Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours follows a Black scholar and a Greek American who fall in love over one intense weekend and spend a lifetime discovering whether love born in a moment can survive. What drew you to the idea of a love story that unfolds almost entirely over 72 hours?

I am not a believer in love at first sight, not really. Although I do believe that a person can feel an instant, extreme, and ultimately long-lasting romantic attraction if they get to know each other by just talking – having direct and sincere conversations about anything and everything. That is why the dialogue may have felt long and intense. Real conversations were happening between two people who would not normally touch on the issues discussed. And once shared values are realized, the relationship and ultimately the love intensifies. I wanted to convey that a spiritual connection can embody the physical relationship between the two lovers. I’m hopeful the 72 hours show just that! Sissy/El, younger sister of Johannes, is intuitive. And she knew they were right for each other. When Munyori and Johannes met by chance, Sissy’s/El’s intuitiveness was correct. I wanted to convey that you don’t have to be attracted to your own culture or your own tribe. I wanted to show, in the famous words of Maya Angelou, “we are more alike than we are unalike.”

Yori is ambitious, sexual, intellectual, and emotionally open, while Johannes’s past loss hangs over the entire story. Their experiences have led them to have different views on love and security—what does that contrast reveal?

I’m not sure if your question is accurate here regarding their different views. If you noticed, Munyori learned a lot from Johannes about being sexual and sensual. The different views on love and security were demonstrated between Munyori and her best friend, Jalsa. In the very beginning, Johannes supported Munyori’s future career choices, was in awe of her academic achievement, and ultimately felt she may be too good for him, until he realized how down-to-earth she was and their shared values. Munyori saved Johannes emotionally. She got him to open up and express his feelings without pressure. That was the beginning of their connection beyond the physical.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

I believe the novel is a work of contemporary women’s fiction that weaves together romance, suspense, cultural insight, and fast-moving, character-centered events. I wanted to blend meaningful talks between characters, their inner thoughts, and observations about the world around them. I hope to tackle themes like race, colorism, and identity, and make them feel real – put the reader in the conversation. I wanted to show how Yori’s journey stands out, revealing how ambition, friendship, and self-awareness come together in the face of societal pressures. With Johannes, I wanted to show how balancing responsibility, vulnerability, and his need for a real connection – even though he was driven by taking care of his sister, growing his construction business – all the while ignoring his own needs.

What does Munyori and Johannes In 72 Hours ultimately say about love over time?

Love can come from the most unlikely places if you give it a chance. Some people can know each other for a lifetime and really don’t know each other at all. The lead characters, after the undeniable initial physical attraction, shared meaningful conversations that shifted into understanding, trust, direction, and shared mindsets. They almost immediately went beyond small talk and created moments where the other person feels genuinely heard and supported. In this love story, I wanted to reveal that you can know someone in a few days and fall in love. Again, I refer to the famous words of the African American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, when she says, “we are more alike than we are unalike.”

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