New York Times Bestselling novelist Tomi Adeyemi, author of the Legacy of Orisha trilogy, kept the crowd laughing when she spoke in Rose-Hulman’s Hatfield Hall on March 20. Adeyemi was the speaker at the spring convocation honoring Hugo Award-winning science fiction novelist Octavia Butler.

Adeyemi shared a personal anecdote about Butler's influence on her life. As a teenager scrolling Pinterest, Adeyemi stumbled upon a photo of a spiral-bound notebook, on which Butler had written affirmations for her future in writing. The sight fueled a flame within Adeyemi. 

"She created space in my soul to dream what a career as a Black female writer could be," Adeyemi said.  "I want you to feel what Octavia made me feel, and that is that you can do it."

With frequent quips, enthusiastic movements, and moving messages, Adeyemi spoke candidly about her journey to becoming a bestselling novelist. Adeyemi shared a powerful lesson about pursuing dreams in the face of perceived failure, proclaiming in giant letters on her slide that her first novel was rejected 63 times. When she bounced back from her devastation, Adeyemi realized her dream of becoming a writer was stronger than ever. 

"I had a vision for my life and my future that my soul wouldn't give up on," she said. "Crying won't kill you. You can cry as hard as you want, but eventually your body will stop. Get your combat boots and warpaint on, stand up straight, and go after your dream."

In the Q & A session that followed her talk, Adeyemi was impressed by the profound depth of the students' questions. When a student asked how to tell the difference between a grand, soul-driving dream, and a delusion, Adeyemi paused to reflect.

"I don't know if there is any difference," she said. "If you don't have the courage to have the vision, you call it a delusion. People call you a genius when they catch up."

She continued, "Be afraid to not have delusions because that means you're not even willing to accept that it could happen in your life." 

Adeyemi ended her talk by saying, "You’re not just your future. You're our future, too. That desire burning in your soul is a compass. Following that compass will not only help you reach your full potential but will change the world."

Afterward, students had the opportunity to meet Adeyemi and have her sign a copy of her books.

Named one of TIME magazine's 100 most influential people, Adeyemi is a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Nigerian-American writer and storyteller. Her work Children of Blood and Bone, Legacy of Orisha series debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, has sold over 3,000,000 copies worldwide, and is currently being developed into a feature film with Viola Davis, Cynthia Erivo, and Idris Elba.