On being shortlisted

I was ecstatic about the shortlisting. For about two weeks I couldn’t believe it and thought it was some joke or a dream. My literary mentor Rachel Zadok (an incredible writer by the way) has been my rock through this whole writing “career”. She really pushed and told me I had an amazing story. She said some time last year she was submitting it for the Caine Prize but I didn’t think I stood a chance so I largely forgot about it. - Efemia Chela to Caleb Adebayo