We recently connected with Sope Martins and have shared our conversation below.
Sope , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I love this question because, for a long time, I didn’t feel like I had a purpose. I drifted, searching for something to hold onto—some kind of marker that would make me feel like I belonged, like I deserved my place in the world.
But my purpose isn’t a destination, and it’s not tied to one big thing. It’s about fully inhabiting who I am, embracing who God made me to be, finding joy in both the big and the small, and making sure I give more than I take. Once I understood that, everything else began to fall into place.
As a shy, introverted child, I buried myself in stories. I spent hours in my neighbourhood library, reading whatever I could get my hands on. Books shaped my worldview. Seeing through so many different eyes made me a little different. For a long time, that felt like a flaw. But that different outlook became my greatest strength—it’s what carried me through every season of my life.
It led me to radio, where I found my voice. To children’s books, where I learned how to shape stories. And to The Kid Lit Foundation, where I now help young African storytellers find their own voices. In each stage, storytelling has been my constant—my way of making sense of the world and carving out space for myself within it.
The journey wasn’t linear. There were years of doubt, false starts, and learning to trust my voice. And that’s still a work in progress. But once I figured that out, I knew what I wanted. It wasn’t just about telling my own stories—it was about making space for others to tell theirs.
Through my writing and my work with The Kid Lit Foundation, I am building a world where children like me know their stories matter. Because storytelling isn’t just an art—it’s a force for change.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
My professional life revolves around stories and children—whether as a founder and social entrepreneur, a radio broadcaster and event host, a children’s author, or a writing coach—and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
As a writer, there’s nothing better than getting lost in a story I’m creating. When the words are flowing and the characters come alive, it’s pure magic. Being a storyteller is one of the most rewarding things I can imagine—I get to build worlds and bring ideas to life.
As the founder of The Kid Lit Foundation, I work with an incredible team to create projects and platforms where children can fall in love with storytelling. So much of what we do is about bringing people together—authors, illustrators, mentors, children, parents, educators, partners, and volunteers—all united by the belief that every child deserves access to great stories.
Over the past nine months, we launched our flagship literature festival, The KidLit Fest, which welcomed over a thousand children and their families.
We also run a mentorship program to nurture the next generation of African storytellers. In our last cohort, we mentored 15+ young creatives, connecting them with amazing Nigerian and international industry professionals who guided them through writing, illustration, editing and public speaking. Now, we’re expanding the program and inviting more authors, illustrators, and editors to help shape the voices of the future.
One of the most exciting parts of my work is making books accessible to children in underserved communities and vulnerable situations. As an author, I’ve worked with initiatives like Book Dash and Write the Future to create free books for children across Africa and beyond. With The Kid Lit Foundation, my team and I are committed to ensuring that every child, no matter their circumstances, has access to stories. That’s why all our books, programs, and events have been free—so no child is left behind.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. People!
Honestly, this could be the answer to all three. I’m not the best “people person”—I’ve been told I’d make a great hermit!—and I never quite lost the shyness from my childhood. But every major step forward in my career has come through people who advocated for me in rooms I couldn’t enter and introduced me to opportunities I wouldn’t have found on my own. I got my agent through a recommendation, my first book deal through a mentorship, and even this interview through an introduction!
Community is key, no matter your career path. It doesn’t have to be big—just having people who share your highs and lows makes the journey easier. As a Nigerian writer, I have people who understand what it’s like to create within the unique (and sometimes chaotic) ecosystem of our literary scene. I have a writing partner in my city, writer friends across Africa, and, in the US, my Picture Book Society critique group, without whom I wouldn’t have come this far.
So, build your community. Apply for mentorship programs. Share your work. If you’re a children’s author like me, great spaces to connect include 12×12, SCBWI, and KidLit411. For picture book authors, Mindy Alyse Weiss’s PB Party is fantastic. The people you surround yourself with can make all the difference.
2. Know Your Rhythms
I’m an all-or-nothing kind of person. In the tale of the tortoise and the hare, I’m 100% the hare. I work best in bursts of intense activity followed by deep rest. Consistency, at least in the traditional sense, drains me.
Rather than forcing myself into the mould of writing a set number of words daily, I lean into my natural rhythm. I don’t write every day, and that’s okay. When I’m in a resting phase, I fill my creative well—spending time with family and friends, reading, making candles, or diving into whatever interests me at the moment. That way, when I do get back to writing, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on life while I’m in an intense creative sprint.
If you’re just starting out, figure out how you work best. Some people thrive on daily writing goals; others need flexibility. Pay attention to your rhythms and build your process around them.
3. Enjoy the Process
Wherever you are on your journey, enjoy it. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Yes! We’re always looking for partners and sponsors who believe in the power of storytelling and want to help make books and literacy accessible to every child. Collaboration is everything when it comes to creating real, lasting impact.
Right now, we’re especially looking to connect with:
– Sponsors and funding partners to support our key initiatives—like the KLF Box Library Project, the second edition of The KidLit Fest, and KLF Story Night, a cultural evening series where we celebrate traditional storytelling in Indigenous languages.
– Publishing houses and book donors to help us stock our box libraries for children in orphanages, hospital wards, and underserved communities.
– Authors, illustrators, and editors (picture book, middle grade and Young Adult) who are willing to share their expertise and mentor our next cohort of storytellers.
– Organisations, individuals, and logistics partners who can help us with funding and book shipments to reach more children.
If any of this speaks to you, we’d love to hear from you! You can connect with us via email, [email protected], on social media, Instagram, X, Facebook, @thekidlitfest or visit our website www.thekidlitfest.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sopemartins.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sopemartins/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sope-martins/
- Twitter: https://x.com/sopemartins
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
