Lola Salvador Akinwunmi is a writer, songwriter, and leadership architect with a passion for shaping people who shape the world. Drawing from years of creative and leadership work, Lola brings a rare voice to every room she enters, one that is equally at home crafting a lyric, building a leader, and telling a story that stirs the soul.
Her debut novella, Influence God’s Way With Us, is the culmination of that journey. It explores what it truly means to lead with divine influence, not ego, strategy, or title, but surrender and purpose. Lola writes for the leader who knows there is something deeper available and is ready to reach for it.
She has been featured in Addicted2Success, LinkedIn, Thrive Global, Brit +Co, CEOWorld Magazine, The Good Men Project, and writes for Entrepreneur Magazine.
Author Q&A
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
My love for books started at five years old. I was still learning to read, but I devoured everything I could get my hands on, including the encyclopedia by age seven, which most kids were using as a doorstop. I even got in trouble a time or two for reading things above my age level. By eight, I had written my first book. It didn’t get published, but I was absolutely gunning to be the youngest author ever published. Clearly, I was an ambitious child.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
The message is this: ambition is not the enemy, obsession is. You can want success; you should want success. But when you lose sight of the journey and the purpose behind what you’re doing, you lose the very thing that makes your message matter. I want readers to walk away more focused on impact than achievement.
Who is your favorite author, and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Frank Peretti, without question. He pioneered the Christian supernatural thriller as a genre, weaving suspense, spiritual warfare, and allegory in a way no one had before. His work sits right at the intersection of faith and storytelling craft, and that intersection is exactly where I live creatively. He showed me that you could tell a God-centered story and still have people on the edge of their seats.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
This book is a conversation starter, not a final word. I am not presenting myself as the ultimate authority on influence or leadership. What I am doing is handing you a mirror and asking you to look. My hope is that as you read, you introspect, you question, and you grow as you navigate your own life and leadership journey.
Have you ever hated something you wrote?
I rewrote this book so many times I lost count, and honestly, I was still second-guessing myself right up until I hit publish. The self-doubt was real. There were moments I genuinely questioned whether the book was good enough, whether I was good enough. But I pushed through, because I knew the message was bigger than my fear. And that made all the difference.
Picture this: You feel uninspired and you’ve sat at the computer for an hour without conquering any words. How do you get your creativity flowing?
I have two go-to moves. The first is soaking music, purely instrumental, no lyrics, just sound that creates space for thought. The second is a walk along the lake. There is something about being near water and away from a screen that resets everything. Creativity, I’ve learned, rarely shows up on command. You have to create the conditions for it.
What is your favorite genre to read, and why?
Thriller, and more specifically, Christian supernatural thriller. I love the tension, the pace, the high stakes. But when that is layered with spiritual depth and a faith framework, the stakes feel eternal, not just urgent. That combination hooks me every time.
What behind-the-scenes tidbit in your life would probably surprise your readers the most?
Most people who read my writing probably picture someone who sits quietly in a study surrounded by leather-bound books and a cup of tea. The reality? I am also a songwriter. I write music the same way I write prose, searching for the exact word, the right feeling, and the line that resonates. People are surprised to learn that the same person writing about surrendered leadership is also in a room somewhere crafting lyrics while strumming a guitar. But honestly, they come from the same place in me.
What is the funniest typo you’ve ever written?
I once meant to type “public” in a professional document and left out the letter “l.” I will not elaborate further, but I will say spell-check has never been more necessary in my life, and I now proofread everything twice. Some lessons you only need to learn once.
What is your favorite word, and why?
It is the opposite of paranoia: the belief that the people around you are quietly conspiring for your good, working behind the scenes to promote your success and secure your happiness. In a world that trains us to brace for the worst, pronoia is a radical act of trust. It assumes positive intent. It reframes challenges as setups rather than setbacks. Given everything, we are navigating in this world right now, this is the posture we need.
Connect with Lola online at
Author Website: https://lolasal.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/l.o.l.a.chronicles
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@l.o.l.a.chronicles
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lolasal
Influence God’s Way With Us is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Influence-Gods-Way-Us-Faith-Filled-ebook/dp/B0GTJT2C5S/