Tomi Adeyemi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tomi Adeyemi
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Adeyemi at the 2024 National Book Festival
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| Born | August 1, 1993 |
| Occupation | Writer, Creative Director |
| Alma mater | Harvard University |
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Tomi Adeyemi (born August 1, 1993) is an American writer and creative writing coach. She is famous for her novel Children of Blood and Bone. This book was the first in her Legacy of Orïsha series. It quickly became a #1 bestseller on The New York Times Best Sellers List.
Her book also won several awards. These include the 2018 Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy. She also won the 2019 Waterstones Book Prize and the 2019 Hugo Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book. In 2019, Forbes magazine included her on their "30 Under 30" list. In 2020, TIME magazine named her one of the 100 Most Influential People.
Contents
Tomi Adeyemi's Early Life
Tomi Adeyemi was born on August 1, 1993, in the United States. Her parents moved there from Nigeria. Her father was a doctor in Nigeria. In the U.S., he worked as a taxi driver while waiting to get his medical license. Her mother worked as a cleaning woman.
Tomi grew up in Chicago. Her parents did not teach her or her siblings their native Nigerian language. Later, as an adult, she learned to appreciate her heritage. She explained that when you are young, you just want to fit in. You don't realize how special your culture is until you grow up. She later called one of her novels a "love letter" to her culture.
Tomi wrote her first story when she was just five years old. She kept writing throughout her teenage years. She finished Hinsdale Central High School in Hinsdale, Illinois, in 2011. She received scholarships for her studies. She then went to Harvard University and earned a degree in English Literature.
After Harvard, she studied West African mythology and culture in Salvador, Brazil. This experience gave her the idea for Children of Blood and Bone. This book became her big breakthrough.
Tomi Adeyemi's Writing Career
After college, Tomi moved to California. She worked at a film company in Los Angeles. When she decided to work less to write a book, her parents were a bit worried. She said that as a first-generation Nigerian, her parents hoped she would become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. She was lucky they supported her dream, even if it was different.
Tomi wrote her first full novel, but it didn't get good reviews. So, she gave herself a year to write another book. This new book became Children of Blood and Bone. She entered it into Pitch Wars. This is a program where new writers work with editors and authors to improve their books.
The Legacy of Orïsha Trilogy
Her first novel, Children of Blood and Bone, came out in March 2018. It quickly became the number one Young Adult Hardcover Bestseller on The New York Times list. It is a fantasy novel for young adults. The main character, Zélie Adebola, fights to bring magic back to her people.
Tomi wanted to write a fantasy story set in West Africa. She hoped that "a little Black girl [could] pick up my book one day and see herself as the star." She wanted young readers to know they are beautiful and important. She wanted them to see they could have amazing, magical adventures. Children of Blood and Bone won the 2018 Andre Norton Award. It was also a finalist for the 2019 Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book.
In March 2017, Fox 2000 Pictures bought the rights to make the book into a movie. The deals for the book and movie rights were very large. Deadline magazine called it one of the biggest deals ever for a first young adult novel.
Her second novel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance, was released in December 2019. It also became a #1 New York Times Bestseller.
In December 2020, Disney announced that its companies, Lucasfilm and 20th Century Studios, would make Children of Blood and Bone into a movie. By 2021, Tomi was not happy with how slowly the movie was being made. She asked to write the script herself, but Lucasfilm said no. Since Lucasfilm wanted to focus on its own big movie series like Star Wars and Indiana Jones, they let the movie rights for Children of Blood and Bone go in late 2021.
In January 2022, Paramount Pictures bought the movie rights. They promised to release the movie only in theaters. As part of this new deal, Tomi Adeyemi would write the script. She would also be an executive producer. In December 2023, it was announced that Gina Prince-Bythewood would direct the movie.
In June 2024, Tomi Adeyemi released the last book in the series, Children of Anguish and Anarchy. This book also debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestsellers list.
Other Activities
While writing her first novel, Tomi Adeyemi also worked as a creative writing coach. Besides being a successful novelist, she teaches creative writing online. Her website, The Writer's Roadmap, helps other writers. Writer's Digest magazine named her website one of the best for writers.
Tomi Adeyemi also worked on an animated series called My Dad the Bounty Hunter. This show is for all ages and had many Black writers.
Personal Life
Tomi Adeyemi lives in New York City, New York. She is of Yoruba heritage. She has two siblings. Her mother manages hospices near Chicago, and her father is a doctor. Her brother is a musician.
Works
Legacy of Orïsha Trilogy
- Children of Blood and Bone (March 6, 2018)
- Children of Virtue and Vengeance (December 3, 2019)
- Children of Anguish and Anarchy (June 25, 2024)
Companion Books
- Awaken the Magic (journal) (April 7, 2020)
See also
In Spanish: Tomi Adeyemi para niños
