise guardian, who saved countless works from being burned during the Al-Saraqui invasion.”
“That will never work. She’ll only pretend to listen and then beg me for another war story until my ears fall off,” Sule said. “I should start adding the truly glorious details of our adventures, like the weeks we spent starving because the supply caravan was late.”
“Or watching the men vomit and shit themselves to death because they drank bad water.”
“Or sawing off rotting limbs.”
“Or pushing organs back in bodies to keep them alive.”
“And failing.”
“And failing…”
“So glorious…”
They both drank.
8. Can you provide insight into your future writing plans or projects? Are there any upcoming releases or ideas you're excited to explore?
Currently, I am writing the second book in the "Kimoni Legacy" series while also working on some short stories set in the same world, which I hope will appear in at least two upcoming fantasy anthologies. I am also trying to gather funding to produce "The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation" audiobook. And if that wasn't enough, I am working on an Urban Fantasy Romance featuring a Black mermaid and a Black male surfer. So, my creative schedule is pretty full, but I love it.
9. Lastly, could you provide your contact information or social media handles for readers who would like to connect with you?
Sure. My handles are:
Instagram: @omari_a_richards
Facebook: orichardsauthor
Tiktok: @orichards_author
Thank you for reading this insightful interview with Omari Richards. If The Kimoni Legacy: Initiation has piqued your interest, make sure to grab a copy and immerse yourself in a world of tradition, truth, and epic adventure. And remember, as you dive into the realms of fantasy and fiction, always keep an eye out—mind the typos!
