From MBA to published sci-fi author.
Date 19 May 2025
19.05.2025Jessica has a passion for writing and is currently working to publish her first book. Although she has successfully written about nine novels, most of which have been successes on Wattpad. This blog explores the inspiration behind her first science fiction novel, Misfit, which will be published in August this year.
Jessica’s Story
I’m Jessica Bamane Bozie, mostly known as J.B or Boz by friends. I’m Ghanaian by nationality, hailing from Ghana, a country on the West coast of Africa. I joined the University of Northampton in 2023 to pursue an MBA which I completed successfully this year (2025) . In August this year I will be publishing my first sci-fi novel. Read on to find out more about the book and the inspiration behind it.
Inspiration behind “MISFIT”
What truly pushed me was the intention to challenge myself to do something I had never done. And that was what gave rise to the idea for this book. Honestly, I’ve never really been interested in sci-fi and fantasy because I felt that they were genres that were both too complicated and confusing. I therefore wanted to write a novel that combined both genres, but in a way that would appease all generations and be fun and easy on the minds of readers both young and old.
Another reason was that African writers have hardly explored genres like sci-fi and fantasy. I think of Africa as a continent rich in folklore which could be told in ways that appease the modern world. We are quickly entering a highly advanced technological world ourselves and i believe these stories need to evolve too.
As an avid reader myself, I never really came across many books with multiple genres interwoven into the story. I wanted my novel to be more of a project to prove something to myself and to my fellow African writers.
About the book
The title of my book is “Misfit” and tells the story of a girl (Mabu) who stumbles across a mysterious civilization (the Binju). Although the origins of “Mabu” are unknown she becomes an instrumental figure in the Binju civilization and the entire world when she becomes a vessel of an ancient source of power known as the ‘Soul Stone’. This gives her a godlike power, as the guardian of nature following the fall of the ‘Binju’. As she tries to understand her newly found power, she forms bonds and builds a life which in time becomes threatened by the very things she once tried to escape from.
Challenges and learnings
Although I loved the experience of writing the novel, of course there were challenges along the way. Misfit is a book that is told in past, present and future. Keeping up with the story in these different times and eras was a bit of a challenge. Also making connections to the main story was not easy. I recall I had to read the book over and over to run the timelines through my mind and have them fresh in memory.
Writing a story where so many things are happening in different times was something I probably underestimated. I also found quite challenging creating the imagery for a future which was highly advanced, and coming up with names for advanced technological devices, for someone without a scientific background i must say my creativity was greatly tested.
I’ve never started a book knowing its ending. I think most people think or believe that every writer knows the ending of their story before they begin, a story will always evolve. Of course, I had a vision, and I knew what I was aiming for, but I never really knew all of what was going to be added along the way. Even with stories where I had an idea of what the ending will be, I often realised after starting, that I would change my mind. Misfit was definitely one of those that evolved during the process.
Looking to the future…
I am always writing, and I doubt I will be stopping anytime soon. I am currently working on my 10th Novel and first non-fiction book. Although Misfit was written between 2019 and 2020, it took a lot of time to publish and one of the challenges was finding the right publishers. But despite the trials along the way this certainly isn’t my first book, and it won’t be my last, anticipate more from me soon.
Advice to any aspiring writers
If I had to give advice to anyone else aspiring to get into writing, I would say…forget about how a story should end, all you need is a vision for your story and what you want to achieve with it. I write because I love to write, not necessarily because I have a plan. Just write and pace yourself. Give yourself time and everything will fall in place. Don’t be afraid to start.
Misfit will be available to purchase from August 2025.
Jessica joined the University of Northampton from Ghana in 2023 to pursue an MBA, and is publishing her first novel, Misfit, in August 2025.