Grubbies

About Isaac

I’m a novelist of Nigerian and Indian parentage, who was born in Scotland and raised in Nigeria. I spent six years working in the UK, but now write from Boston, Massachusetts, where I live with my three daughters. In a former life, I freelanced as an Africa columnist for Examiner.com, but have been "chained to my desk" as an administrator at Harvard University for the last twelve years. Harvard, a world in itself, has been a fitting backdrop to my development as a writer. Working in the forgotten corners of an elite institution, in the light of a full spectrum of cultures, I've found my voice amplified through perspective and solid irony. And I’ve been fortunate to take a few classes at the Harvard Extension School, including “Workshopping the Novel” and “Literature of Journey and Quest.” An excerpt from my novel, "Water Thy Shadow," was recently published in the literary journal, Transnational Literature: https://transnationalliterature.org/journal/october-2021/new-voices-ones-to-watch/isaac-oine-ugbabe/ Writing has been key in exploring my identity, and vice versa. In addition to writing fiction, my interests range from the philosophy of consciousness to the practice of breath holding. Through the broadening of my perspective that these interests engender, I've cultivated a passion for helping other writers find their voice.