Oge Mobuogwu - Poetic, Spiritual and Gripping

Oge Mobuogwu is a graduate of the University of Benin, Nigeria, where they earned a degree in computer science. Oge is a talented and versatile writer, both as a novelist and screenwriter. Currently, Oge resides in Houston, Texas, where he continue to pursue his passion for storytelling and creative writing. His work reflects a deep understanding of diverse cultures and experiences, making him a unique voice in the literary and entertainment industries.  As our Author of the Day, he tells us all about his book, Into the Gray Scale.Please give us a short introduction to what Into the Gray Scale is about.Into the Gray Scale is a dark fantasy novel based on a blend of sci-fi (metaphysics, quantum physics) and African folklore.What inspired you to write Into the Gray Scale? Was there a particular idea or moment that sparked the story?Believe it or not, nothing inspired this story. It came to me and wouldn’t leave me alone. For most of the time, I didn’t even know how to continue the story until I discovered a method I call CREATIVE MEDITATION. So, I learnt to zone in and write from the POV of an observer. I simply followed the story and let it tell itself however it wanted. It was quite an experience.The novel blends dark fantasy, crime thriller, and supernatural elements. What drew you to mix these genres?Wasn’t intentional. My answer would be that is how the story wanted to be told.The story has deep emotional and philosophical undertones. Were there any personal experiences or beliefs that shaped its themes?No. Once I got in tune with the creative meditation, I had found a way to just follow the story like an observer. I still find the entire thing surprising. So, simply put, not personal experiences, perhaps just bits and pieces of concepts that I have seen over the years.Did you set out to write a story with such a bold and unflinching look at life, death, and morality, or did it evolve naturally?It evolved naturally. I credit it all to creative meditation. When I tried to “tell” the story my own way, I was stuck for years because it didn’t feel authentic. I had to let go and let the story tell itself and evolve however it wanted.AJ is an unusual protagonist—he’s dead, yet he’s still an active part of the story. What were the biggest challenges in writing a character like him?That was part of my main confusion for a long time. That was until I learnt to let go and let the ‘spiritual’ vibrations themselves tell the story.Into the Gray Scale explores the blurred line between life and death, as well as dreams and reality. Was it challenging to balance these different layers of reality?Was not even my intention to go there. There were days I would go back to read what I had written the previous day and would find the entire write up surprising. Even while in chapter 11, I still asked myself, “where is this going?”The book’s prose is often described as poetic and immersive. Was that a conscious stylistic choice, or is it just your natural writing style?No. I’d never actually delved into poetry before. Everything fell in place when I learnt to let go and let the “spirit of the story” take charge.Many readers say they’d love to see this book adapted into a film. If that were to happen, do you have a dream cast or director in mind?No dream cast in mind but I’d certainly love if the WACHOSWKI siblings (directors of Matrix, Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending etc.) direct it.Was there a particular scene or moment in the book that was the hardest to write?Most of the difficulty came at the beginning, and lasted years. As at 2023, like over 5 years after I started the story, I still hadn’t gone past page 30 because I was struggling to tell the story myself. Later I saw a video of Yanni, talking about his creative process. That was when I learnt to let go and just allow the story to tell itself.The novel has been described as "haunting" and "trippy." What do you hope readers take away from its surreal elements?That life is neither black and white nor simple. The true complexity of our existence is unfathomable.Will we see more stories set in this universe, or are you planning to explore different genres in your future projects?For more stories from this universe, uncertain for now. I’d simply let it play out as I have done already. I am a multi genre kind of person too so yes, hoping to release more titles of different genres.What’s next for you? Are you currently working on another book or creative project?A political drama is currently taking shape.