Munir Bello is a Nigerian born author based in London, he independently released his first book The Break-Up Recipe, which centres around the love life of main character Mark Mutton as he takes us on a journey through his past. As the book is written from a man’s point of view, it’s not your typical romantic comedy that’s for sure. You’re bound to find yourself giggling along at this one and I must say it’s a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading myself. With great success achieved from the release of The Break-Up Recipe, Munir is now working on a second book alongside other exciting projects.
I got to ask Munir a few questions to find out more about his ideas behind The Break-Up Recipe and also his plans for the future…
Firstly, I have to say your book The Break-Up Recipe had me laughing out loud in parts (which got me a few stares whilst sat reading it in the coffee shop), was it a conscious effort to make the book so funny or is it something that just happened?
Man, thank you very much for the compliment and thank you for hosting me!! Yes I was hoping to get that sort of a reaction from people. It was important for me to make people laugh. I wrote the book after going through a horrible break up and I felt that it was important to put out a piece of relationship focussed literature that would brighten up anyone’s day who’d had a shitty break up. I also wanted it to appeal to people in happy relationships who’d be able to read certain things and think, “Fuck, that’s happened to me!”
I felt myself really warming to the narrator and main character Mark Mutton, which I’m sure most people will as they read the book. Was his character based on anyone specific or are there even parts of Mark that are based on yourself?
Mark is a mixture of the real me and my imagination. The sense of humour he has is mine but his addiction to masturbation is not haha. I’m glad you like him, some people don’t at first and they then warm to him as they read on because they realise that beneath the bravado he is a good guy underneath.
Other than being inspired to write the Break-Up Recipe after going through a break up of your own, was there anything else that prompted you to put pen to paper and is writing a book something you’ve always wanted to do?
I was inspired because I needed to make money quickly as a previous break up left me in a very tight financial situation and so I decided that this was a better way to make money than selling drugs. I’d also always wanted to write a book as I’d been told I should for as long as I can remember and so I finally did. It’s been a brilliant experience and no matter how many times I hear it I never get tired of getting positive feedback about the book.
How did you feel when you finally completed writing The Break-Up Recipe? As it’s your first book were you nervous to show it to the world or more excited to finally get it out there?
I have never been asked that before, good question! It was one of the most amazing few days of my life. I was so happy to have completed it and I couldn’t wait to share it with everyone because I genuinely like the book and think it is funny. I completed it a few days before release and I was running around like mad and cracking the whip, trying to get two editors in two different continents to get their shit together, putting together the final touches to the naked pic and book cover to my satisfaction and living on no sleep for 72 hours! The best moment was at 3 in the morning on release day when Charlie (my photographer) and I spoke. He called and said, “Dude I just googled it, it’s available for purchase”, I looked on Amazon and saw it for sale and I smiled on the inside. I was too excited to sleep, so I just took a long, slow stroll around Maida Vale and then called my mum to tell her that her son had officially released his first book.
That must have been an amazing feeling. How does it feel getting feedback from people who’ve read your book? As an author who has released their book independently and put so much energy into it as you have, it must be heartwarming to hear from readers who have enjoyed reading what you’ve wrote.
I react the same way 119 reviews on as I did to the first review. Every time I see a new review I’m like an over excitable baby. It is amazing that so many people like it, It’s very surreal even now when someone says it’s funny/amazing or any of the other adjectives of preference people use to describe it. I’m happy but I also know that I better not fuck up the second book!
So I know that you have started work on a new book but what can we expect from you in the future? Will we hear more of Mark Mutton or will your second book be taking a new root?
Mark has two more books in him. The second instalment of The Break Up Recipe trilogy is nearly ready for release and the third one won’t be too far behind before I lay Mark Mutton to rest and focus on new areas to write about.
As well as working on your second book I hear that you’re working on a dating show. What’s that like?
Oh my God, It’s so much fun!! Hooking people up and putting them on camera is full of exciting happenings. It’s bloody hard work but it is so rewarding. The show will be out next year and I’m incredibly excited to share the encounters with everyone.
I shall look forward to seeing that! One last question before you go. What advise would you give to anyone who is maybe thinking about writing a book but doesn’t know where to start or how to go about it?
Go with your gut at first but do make sure that as you get into it you do plenty of research as you don’t want to present an inferior product. You also have to have thick skin because it’s inevitable at some stage you will get criticism which you must learn to take without overreacting. I had a girl who slated me badly online and went as far as calling me unpleasant and calling the book sexist. I didn’t have to bite my tongue as I realised that she’s entitled to an opinion. Anybody writing must remember that you won’t be able to please everybody.
You can order Muni Bello’s book The Break-Up Recipe at Barnes and Noble here or at Amazon here.
Also for updates on Munir’s next book release you can follow him on Twitter: @munirbello1983 and don’t forget to hit like on The Break-Up Recipe Facebook page.
Samio x
