Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
At GollanczFest in 2024, we went to a seminar all about book cover design. Towards the end, a short section was dedicated to Mayowa Alabi's work on this new fantasy book by an unknown author named Rogba Payne. The design was so good, it immediately made us buy a copy from the pop-up shop and seek to track down this enigmatic author.
We were introduced to a brilliant and humble man who has crafted a deep fantasy world born out of authentic love for his cultural waters. It was our delight to host Rogba down at the shop and get to ask him about the 8 (plus) books that turned him into the writer he is today.
The Song of Godhunters is a trilogy of epic fantasy books by Rogba Payne, inspired by Yoruba culture. The second instalment, A Testimony of Blood, was released on 17th July 2025 in the UK.
📚 Join Inkstone Books' waiting list:
inkstonebooks.com/subscriptions
Rogba's Choices
==============
► 1. A book you wish you had written
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin // Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
► 2. A book that inspires you to write
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss // Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
► 3. A book that taught you something important about storytelling
On Writing - Stephen King
► 4. A book that will pick you up when you’re feeling down
The Snowman - Jo Nesbo // Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
► 5. A book that reminds you of people
The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan
► 6. A book that has helped you when you were in a bad place
The Will to Change - Bell Hooks
► 7. A book that makes you think
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky // All About Love - Bell Hooks
► 8. A book that you think everybody should read
Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
===
Ross & Laura are a couple of internet nerds with over 20 years combined experience in eCommerce and Retail, and a shared passion for quality fantasy and science fiction.
Get your books from bookshop.org and we get 30% of the sale price! It's the best way to support us if you're in the UK:
➡️ https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/stationb...
🎧 Support us on Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/stationbookstunbridg...
📚 Our rare books shop: hardysbooks.co.uk
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/hardysbooks
At GollanczFest in 2024, we went to a seminar all about book cover design. Towards the end, a short section was dedicated to Mayowa Alabi's work on this new fantasy book by an unknown author named Rogba Payne. The design was so good, it immediately made us buy a copy from the pop-up shop and seek to track down this enigmatic author.
We were introduced to a brilliant and humble man who has crafted a deep fantasy world born out of authentic love for his cultural waters. It was our delight to host Rogba down at the shop and get to ask him about the 8 (plus) books that turned him into the writer he is today.
The Song of Godhunters is a trilogy of epic fantasy books by Rogba Payne, inspired by Yoruba culture. The second instalment, A Testimony of Blood, was released on 17th July 2025 in the UK.
📚 Join Inkstone Books' waiting list:
inkstonebooks.com/subscriptions
Rogba's Choices
==============
► 1. A book you wish you had written
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin // Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
► 2. A book that inspires you to write
The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss // Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie
► 3. A book that taught you something important about storytelling
On Writing - Stephen King
► 4. A book that will pick you up when you’re feeling down
The Snowman - Jo Nesbo // Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
► 5. A book that reminds you of people
The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan
► 6. A book that has helped you when you were in a bad place
The Will to Change - Bell Hooks
► 7. A book that makes you think
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky // All About Love - Bell Hooks
► 8. A book that you think everybody should read
Things Fall Apart - Chinua Achebe
===
Ross & Laura are a couple of internet nerds with over 20 years combined experience in eCommerce and Retail, and a shared passion for quality fantasy and science fiction.
Get your books from bookshop.org and we get 30% of the sale price! It's the best way to support us if you're in the UK:
➡️ https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/stationb...
🎧 Support us on Libro.fm: https://libro.fm/stationbookstunbridg...
📚 Our rare books shop: hardysbooks.co.uk
📷 Instagram: instagram.com/hardysbooks
