Tolulope Popoola

Tolulope Popoola
Alma materLondon Metropolitan University
University of Nottingham
GenreRomance
Notable worksNothing Comes Close (2012)
Notable awardsNigeria Writers' Award

Tolulope Popoola is a Nigerian author, creative writing coach and content editor who writes romance novels and flash fiction. Her writings and excerpts from her stories have been featured in several publications and magazines. Also a publisher and creative writing coach, she is based in the United Kingdom. Her focus on the flash fiction genre has earned her the title of the "African Flash Fiction Queen".[1][2]

Career

Popoola earned a BA degree in Accounting and Business Economics from London Metropolitan University, and a Master's degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Nottingham, before beginning to work as an administrator and then an accountant.[3]

She began writing in 2008, after resigning from her accounting job. She wrote her first book in 2009, but decided not to publish after discovering it was coincidentally overtly similar to In Dependence (2008) by Sarah Ladipo Manyika.[4] In 2012, she published her first romance novel, Nothing Comes Close. The book was listed as one of the best books of 2012 by the Africa Writers Club.

Popoola is also the author of the novels Fertile Imagination and Looking for Something. She is the founder and editor of Accomplish Press, a publishing company she established mainly to accommodate "ethnic fiction" novels.[5]

In an interview with an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joanna Penn, Popoola revealed that she uses both traditional and online media for her book marketing strategy, targeting local and international audiences.[6] Her approach to writing and publishing involves separating "the emotional investment in my writing from the business side of publishing," a strategy that enables her to function as a supportive, empathic creative writing coach, and an objective publisher.[7]

As part of Accomplish Press, Popoola runs a Creative Writing Club for Kids and Teenagers where she tutors them on core concepts of creative writing, providing close one-on-one mentorship to bring the best out of each student. The Creative Writing Club has won awards, including Most Innovative Creative Writing Club – East London [8] and Best Creative Writing Coaching Company 2024 [9]

In 2015, Popoola wrote a short story titled "The Alibi" that was featured on Pulse, about an unusual relationship between a maid and a housewife.[10] She is the author of the Lagos Flash Fiction Series.[11]

In 2017, Popoola was named one of ten Africans in Lancome's list of most powerful and diverse African women.[12]

Bibliography

Fiction

  • Popoola, Tolulope (2010). In My Dreams It Was Simpler. Lulu Press, Incorporated. ISBN 9781445254203.
  • Popoola, Tolulope (2012). Fertile Imagination: A Collection of Flash Fiction Stories. ISBN 9780957186637.
  • Popoola, Tolulope (2012). Nothing Comes Close. Accomplish Press. ISBN 9780957186606.
  • Popoola, Tolulope (2015). Looking For Something: A Collection of Flash Fiction Stories. ISBN 9780993177125.

Non Fiction

  • Avoiding the New Author Trap: Self-Publishing Success for First Time Authors ASIN B01BOTMGM0
  • The Procrastination Cure: How to Beat Procrastination and Get Your Book Published ASIN B01BOSZAL0

Recognition

  • 2012: New venture award by Women in Publishing UK (2nd Runner-Up)[4]
  • 2016: Special Award of Excellence by Nigeria Writers Awards[4]
  • 2017: Diaspora Writer of the year by Nigeria Writers Awards (Nominee)[5]
  • 2017: 100 Most influential Nigerian Writers under 40 (Listed)[5]
  • 2025: Brittle Paper Writer of The Month (June) [13]

References

  1. ^ "JUNE WRITER OF THE MONTH: Tolulope Popoola". Brittle Paper. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Accomplish Press and the Creative Writing Academy". accomplishpress.com. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Unlocking Creativity And Success – Exclusive Interview With Tolulope Popoola". Brainz. 15 October 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Bivan, Nathaniel (5 March 2016). "Why I quit accounting for writing, publishing – Tolulope Popoola". Daily Trust. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "JUNE WRITER OF THE MONTH: Tolulope Popoola". Brittle Paper. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  6. ^ Penn, Joanna (22 February 2016). "African Authors And Diversity In Publishing With Tolulope Popoola | The Creative Penn". Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  7. ^ Magazine, Brainz (15 October 2024). "Unlocking Creativity And Success – Exclusive Interview With Tolulope Popoola". Brainz Magazine. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Accomplish Press (2022 Winner: Greater London Enterprise Awards)". SME News. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Greater London Enterprise Awards - Winners List (2024)". SME News. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  10. ^ "'The Alibi' by Tolulope Popoola". Pulse. 24 November 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  11. ^ Akinwale (28 April 2025). "Author Interview: Tolulope Popoola on the Lagos Flash Fiction Series". Littafi. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  12. ^ "Lancome's Recent "My Shade, My Power" Beauty Campaign features 47 Diverse & Powerful Women including 10 Africans!". Bellanaija. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  13. ^ "JUNE WRITER OF THE MONTH: Tolulope Popoola". Brittle Paper. 2 June 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
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