An Interview with Boaz Kelvin Smith

Boaz Kelvin C. Smith is an ordained minister and a chaplain. He has ten years of experience working in the Disability and Mental Health sectors and is a veteran of the Australian Army. A qualified higher educator with a Community Service diploma and a BA from Harvest Bible College, he is the founder and director of The Kelvin Smith’s Youth Foundation and general overseer of Calvary Ministry. Boaz is passionate about developing good character leaders and working with grassroots communities. His children inspire him. Boaz loves to cook, play football, and listen to reggae music.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

This title came in chapter 7, when Mary was writing to Rafina, and in her letter she expressed hope that Rafina could get her out of “This Unfortunate Situation.” There were many titles running around my mind, but hearing Mary use that statement to refer to her trouble, I knew it was it. And being that their treatments were the result of them being girls, it was an unfortunate situation.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Seeing the cover was amazing and before I could approve it, I sent it to as many people as possible. But they all had similar feedback: the cover made a bold statement. When I was thinking about designing the cover, I needed something that would stand out and tell a story from different angles. Seeing that become a reality was amazing. And when I received the author copy, it felt good because someone would read my book and say yes, I am willing to do something. Our girls matters just like the boys.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

When I was a boy, I loved the movie Sarafina, and for Rafina, the main character of my book, I drew inspiration from that. I deliberately choose Rafina as the voice of this movement because she wasn’t someone who is easily distracted or emotional. She understood the problem and enlisted the help of anyone willing to help. As an African man, it’s important to express my disappointment to how our girls are mistreated and how we all can work on a solution. This unfortunate situation is affecting girls everywhere and that’s what saddened me.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

When I first came to Australia, I started work in a recycling factory, then I was a bricklayer apprentice for two years before joining the Australian Army as a Rifleman for five years. For ten years I have worked in the disability and mental health sector. I founded The Kelvin Smith’s Youth Foundation to focus on grassroots awareness and sustainability. I am competitive with myself.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

Hearing the feedback has been rewarding, especially how most of my readers can relate in some way to the story.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Recommendation—the more people they tell, the more members Team Rafina will have. My perfect readers are those who would ask “What can I do?”

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I am currently working on three new projects; one is almost ready but not yet, and the other I have just started. It’s like cooking; although the soup can be eaten, the stovetop is still on.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

For someone who knew absolutely nothing about publishing, I felt like a professional because my friends at Atmosphere Press love what they do. I thank God for every one of them—my editor was awesome and Ronaldo, the cover designer, was amazing. Even from my very first conversation with Nick Courtright, I knew it was an easy ride. I recommend Atmosphere Press and I wish we had more publishers like them, but again who needs another when they are awesome. God bless you, Atmosphere!

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