Tamikio L. Dooley
What’s your story, and how did you begin your journey as a writer?
Hi, my name is Tamikio L. Dooley. I started my writing journey in January 2015.
In September 2016, I achieved my initial Crystal Trophy award as the best author in the crime genre. Within the same month, I received an honorable recognition as the best author of the crime.
Tamikio L Dooley
What fortified you to start writing, and how has that inspiration evolved?
What fortified me to start writing was a heavy hand at sixteen. I used to write horror and paranormal stories by hand for my younger sibling. After I wrote the stories, which sometimes consisted of over 100 pages, I read the stories to my younger sibling, my brother, and he enjoyed listening to them. It was my brother’s enthusiasm that encouraged me to write, but I didn’t start writing until January 2025.
- Can you share your creative process? How do you move from an idea to a finished piece?
My creative process never ceases. I always have ideas in my head ready to surface at all times. My creative ideas come from movies, inspiring books of fiction and nonfiction, and my dreams. My bestselling zombie series The Warhead Hunters was inspired by a dream I had one night. The next morning following that dream, I wrote my book, which turned into a two-part series with six books in all.
- Do you consciously choose themes, or do they emerge naturally as you write?
I consciously choose themes. But I made a new resolution. My new resolution requires me to start writing a few paragraphs or chapters first, and then a theme materializes. Both ways work for me.
- Do you prefer planning your work in detail or letting the story unfold as you write?
Both. I prefer planning my work in detail and allowing my stories to unfold. Surprisingly, my mind conjures lots of new ideas as I write. This results in adding a new character with a new personality, or adding the name of a place or thing, corresponding with my story as it flows. Again, as I mentioned before, my mind is always filled with ideas!
- What has been your proudest moment or accomplishment as a writer?
The proudest moments and accomplishments as a writer are finishing a book! It’s hard work writing a book. It takes dedication, effort, loyalty, and determination to start and complete a book. Of course, winning awards, certificates, and honors for my work are the proudest and most accomplished moments.
- What moments or experiences shaped you into the writer you are today?
The moments and experiences that shaped me into the writer I am today are collaborations and networking with fellow writers. They taught me and carried me a long way! Their collaborations and networking have taught me to rise above what I’ve learned before meeting them. I learned to project new ideas, projects, and organizational structures. I have so much more to list and thank all the writers and artists I’ve met in the twenty years of constructing literature works. There is no such thing as rising too high, for I will always meet new writers and artists, who inspire me to start painting arts and encourage me to feature in high-profile exhibits. I would love to shout a special thanks to Poetess Til Kumari Sharma, and Silla Maria Campanini for inviting and encouraging me to continue painting and publish my works in high-profile art exhibitions. Thank you, ladies, with much love! I would encourage everyone to check out these ladies’ works of literature and art. I will say that most of the writers I’ve met were a lesson or blessing to me, meaning they came into my path and taught me more, and then they passed on carrying animosity, love, or death. Either way after their passing, I’ve moved on, still sharing the love of literature and art with those who chose to stay, or those allowed to stay.
- What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a writer, and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced as a writer, but not much today, is writing the perfect story. While writing, I used to worry if readers, interviewers, or reviewers would like my story. Then, I realized that I must write for myself. Do I like my story? Do I adore my story? Do I love or hate my story? Behind this, I also realized that every reader has a different taste, meaning NOT EVERY READER IS GOING LIKE MY STORY. Of course, I am fine with this. I’ve overcome that challenge years earlier. But I will address this because it’s been on my mind lately. I’ve noticed when visiting websites where readers purchase books mostly such as Amazon, Lulu, and other sites, that readers will only purchase writers’ books they like BECAUSE THEY LIKE WRITER THEMSELVES. They will not purchase new writers’ books because they are indie authors because of the color of their skin, or because they are women. Yes, I said this because it’s worth saying. But I trust in God. He will bring the right readers to my door.
- Can you walk us through your favorite piece of writing and share why it resonates with you?
Fortunately, I have several favorite pieces of writing in prose and poems. Readers can find my works and books on my author page at https://www.dooleysbooks.com/.
Tajalla Qureshi
Co-founder and Co-Editor of
The Wordsmith Magazine, Pakistan
Interviewer, Journalist and Translator
Insight Magazine, United States
Punjab, Pakistan
INTERVIEWER:
Tajalla Qureshi – a literary enchantress who weaves embroideries of thoughts and passions with the delicacy of a leading artist in the realm of words. She is a gifted wordsmith from Pakistan.
She is the visionary Co-Founder and Co-Editor of “The Wordsmith E-Magazine, Pakistan”, where words are woven into magic. She is an international journalist, Associate Editor, English Translator, and Interviewer at Insight Magazine, United States.
She is interviewed by Tamikio L Dooley from the United States and Abigirl Phiri from Zimbabwe, Africa. She is an engaging graphic designer, editor, web designer, and illustrator. She is named as Miss 20th Century Poetry at the University of Chenab, Gujrat.
On the other hand, her writings including Poetry, Flash Fiction, Mirco Fiction and Creative Articles and Research Articles have been glorified in International Journals, more than 40 international and national anthologies, Global magazines, many international e-papers, and Online websites in Pakistan, America, Germany, Canada, Africa, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, and India.
In addition, she has artistically read her poetry at the Pakistani Young Writer`s Conference held at Mandi Bahauddin and presented her paper at Kinnard College for Women in Lahore, Pakistan. She has presented papers at an international conference in Uzbekistan. Like a shooting star, her literary presence blazes across the sky, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who encounter her work.
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About the Author
