Kirian Obioha was born in Nigeria and immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Columbia, South Carolina, the city where The First Cherry unfolds. After a successful career in business, he is now pursuing his lifelong dream of writing and bringing to the page the stories he has carried for decades. His debut novel, The First Cherry, the first in The Cherry Trilogy, draws deeply from his own experience of navigating two worlds, as well as the wisdom of his grandmother, Isang, whose proverbs pulse through the narrative like a heartbeat. His mother, Fidelia Obioha, inspired the fierce maternal love that anchors Kobie’s journey. He lives in Columbia, SC, with his wife and takes great pride in his three children: a daughter who is an accountant, a son who is an educator, and a son who is an attorney. He is currently writing Cherry Ripe and The Last Cherry.