ARTIST STATEMENT

 

I am a writer who is driven by a passion for storytelling that evokes a sense of reflective thinking and challenges perceptions. My name is Stephanie Chiedo, and I am 21 years old.

I would say that I have embarked on a quest to explore the vivid forms of human imagination and societal reflection through my writing. Fluent in English, French, Hausa, and Igbo languages, I draw inspiration from diverse cultures and perspectives, crafting them into narratives that resonate with readers on a global scale. My work was recently longlisted in the Iridescence Award 2024, and I have been running a poetry blog for six years now.

I specialize in dystopian fiction and mental health because these genres allow me to explore into the complexities of societal norms and the structures which uphold them, and the lens through which we see the world. I would use the word “open the third eye’’ into an alternative world. Through my writing, I aim to evoke a sense of reflective thinking in the minds of my readers, challenging them to question the status quo and envision alternative futures.

One of my greatest aspirations as a writer is for my books to be as "flexible" as possible. By this, I mean that I strive to create narratives that are not only engaging and entertaining but also capable of igniting meaningful and resourceful conversations, where the characters and their journeys stay with a reader. I envision my work to be used as a catalyst for think pieces that dives into pressing issues and propose meaningful alternatives, ultimately contributing to a more 

empathetic and enlightened society that is fueled by compassion and inclusivity. This is why I label my work as ‘intersectional.’

In every story that I curate, whether it's a dystopian saga or a crime thriller, my goal remains the same: to open a reader’s third eye to an alternative world, spark the right emotion, ignite passion, evoke introspection and foster a deeper understanding of the world that we live in.