Amanda Epe; the life and times of a flight attendant

By Tundun Adeyemo

A Fly Girl is Amanda Epe’s debut book; an inspirational memoir of her days working at the British Airways.

She takes her readers on a journey from Las Vegas to India, allowing them explore the world through the eyes of a black British Airways flight attendant.

The author spoke on her book which explores her experience with racism as a flight attendant and Black British.

Why did you write this book?

I was obliged to write this for my spirit and I didn’t want to take this story unpublished to the grave.

What is your favourite part of your story?

If I had to put a bookmark in one place it would be the active, funny, bright and sunny story in Miami.

At what time or point did you feel the need to write this story?

It was strongly felt in 2013, a time of writing in my serene state and being fully inspired. It was the starting point any way; at least, I put pen to paper and wrote the first paragraph. Most of the work continued the following year.

Racism occurs in different ways to different people, and many people talk about this every day. What more are you adding to the conversation?

My angle has some insight into the in-depth thoughts of being black and wearing the Union Jack.

How can you suffer racism when you are British?

My Britishness has a prefix.

Returning home to Nigeria, is that an option?

Good question; and to run from racism is just running. If I had ran away as a new recruit I wouldn’t be telling this story.

You are a very busy woman campaigning for women and their issues, is this empowering?

It is simply my writing journey; although it is empowering. If a woman reader feels inspired in her journey by relating to my writing/storytelling, then that is a success for me.

What next?

The mission continues. I must follow the call to write and to work; to do the things that give me joy -the works that are creative and that can be shared.

Why should I buy your book?

Two words, I guarantee you’ll engage and enjoy it.

What will our readers hear about your book that they haven’t heard elsewhere?

This author shares her experiences and thoughts from her travels, and discusses taboo topics and issues not easily for conversation in our and the wider community.

What more would you like to tell me?

O.K. I would like to tell you about the euphoric feeling of delivering my debut, and that it was created for people like me, but also goes beyond that target group. If you ask about my readership I feel that outside of Black women in Diaspora and at home, this book relates and can be read by an international audience of men and women.

Where can we find your book?

A Fly Girl, the kindle version is now available on Amazon and will be available in print from Amazon, Waterstones and all good retailers by January 2015.