Lessons from Chimamanda

Twelve Things I Treasure From A Conversation with My Favourite Author

On Stage at the 2025 Edinburgh International Book Festival with Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I have loved Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novels since her first, Purple Hibiscus. I found Half of a Yellow Sun a masterpiece, and Americanah so close to my heart, there was a parallel world in which I fantasised about having written it. Her latest novel, Dream Count was twelve years in the making. And in that time I went from being a far away fan, to being asked to host her on stage. What. A. Dream.

In fact, the power of dreaming, as a feminist act, was one of the things we discussed. Dream Count, Chimamanda said, is a book about “women who dare to dream.”

It was hard, but I pulled out twelve gems for my subscribers from this funny, challenging and real conversation. I learned a lot from it. I hope you will too.