I got the chance to sit down and talk with Jamila Gomez, author of seven books, proofreader and editor. Get to know Jamila Gomez.
T.P. Miller: Okay before we start the interview tell us a little bit about yourself as an author, and what you like to do?
Jamila Gomez: My name is Jamila Gomez. I’m 31 years old and have self-published seven books. Besides writing, I enjoy traveling, dining with friends and family, being an auntie, movies, music, Sudoku, and making jewelry.
T.P.: Where are you from?
Jamila:Originally, I am from Chicago. But I was raised and still live in Lithonia, Ga.
T.P.: Are you a full-time author? If not, what’s your 9-5 job?
Jamila: By profession, I am an editor/proofreader. I am also a part-time student at University of Phoenix online studying for my Bachelor’s in English.
T.P.: Do you have a specific writing style?
Jamila: Most of my writings are very simple, especially my poetry. Most of my poetry is free verse. An extension of my diary. I call my poetry journaling in stazaic form.
IT.P.: f you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Jamila: Krystol Diggs, most definitely. I’ve learned so much from just watching her and listening to her advice. She’s very wise and everything she’s done is inspiring.
T.P.: How long have you been writing?
Jamila: I wrote sporadically between 2006 and 2008. Then I stopped to do other things and picked it back up in 2011. I’ve been writing nonstop ever since.
T.P.: How did you decide on what genre you wanted to write in?
Jamila: I write several different genres, but the one I cling to the most is poetry. It was a no brainer for me because I’d always had an interest in it and took a creative writing course which focused on poetry. It was really that class that was the light bulb in deciding that that’s what I needed to be doing.
T.P.: What inspired you to write?
Jamila: My Granny passed the day before my senior year of high school. I wrote my first poem as a way of healing from it. My first story was sort of a “just to see if I can” type of thing. It was a couple months before my birthday and I had written down some ideas I had for a party. Once those ideas were on paper, I thought I could make a good story from them. Thus, “Birthday Girl” was born.
T.P.: What book are you reading now?
Jamila: “Married 2 Struggle” by Varrsity.
T.P.: Who are your favorite authors?
Jamila: Growing up, I read a lot of Mary Higgins Clark, but I love James Patterson, Treasure Blue, K’wan, and Wahida Clark…just to name a few.
T.P.: How did you feel when you completed your first book?
Jamila: I don’t have children, but I felt like a mother for the first time. Holding something I made, something that had my name on it, for the first time. There’s nothing like it.
T.P.: Please list the titles of your books.
Jamila: “Birthday Girl”, “Pure Confessions” Vols. 1 & 2, Pure Confessions Deluxe Edition, “My Sheree Amore”, “The Sisters’ Fight: A Poetic Anthology of Awareness”, and Pleasures of the Unknown.
T.P.: Where is your favorite place to write?
Jamila: I am not big on the outdoors, but a lot of greenery inspires me. So I like to write at parks. And I love water, so anywhere near a lake or the ocean.
T.P.: Is your book self published?
Jamila: Yes.
T.P.: Where can reader purchase your books?
Jamila: Readers can purchase my work on jamilagomez.com, Amazon.com, and BN.com.
T.P.: If someone wanted an autograph copy how can they get it?
Jamila: He or she can email me, Facebook, or tweet me with their request and I will get their information to make that happen.
T.P.: How can your readers get in contact with you?
Jamila: They can email me at jamilagomez2007@gmail.com. They can also Friend me on Facebook at facebook.com/jamila.e.gomez and Follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/author_jamilag.
T.P.: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Jamila: When I published “Pure Confessions”, my first book.
T.P.: Tell us your latest news?
Jamila: I am currently working on a special edition of my novella, “Birthday Girl”, which will have some new and exciting details. That should be near the end of June/early July. I am also working on a second part of my short story, “My Sheree Amore” and I will combine them for a full-length novel.
T.P.: Can you share a little of your current work if any?
Jamila: Sure. This is “Poetry is My Love”
Poetry took shape of him, his mouth,
The words flowing from within
Speech exuding effortlessly, without thought
He lived his freestyle, no rhyme or reason.
His sentiments shared with mine, a commonality
The mirror to my soul through his verses
His soliloquy read my mind through and through
Reading me like a book.
Imaging myself to be his canvas
Creating beautiful works of art in his poetry
His words put to motion in the way he wants
Craving to make something special.
Just being, naturally, how I’ve longed to be his muse
The inspiration for the eloquence that oozes through
With each stroke of the pen, breathing life into me
Becoming one with poetry, I shall always remain
The lover of the him that is poetry.
T.P.: What do you want to say to your readers?
Jamila: I just want to say the most heartfelt thank you to all of my supporters. It has been a crazy ride thus far, but they have stuck by me and remained constant and I am eternally grateful for that. The best is yet to come.
T.P.: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?
Jamila: I would first say that if you write…right now…you are a writer, not aspiring. I would also say to write what is truly in your heart and be yourself. Don’t try to copy anyone else’s style. Remain unique. Remain humble. Write every day, even if it’s just journaling. And study the genre(s) you write.
Jamila Elise Gomez was born January 15, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois and is the youngest of three daughters born to Michael and Mary. Her family moved to St. Louis when Jamila was just three and lived there until she was six before moving to Lithonia, Ga, where she still lives. As a Spina bifida-born patient, Jamila has experienced quite a few challenges, enduring surgeries on her feet and back, as well as needing a shunt. Because of her physical limitations caused by Spina bifida, Jamila had to face difficult times in her social life, having to deal with verbal bullying from her fellow classmates.
Jamila has always had an interest in writing, even from when she was in elementary school. She wrote her first story in 3rd grade and her first poem at age 17 as a means of dealing with her grandmother’s passing, which occurred just one day before her senior year of high school began. A few years after graduating, she realized her talents lie in her words as she made the decision to major in English and take poetry classes while enrolled at a junior college. Jamila decided finally to make her love for writing poetry a career move. In the summer of 2010, she began working as a freelance proofreader. Following in her father’s footsteps in authorship, her debut book of poetry, “Pure Confessions Volume l”, was released in July of 2011 and received rave reviews. In November of the same year, Jamila released “Birthday Girl”, a novella she originally had no plans to have published. Gaining confidence from her family and friends, she went on to release “Pure Confessions Volume II”, “Pure Confessions Deluxe Edition”, and “My Sheree Amore”. Jamila also participated in a poetic anthology called “The Sisters’ Fight: A Poetic Anthology of Awareness” in 2012. By profession, Jamila is a copyeditor and proofreader, freelance and for companies. She is also pursuing her Bachelor’s in English and University of Phoenix Online and is Chairwoman of SUT Page Turners. Jamila plans to own her own editing/proofreading company by 2013’s end.
GET YOUR COPIES FROM HER WEBSITE, AMAZON, AND BARNES AND NOBLE!!
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