BY THE BOOK: Timothy Muli

Most readers have a preference for the book that swoops them from the present and sails them through the wonderful waves of words.

For 27-year old Timothy Muli, motivational books are what makes him tick. The overflow of indulging in inspirational works of prolific writers such a Rick Warren and Myles Monroe led him to release his first book at the age of 25; Poor by Choice.

Earlier on in 2018, he released his second book called Wisdom for the Wise which is also a motivational book. The Moi University graduate has a great passion for community work and is involved in many community programmes in the non-profit sector.

A born again believer, Timothy also spares some time for ministry and finds joy in winning souls for Christ.

What are the three most memorable books from your childhood?
I began reading seriously in my teens, from around 16 years, hence the books that wowed me in my younger days are The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, An Enemy Called Average by John Mason and The Assignment by Mike Murdock. They opened my eyes to the power of motivational books. I kept reading and eventually started writing my own inspirational books.

How many books on average do you read in a year?
(laughs) Do I really count them...let’s see…last year I read about 16 books.

What are the three books that failed to meet your expectation?

To be quite honest, most of the books I have read lived up to their hype. However, sometimes I purchase a book based on the blurb and sadly, the content inside doesn’t measure up to the summary. The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson, The Man in The Brown Suit by Agatha Christie and A Man of the People by Chinua Achebe didn’t quite meet my expectation.

Which are your two most treasured books and why? Would you lend them out?

(laughs) I am a young author, I treasure my two books Poor by Choice and Wisdom for the Wise, most. Of course I wouldn’t mind lending them out but it would be awesome to purchase a copy from me.

If you had the opportunity to meet three authors (dead or alive) who would they be and why?

Dr Myles Monroe, Chinua Achebe and Rick Warren. Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I love Dr Myles Monroe. He mentored me into the world of inspirational writing and self-publishing. His impact on my life was tremendous and though he passed on, his teachings inspire me to date. If I met him, I would tell him as much. I like how Chinua Achebe uses language; his style of writing is quite captivating and I would commend him for that. Rick Warren writes inspirational books in such a simple and engaging manner, it would be great to have a chat about that with him.

In your opinion, is writer’s block an actual challenge faced by writers or an excuse for procrastination?

It’s a washed out excuse for procrastination. I believe that a good writer doesn’t need to wait for the perfect time, place, idea, topic or content to write. He or she simply grabs the idea and runs with it…along the way it becomes perfect. Or comes close at least.

Have you ever had a bad review for your work? What did it say and how did you deal with it?

No. What I have had is constructive criticism especially after releasing my first book. I call it constructive because after applying the lessons drawn from it, my writing improved significantly. I am open to that kind of criticism.

E-books versus hardcopies, what is your preference and why?

E-books…they are way more convenient in terms of accessibility, portability and even safe storage. My book, Wisdom for the Wise is an e-book available on Amazon.

What are you currently reading?
The Power of your Mind by Chris Oyakhilome.