At AuthorsWiki, we are delighted to connect with James B. Agape, a reflective writer from Nairobi, Kenya, whose debut book, Pent Up Thoughts, explores mental health, healing, self-discovery, and emotional resilience through poetry and short stories.
James B. Agape’s writing is rooted in honesty and introspection. His work offers readers a quiet space to confront their thoughts, process their experiences, and find comfort in knowing that they are not alone. Pent Up Thoughts emerged from years of journaled thoughts, emotions, and personal struggles that James had kept hidden. What began as a private outlet during a difficult period gradually developed into a deeper relationship with words and storytelling, eventually becoming his first published book. Alongside writing, James works as a Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of a marketing firm, where he also serves as the main point of contact, supporting coordination and day-to-day operations.
In this exclusive AuthorsWiki interview, James B. Agape talks about the experiences that inspired Pent Up Thoughts, his deeply organic writing process, his literary influence, his journey with writing, and his hopes for future work. He also shares an encouraging message for anyone going through a difficult period: keep going, because better days are ahead.
AuthorsWiki: Apart from writing, what is your occupation for livelihood?
James B. Agape: Apart from writing, I work as a Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for a marketing firm, where I also serve as the main point of contact, offering support, coordination, and streamlining day-to-day operations.
AuthorsWiki: Tell us something about your first book.
James B. Agape: Pent Up Thoughts is my first book, and it came from a place of wanting to understand and process my own thoughts. It’s a collection of poetry and reflections centred around mental health, identity, and healing. Basically, it was a materialisation of journaled thoughts, feelings, and struggles with depression that I had kept hidden for many years.
AuthorsWiki: Would you like to tell us about your published books?
James B. Agape: So far, Pent Up Thoughts is the only book that I have published. It has resonated with many readers for its raw and honest approach to emotional struggles, depression, anxiety, and the process of healing.
AuthorsWiki: Where did you get the inspiration for publishing books?
James B. Agape: My main inspiration to publish my book was to offer a safe space to those who have no one to talk to, no one with whom they can share their personal burdens. Personally, I can’t say that I am 100% out of the woods when it comes to anxiety and depression, but I am better compared to where I was five years ago. My book is a way of reaching out to those who have no one to confide in.
AuthorsWiki: How do you manage your time to write a book?
James B. Agape: I don’t treat writing like a day job. I only compile my thoughts when I am at the peak of my emotions or when I am feeling most inspired and moved to jot down my thoughts. Only then do I write. It doesn’t matter whether it takes me six months or two years, as long as I have captured my unfiltered feelings fully.
AuthorsWiki: What is your favourite writing method—the one in which you write the most?
James B. Agape: My writing process is very organic. It doesn’t follow a rigid structure, and I think that’s what keeps it authentic. Throughout the day, I constantly scribble down my feelings in my notepad. It could be anything: a bad experience at work, a distasteful encounter at a social gathering, a conversation that left me unsettled, or a book I read that resonated deeply with something I’ve personally experienced.
I capture it immediately because feelings are most honest in the moment they happen. If I wait, I risk losing the rawness of it. Then, at some point, I revisit those notes. I sit with them, read through everything I’ve been collecting, and start to see patterns: recurring emotions, themes that keep surfacing, and things my subconscious has clearly been trying to work through. That’s when the real writing begins. I start compiling all those scattered notes and feelings into something coherent, something that has a shape and a voice.
What I find is that my best writing never comes from sitting down and deciding to write. It comes from living, feeling, observing, and then giving all of that somewhere to go. The notepad is really just me having an ongoing conversation with myself throughout the day.
AuthorsWiki: When did you start writing, and how did your interest in writing begin?
James B. Agape: I began writing back in 2017, during a time when I felt isolated, alone, and had no one to truly talk to. Writing became my outlet, a place where I could spill my pain without fear of judgement. What started as a way to cope eventually turned into a deeper connection with words and storytelling.
AuthorsWiki: Is there any special achievement in your life that you would like to share with us and your readers?
James B. Agape: One meaningful achievement I’m grateful for is having Pent Up Thoughts recognised as one of the best short story collections in 2025. Honestly, it was something that I had never expected.
AuthorsWiki: Are you planning to write or publish a book in the present or future?
James B. Agape: Yes, perhaps in 2027, as God wills. At the moment, my day job takes a lot of my time and requires 100% attention. Regardless, I still scribble down my daily experiences in my notepad. Currently, I am in a foreign country. Once I fully settle down and collect my thoughts, I will start the writing process again.
AuthorsWiki: Would you like to give a message to your readers and fans?
James B. Agape: Not quite sure what to say, but here goes nothing. If you are in a dark place or going through hardship, I implore you not to give up. Soldier on, and keep your head above the water. Have the unshakable faith that everything will work out eventually. Remember, it’s darkest before dawn! Better days are ahead of you.
AuthorsWiki: Every writer has their own ideal. Do you also have an ideal writer? And what are your favourite books that you always want to read?
James B. Agape: Yes, I have an ideal writer. Mine is Charles Bukowski. Why, you might ask? Well, he was unfiltered and completely unapologetic. He wrote about ordinary life, the struggle, the loneliness, the unglamorous reality of just getting through the day, and he did it without caring what the masses thought. The books that I’d want to read are Ham on Rye and Factotum.
AuthorsWiki: Apart from writing, what are your other hobbies that you enjoy in your free time?
James B. Agape: I am a bit of a geek/gamer. During weekends, I am either gaming online or binge-watching anime. Other than that, I enjoy spending time in nature, watching the birds while enjoying the breeze.
AuthorsWiki: Would you like to remain in the writing world in the future as well?
James B. Agape: Yes, it would be an honour to have future generations refer to my works after being inspired. I plan to compile my next book in 2027, God willing. I have quite a lot to put down, so I am not sure whether I will compile it into one book or get a series going. I guess time will tell.
About James B. Agape
James B. Agape is a reflective writer from Nairobi, Kenya, and the author of Pent Up Thoughts, a collection of poetry and short stories exploring mental health, identity, healing, self-discovery, and emotional resilience. His writing grew from a deeply personal practice of recording thoughts, emotions, observations, and experiences. What began as an outlet during a difficult period eventually developed into a body of work centred on honesty and introspection.
Alongside writing, James works as a Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer of a marketing firm. Outside work and writing, he enjoys gaming, anime, and spending time in nature. With another book planned for 2027, James hopes to continue using writing as a means of expressing his experiences and creating work that future generations can connect with and find inspiration in.
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It was a pleasure conversion with James B. Agape, whose journey and reflections offer a meaningful glimpse into the creative life of a writer. We sincerely thank them for sharing their time and wisdom with the AuthorsWiki community.
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