Pat Uche Nwachukwu is a writer, publisher, productivity strategist, and founder of PatUch Concepts. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, she speaks about her work and issues relating to writing and publishing in Nigeria.
You studied education for your bachelor’s degree and administration for your master’s. How come you are actively involved in writing, publishing, and human resources?
I have loved writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I used to write sermon excerpts and document key lessons from messages I heard. I took advantage of every writing opportunity I got. My love for books grew even more while working as an unpaid secretary at my dad’s small business centre, where he printed church bulletins and branded envelopes. This early exposure to books, printing, and document handling sparked my interest in publishing, even though I didn’t fully realise it at the time.
I went on to study education because I enjoyed teaching and knowledge sharing. Later, I earned a Master’s in Administration, which helped me develop leadership and management skills. But writing remained a constant passion.
My transition into publishing was born out of both passion and necessity. Over time, I realised that many writers struggled with getting their books published professionally (just like I did when I wrote my first book in 2014), and I wanted to bridge that gap. With my love for books and a desire to help others bring their stories to life, I started my publishing brand, PatUch Concepts.
What began as a personal passion soon became a full-fledged business where I not only helped authors publish but also guided them through the intricacies of the book industry. I also had to learn and manage human resources, ensuring my team aligned with the excellence, thoroughness, and timeliness my brand is known for. So, while my academic background laid a strong foundation, my early exposure, love for books, and entrepreneurial drive truly shaped my path.
You pride yourself as a creative entrepreneur. How did you develop and sustain your creativity in your work and career?
Being a creative entrepreneur, for me, means looking beyond the obvious, solving problems uniquely, and bringing fresh ideas to digital and traditional publishing, content creation, and business.
I keep my creativity flowing by staying curious, learning constantly, and surrounding myself with inspiring people. I don’t just follow trends. In line with my convictions, I look for better ways to do things and create solutions that make a sustainable impact.
Tell us about PatUch Concepts. What kind of people do you work with, what kind of books do you publish and how do you market them?
PatUch Concepts is a book publishing brand dedicated to transforming stories, ideas, and knowledge into published and profitable literary assets. We have published nearly 200 authors from five different countries, offering a comprehensive suite of services to bring their words to life.
We work with authors, business leaders, and professionals who want to turn their knowledge, skills, and expertise into published and profitable assets, and print high-quality books that make an impact.
We publish a variety of books, including personal development, fiction, business, memoirs, and faith-based works. Our marketing approach includes strategic online promotions, author branding, and leveraging global distribution platforms to ensure books reach the right audience. Simply put, we don’t just publish books, we help authors succeed.
For PatUch to publish a quality book, what are the processes, systems, and challenges involved?
Publishing a quality book involves several key steps. At PatUch Concepts, we start with manuscript evaluation, followed by professional editing and formatting/layout, while designing the cover. Once the book is polished, we handle press and post-press publishing and distribution, ensuring it meets industry standards.
Our systems include structured work flows, experienced professionals, and a commitment to excellence. Challenges often come from authors struggling with the publishing process, tight deadlines, or distribution hurdles across international platforms. But we navigate these with expertise and tailored solutions, as our goal is to make publishing seamless while maintaining high standards.
You titled one of your recent LinkedIn posts ‘Four things writing can do for you’. What are these four things?
Writing is profitable, and in my post, I highlighted four key things it can do for you:
Discover your unique voice: Writing helps you express yourself and find your distinct perspective.
Gain clarity: It organises your thoughts, making ideas clearer and more structured. What seems complicated in your mind suddenly becomes simple.
Improvement through practice: The more you write, the better you become at communication.
Build resilience: Writing requires consistency and discipline, which strengthens perseverance. Pushing through the obstacles (rejections, initial low engagement, writer’s block, fear of judgment, etc.) encountered as a writer will teach you resilience, self-belief, and the opportunity to grow.
The current problems in content creation are the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in writing, and also the issues of intellectual theft and piracy associated with the internet. What can you say about these things? Do you encounter them in your line of work?
AI has changed content creation, making writing faster and more efficient. However, it can’t replace originality, creativity, and human emotions, which are keys to great writing.
Intellectual theft and piracy are real concerns, especially in publishing. At PatUch Concepts, we take measures like proper copyrighting, ISBN registration, and secure distribution channels to protect our authors’ works. While these challenges exist, staying informed and proactive helps us navigate them.
How can a new or budding published writer make big sales from their book project? And, in terms of contract publishing, what determines the percentage the author is paid?
Success in book sales is a mixture of great content, smart marketing, and strategic publishing choices. For a new writer to make big sales, there should be a solid marketing strategy. This includes building an audience before publishing, leveraging social media, running targeted ads, and using multiple distribution channels.
Don’t wait until your book hits shelves to start talking about it, and don’t vanish after launch day. The most successful authors promote consistently before, during, and after publication/launch. Building anticipation early creates momentum, while continued promotion keeps your work alive in readers’ minds long after release. Consistency in promotion is key.
In contract publishing, the percentage an author earns depends on factors like production costs, distribution expenses, and the agreed revenue-sharing model. The more an author invests in the process, the higher their potential earnings. However, some digital publishing platforms have fixed percentage rates for authors.
There is this general belief that Nigerians have a poor reading culture and hardly buy books. Do you believe this?
I don’t fully agree with that perception. Nigerians read and purchase books. The narrative that Nigerians don’t read is an outdated stereotype that fails to recognise the vibrant literary culture thriving across the country.
With the rise in book publishing, more authors are emerging and more books are being sold in Nigeria by Nigerians. The growth of literary festivals and seminars across the country provides clear evidence of a passionate reading community. What might appear as limited engagement often reflects issues of accessibility and affordability rather than lack of interest. Nigerian authors continue to gain international recognition precisely because they have strong support from readers at home.
Your profile says you are an author of six books. What kind of books do you write and why? If you were to write another book, what would it be about and why?
I write mostly non-fiction books on personal development and productivity. These niches appeal to me the most. My published titles include: ‘Finding Yourself’, ‘Grow’, ‘Heal’, ‘Effective Writing’, ‘Baronial Persona’, and ‘Get It Done.’
Right now, I’m working on a book about customer service because I’ve noticed many businesses struggling with keeping their clients. I believe great service isn’t just about handling transactions — it’s about building relationships that last. I’m hoping this book will help businesses get that piece right.
Tell us about your Personality, Productivity, Collaboration, Networking (PPCN) project and the impact you are making with it.
PPCN is a productivity community I founded to help individuals stay accountable and achieve their goals through productivity strategies, book reviews, and knowledge-sharing series.
Socially, I’ve partnered with ‘We Can Right the Wrongs’ to organise a literary essay competition and collaborated with ACE Consult to reach schools, where I donated free copies of my books. Through these projects, I’m committed to empowering people with knowledge and tools for growth.
What are the major challenges you face in work and how do you manage them? And where do you see yourself and your career in five years?
One major challenge is balancing multiple roles: publishing, coaching, and business operations while maintaining excellence. I manage these by delegating, automating tasks, and staying disciplined with time and resources.
In five years, I see myself leading PatUch Concepts as a globally recognised publishing and productivity brand, speaking at international conferences, and expanding my impact in the literary and business world.
What are the things that people do not know about you that you want them to know? And if you were to go on an all-expense paid trip to a foreign country for a two-week holiday, which country would it be and why?
I enjoy playing the piano and love quiet, reflective moments, despite my busy schedule.
If I had an all-expense-paid trip, I would choose the United States, specifically Washington, D.C., to visit the Library of Congress. As the largest library in the world, it’s a treasure trove of knowledge, history, and rare collections. I would also explore iconic bookstores across the US, like The Strand in New York, Powell’s Books in Portland, and other literary havens, soaking in the rich book culture.
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