Meet The Resilient Writer
Passion for Words and Stories
Ola Awonubi is a British-Nigerian writer known for her romance, historical fiction, and poetry. Her writing is deeply influenced by her Nigerian heritage and themes of displacement, colonial history, and cultural identity. She has published multiple novels, novellas, short stories, and poetry collections, including Love’s Persuasion, I Love You Unconditionally, and A Nurse’s Tale3. Her accolades include winning the National Words of Colour Competition in 2008 for her short story The Pink House and the Wasafiri New Writing Prize in 2009 for The Go-Slow Journey4. She was also awarded Best Author at the CA Awards in 2019. Her work has been featured in literary magazines such as Afreada, Brittle Paper, and Woven Tale Press2. She actively engages with the writing community, speaking at events and sharing insights through her Substack newsletter, The Resilient Writer
Frequently asked questions
The Resilient Writer
Inspiring Creativity Through Words
Dedicated to providing historical resources for schools and sharing engaging speakers information for schools and libraries. The Resilient Writer is passionate about storytelling and fostering a love for literature. With a commitment to empowering the next generation of writers, we aim to inspire creativity and resilience in all aspects of life
Beyond the Trenches
“History isn’t complete without these voices.”
African & Caribbean Contributions to WWI & WWII – Teacher & Student Workbook
What It Is
An engaging, ready-to-use educational resource that shines a light on the overlooked contributions of African and Caribbean people during the World Wars.
Packed with true stories, discussion questions, and classroom activities, this workbook helps students connect personal courage to wider history.
COMING SOON
Meanwhile you can get her historical novel - A NURSE'S TALE on Amazon here
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Readers are loving The Marriage Monitoring Aunties’ Association!!
'Utterly charmed by this poignant and witty exploration of love, singlehood, and the Nigerian matriarch.'
Frances Mensah Williams
'No Ordinary Love story…Sade's journey will strike a chord ― and the nerve ― of anyone who's done time in the singleton trenches.’
Chioma Okereke, author of Water Baby
'Sometimes reflective, sometimes sobering, but always hopeful, The Marriage Minded Aunties Association is an artfully rendered celebration of love, heritage and the essence of belonging.’
Callie Browning, author of The Girl with the Hazel Eyes
'Sade’s story made me laugh, made me ache, and made me proud. Pick it up if you’re in the mood for a feel-good, soul-touching story with Nigerian aunties, romance, and plenty of wahala.'
M.C, USA, 4 stars
“Imagine a group of aunties watching your every move, grading your life choices like it’s a full-time job…that would literally stress me out lol Sometimes it really do be your own people stressing you out, but it’s always rooted in love (and just a lil bit of drama 😅).
So this book gave me a great insight into the cultural expectations from the Nigerian community. I definitely need to text some of my Naija homegirls and see if they feel that same pressure… because if so? That sucks LOL. But if we’re being real, American culture isn’t too far off either. The idea that you need to be married with kids by a certain age? Yeah, it’s still a thing…and honestly, not always realistic for everyone’s path."
O.O, Nigeria 5 stars
"A very realistic read especially in Nigeria context. Ironically, the issue of late marriage and the pressure of society upon singles as they advance in age is something that is prevalent in society today irrespective of cultural background. The author paints a very vivid picture of the turmoil and inner battle singled have to go through especially in a culture where marriage is seen as the ultimate goal.
Sade is a beautiful intelligent woman with a clear cut career path, a good heart but with family members and friends putting her under pressure because of her unmarried status. To them, she was lacking and never hesitated to point that out at anytime. With her own private struggle, she is forced to put a strong front anytime she is in the midst of others. Her meeting with Jimi starts a journey of reflection as well as wagging tongues and hawk eyes movement among her aunties.
The author weaves a fantastic story of Sade and Jimi's journey, as Sade learns to accept her own journey to marriage and Jimi finds his way back to God as he allows himself to move beyond his past.
I enjoyed the gradual process and the way Jimi and Sade learnt to stand up for themselves as well as grow in understanding and find true love. A wonderful witty read that captivates.
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A.D, USA 5 stars
"This book literally has me howling! It was so funny and one of the most entertaining reads I’ve had this year. Do yourself a favor and read this book!!!"
Reviews for The Marriage Monitoring Aunties Association
Press Kit
Biography - Ola Awonubi
Ola Awonubi was born in North London to Nigerian Parents. She went to Nigeria as a child and returned in the 90s and has worked in several secretarial roles in public, charities and priv
At the age of 40 she rekindled her childhood dream of becoming a writer and went back to University to get a MA in Creative Writing. Her short story The Pink House, won first prize in the 2008 National words of colour competition and another short story of hers The Go- slow Journey, won the first prize in the fiction category for Queen Mary Wasafiri’s New writing prize 2009 and the Best Author CA Awards 2019.
Author of 8 books – including Love’s Persuasion, Love Me Unconditionally, an anthology of short stories – Naija Love Stories and a contemporary Romance Lovers, Leavers and Keepers. Her recent Book ‘A Nurses Tale‘ was published by her publishers One More Chapter Books; Harper Collins in July 2023 and in US/Canada in July 2024 and was recently on the Historical fiction bestsellers chat for ‘The Globe and Mail’ in Canada.
It was also in the winners circle of the Brown Girl Collective for favourite Historical fiction Book 2024 for last December 2024 in the USA.
Her next Romance – ‘The Marriage Monitoring Auntie’s Association’ is a Rom com about a fifty plus Nigerian woman’s search for love, fulfilment, and faith out in July 2025.
She is a creative writing tutor and speaker and is set to speak at the Black British Book festival in Manchester in March, the Meet-cute Romance festival and London Festival of Writing, Jericho Writers conferences in June 2025 respectively.
Ola also speaks at Writers conferences and facilitates workshops and can be contacted on her contact page or Resilientwriter@hotmail.com
Ola is a member of the Society of Authors, UK and the Black Writers Guild.
Books
The Marriage Monitoring Aunties Association (Due July 2025) *
Love's Persuasion
Love Me Unconditionally
Christmas Romances:
Poetry:
Reasons Why I Need To Get Married Yesterday
Reviews
Reasons why I need to get married yesterday and other poems
5.0 out of 5 stars If possible I would rate this 10 stars!!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 September 2020
I am not really one to read poetry but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of poems. They are beautifully written in such a way that there is there is a delicate balance between the obvious and the veiled. I would strongly recommend Ola to do recitations of her poetry at various events. Well done Ola!
A Nurse's Tale
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally invested...I wanted more
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 August 2023
Beautifully written historic tale with a modern twist. Well researched understanding of how Black nurses were treated during the 2nd World War and what happened to anyone that associated with them.
I would dearly love a part 2 such was the strength of the characterisation. A book that will live on my memory for years to come.
Naija Love Stories
4.0 out of 5 stars Unmissable. Unflinchingly Nigerian, yet successfully universal
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 May 2019
Ola Awonubi’s latest book ‘Naija Love Stories’ is an unpretentious, engaging, funny, relatable, and exquisitely Nigerian short story collection that I could not put down and devoured in two sittings.
This collection has much to offer in terms of representing the varied facets of love, but also in terms of depicting and representing Nigerians, a people that is often confined to reductive and negative stereotypes in the global discourse.
Lovers, Leavers & Keepers
5.0 out of 5 stars Got me hooked from the start
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 March 2022
I was privileged to be given a copy of this book to read and review and I was hooked from the start. I use to be an avid reader but now it takes me months to finish a book, this book was different. I couldn't wait to steal moments to read it and finished it within a week. The characters were well thought out and the plot unpredictable unlike other novels. Having read a previous book from Ola called Naija Love Stories I was excited to read this one and was not disappointed. Ola has done an amazing job with this one and it will be great as a TV series or film. Highly recommend this book, you won't be disappointed.
Gallery
Being interviewed at Stratford Circus during Naija Love Stores Book Nov 2018
Events
Get in Touch for speaking engagements, workshops, discussions etc.
Ola Awonubi, The Resilient Writer
