MEET BIANCA PENSY ABA was born on May 27, 1993, in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and lived in her native country until she turned eighteen. She is the author of the books ACROSS BOTH SIDES OF THE MIRROR and 52 WEEKS A PARTY OF ONE. She lives in Allen, Texas, where she enjoys picnicking, reading, hiking, watching terrible dating shows, sipping a glass of wine on her balcony, and doing whatever else she is in the mood for.
BLH: Who or what inspired your love for writing books?
BPA: Being an avid reader and having a vivid imagination inspired my love for writing books.
BLH: Congratulations on earning a scholarship to Lighthouse Christian School in Antioch, TN! It must have taken courage to leave your home country and come somewhere you’d never lived before. Tell us what those early months in a new country were like.
BPA: The first months were equally amazing and challenging. Challenging because English is not my first language, so I was still learning, and amazing because I had an incredible host family that was incredibly supportive.
BLH: You’ve met the challenge of significant change at least once with your move to the U.S. Share 1 to 2 tips for people who are scared to make a big change (i.e., job change, relationship change, aging with grace).
BPA: Fear will always be there, but once the certainty is there, there will also be excitement underneath. My tip would be to take the leap in the right direction, and trust that it will work out in the end––with time and perseverance, it always does.
BLH: Tell us about your early writing experiences. Did you start writing short stories, plays, novels, etc.? What attracted you to this writing form?
BPA: I started with novels. This is the storytelling form that I consume the most, so when I started writing, it was the one that felt the most natural.
BLH: Please give us a brief overview of “52 Weeks a Party of One”.
BPA: ’52 Weeks a Party of One’ is about a woman, Aisha, who goes on a year-long self-discovery and healing journey after finding out that her best friend and boyfriend are having an affair.
BLH: How long were Aisha and her boyfriend (James) together, and how deep was their relationship?
BPA: Aisha and James were together for two years, and they were considering getting married.
BLH: Would you describe Aisha as a runner or someone who faces her challenges head-on? Why do you say this?
BPA: Aisha is definitely a runner. She leaves Denver and goes to Dallas because she doesn’t want to face her challenges head-on. Part of her journey is learning how to face her challenges in a healthy manner.
BLH: Please give us a brief overview of “Across Both Sides of the Mirror”.
BPA: “Across Both Sides of the Mirror” follows Nova, a woman who feels like she’s not where she wants to be in life. She purchases a magic mirror that allows her to travel to an alternate reality where she gets to experience the life she wants and become the best version of herself. Ultimately, she has to decide between the ideal fantasy and the flawed reality.
BLH: Where did you get the idea for the story?
BPA: The idea came from a ‘what if’ moment. What if someone had said this or done this instead? How differently would their life turn out? I wanted to explore a character who gets to experience both paths and decides between escaping to the fantasy world or facing reality.
BLH: Does Nova know that she’s living in a fantasy? When and how does she come to realize this?
BPA: Yes, she knows. The person who sells her the mirror lets her know.
BLH: Who are some of your favorite authors? How has their work impacted you as a writer?
BPA: Toni Morrison and James Baldwin are two authors who significantly impacted my writing.
BLH: What writing process do you follow (e.g., outlines, character sketches)?
BPA: I’m a pantser. Usually, I narrow down the themes and the message I want to emphasize. After I come up with a title, I write from there.
BLH: Please share three to four steps that you take that you’ve found to be effective at getting the word out about your stories and books.
BPA: The most effective steps that I take to get the word out about my stories are:
- Send advanced reader copies to as many people as I can
- Run Facebook and Amazon ads
- Go to festivals and other book events
BLH: Are you working on any other new books or other works? If so, please give us a glimpse into what you’re working on.
BPA: I’m currently working on a story set in Cameroon and the U.S. It will also follow a woman going on a journey to get something she’s after. It’s still early, so I can’t share much more, but I’m very excited about this one and can’t wait for it to be out in the world.
BLH: What last words of encouragement or advice would you like to leave with Book Lover’s Haven subscribers?
BPA: I’d like to encourage them to go after what they want. It might feel scary or too out of reach, but with work, time, and perseverance, I believe we can make any dream come true.