The Ghanaian-American writer Nadia Owusu has written five short stories about the festive time with the family and the regained freedom at Christmas. She talks to BRIGITTE.de about her work as an author and reveals where she got the ideas for these stories from.
The many months of the pandemic and lockdown have left no one without a trace – special anniversaries or holidays could not be spent with loved ones. With a view to the Christmas season, Nadia Owusu has written five short stories with Pandora to express the joy of seeing the family again. In an interview with BRIGITTE.de, the author reveals where she got the ideas for her short stories, how she will spend this year’s Christmas and how the pandemic has affected her clothing style.
Nadia Owusu in a BRIGITTE interview
BRIGITTE: In 2019 you received the Whiting Award – a prize for particularly aspiring writers. How did you feel about this award?
Nadia Owusu: I checked my phone and saw that I had a missed call from an unknown number. I almost cleared the answering machine without listening to it because I get a lot of telemarketing calls. But eventually I bugged it and it was from the Whiting Foundation. They didn’t say what they were calling about. I knew about the Whiting Award, but I had absolutely no thought that I might have won – my book had been acquired at the time but had not yet been published. When I called back and found out that I had actually won, I was really shocked. I’d worked on my book alone for so long and often doubted whether I had what it takes to finish it. So this moment was really nice and affirming.
I was so honored to be in the company of all of the incredible writers who won the award before me.
What inspired you to start writing?
As a child, I turned to writing to make sense of the world around me and to process my feelings. It’s so much a part of me that I can’t imagine not doing it. But I didn’t start writing my own book until I was in my thirties. I had a lot of self-doubt. Then I realized that if I didn’t at least try, I would always regret it. When things got difficult, I turned to reading. As soon as I read a good book, I don’t feel so alone and I always manage to find inspiration.
Nadia Owusu on the inspiration for her short stories
You have now written five short stories in collaboration with Pandora. How did this joint work come about?
Pandora wants to inspire people around the world to enjoy every moment with loved ones when we get together again this Christmas season. When families and friends come together to reflect and celebrate, we bring back precious memories and create new ones. As we talked about working together, I looked forward to bringing the campaign to life by writing these stories so everyone can get in the festive mood.
Your short stories are about family time and freedoms regained this Christmas. Where did you get the ideas for these stories from?
Working on this campaign was a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about my favorite vacation experiences. I also thought about the time of the breakup and what has changed in the last two years. I wanted the stories to reflect the unique moment we are in now and focus on what matters most – having good time with the people we love.
How will you spend this year’s Christmas? Do you already have plans?
I have family all over the world and I hope to see as many of my loved ones as possible so I may partake for a whole month! I haven’t worked out all the details yet, but I know there will be plenty to eat. When my siblings and I get together, we stay up late, eat leftovers and talk. I love those special moments that remind me of my childhood.
What does the perfect outfit for Christmas look like for you? Do you prefer it cozy or festive?
I usually start with something festive. I love to dress up. But after inevitably overeating at dinner, I’m ready to put on cozy pajamas.
The sweatpants play an important role in one of your stories. How has the pandemic changed your clothing style in the past few months?
Before the pandemic, I commuted to an office five days a week wearing business clothes. When I started working from home, I wore sweatpants almost every day. Whenever I had a video conference, I would put on a nice sweater or blazer. At some point I started to miss getting ready and dressing up. So it was great that many designers offered fashionable drawstring and elastic trousers. Now I can do both: be comfortable and feel like I’ve made an effort to look good.
How would you describe your own style of accessories?
Jewelry can be associated with strong emotions and memories. By wearing certain pieces of jewelry, we tell a story about ourselves that everyone can see. Whether it’s a gift from someone special, or a gift we bought ourselves to remember a special occasion like our first job, or just because we deserved a bit of self-love, our jewelry says a lot about it who we are and what we love.
I tend to combine fun, eye-catching pieces of jewelry with classics, such as: B. a pearl ring that I got from my grandmother.
I love the message that inspired the Pandora Moments collection. It’s about celebrating the magic of reunion and creating new memories.
Everyone knows them: Writer’s block or a creative low can be very stressful in everyday life or at work. Do you have any tips for our readers on how to rekindle their own creativity?
Often times when I’m stuck with something I get up and go for a walk, or I put music on and have a solo dance party. Moving our body loosens the energy and helps us see things anew.
Finally, what exciting projects can we look forward to with you in the future? Can you tell us something?
I’m working on a novel right now. It’s still in its infancy, but it’s exciting to try something new.
Sources used: instagram.com, own interview