Interview with Kunle Olusegun-Emmanuel

Author of Guidance For Your Way

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?*

I am originally from Nigeria and reside in Ontario Canada.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

How I came to Canada is both intriguing and challenging. God had been laying on my heart to move to Canada for some time, even though I started the immigration process, I was very reluctant to leave established roots, family and friends. Moreover, I had a well-paying job, driver, my wife also had access to a driver, someone else did our laundry etc. I had been on vacations to some western nations and was a bit unprepared for the lifestyle where you had to do almost everything on your own. I was not returning the calls of my immigration agent or providing required documents on time which slowed down the process. Subsequently, I proceeded with the processing and attended the immigration interview which was successful. I still did not make up my mind to come even though God had laid on my heart that I needed to come here to preach the gospel. My disposition changed greatly when two events happened.

The first was that my official car was snatched by armed robbers at gun point on April 13, 2000. In summary, the robbers took me in the car with them, one was driving, I had been asked to move to the front passenger seat. The second robber sat at my back pointing a gun at me and discussing with the driver that they should just shoot me and drop me off. At this point I was praying. As God would have it they dropped me off without shooting. I got the car back that night through the help of the police. The only thing stolen was the money in the trunk on the car. My passport, medical forms for immigration and my CEO’s laptop where left in the trunk.

The second incident was on September 4, 2001. I had just received a brand new official car the previous day. I took it to my pastor to pray on the car. As we were steeping out to the car, we were accosted by armed robbers who accosted us. Luckily the pastor was able to run away without them shooting at him, the youth faced me, pointed a double barrel gun at me and said: “I will shoot you, I will waste your life” and I looked at him and said: “In Jesus name you cannot shoot me, in Jesus name you cannot waste my life”. As God would have it I escaped that incident as well and got the car back. I grew up in Lagos and had never witnessed any robbery incident prior to this time. God had always shielded my, I would have left before they arrive a location or they would get to a place after I had left, but when I started disobeying God, He had warned me that anything that happens to me would be my fault. After this second incident, I bought the flight tickets for my family and moved over since our immigration documents were ready.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

My first book “Prayers for My Special Needs” was to encourage and strengthen people with special needs and caregivers who are taking care of people with special needs.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Prayers for My Special Needs (Outstanding results in spite of my challenges) is to support and strengthen people and caregivers with special needs.

Your Recovery is Here (Taking it back when you have lost something precious), a sequel to the Prayers for my Special Needs helps to have victory in the face of some challenging situations and ailments.

Guidance for Your Way (Tips on how to walk in life and not miss it): The impetus for writing this is two-fold, one was a sister who was approached by 10 brothers around the same time that God said she is the wife of each of them; how do you make right decisions in the face of competing or confusing alternatives? The other motivator was a lady who came out of the sex trade, was married, had children and went back to the sex trade and was asking ‘How I wish there was a manual for life’. The book helps to provide guidance on difficult life decisions e.g. marriage, career etc.

Changing your Identity (When you reach crossroads) helps to obtain positive transformation in the face of challenging or overwhelming situations.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Everyone – people with special needs, families, about to be married, the married, the business person, about to be business mogul, career professionals, students etc.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

Writing is involving and takes time, especially the editing aspect.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

Choose your publisher carefully and follow through on what commitments the have provided to you.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Millions of people.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

Generating awareness of the benefits the book can help provide to people.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

An important part of writing is ensuring you have a meaningful, beneficial and inspiring message. I love writing.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Publishing involves several aspects including design, editing, registration etc. which involves some specialized skills which I may need to develop or leave to the professionals. The same applies to marketing.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am not sure – Hopefully soon.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

Self-published through Xulon Press.