FAQs

Here you go! Answers to the questions that you were probably already thinking (and even if you weren't, well, here they are anyway):

• When, exactly, did you start writing? 

 I've been writing since I was very young, around six or seven years old. I was a bright kid who easily became bored, so my mother would give me mini-writing assignments and make me compose stories and book reviews for her to read. They were pretty average (ie. "Once upon a time..." or "I liked this book because...") but they fed my creativity and got me into the habit of putting words down on paper. I didn't know that I wanted to be a writer though until I was around ten, when I started outlining and composing my first novel while I was waiting on the bus to arrive after school. It went something like this:

Fifth Grade Teacher: ...What are you doing? *curiously peers over shoulder*

Me: I'm writing a novel! *proudly puffs out chest*

Fifth Grade Teacher: Oh! How...nice. What is it about?

Me: It's a secret! *giggles*

Teacher: Ok. *raises a brow* Have fun with that.

...Yeah.

• Why did you start this blog?

For a number of reasons, boredom being one. I actually started my first blog when I was again, in fifth grade (pivotal year, much?), but it was terrible and I deleted it. Now I'm trying again, mainly because I feel like venting and this blog is the perfect spot to do it, and I read this article about how aspiring authors should have platforms. So I guess this is my platform! (You can step up. It's ok- I don't bite).

• Wait, but aren't you in high school?  How the **** do you have time for this!?!

Good question. Between all of my AP classes and extracurriculars, I really don't. I don't actually have time to write a novel either, but I somehow manage to sneak in a couple hundred words or so every night between homework assignments; therefore, I think I can manage this blog. Although, I am procrastinating on my English homework while I'm writing this. Drat. Should probably get started on that.

• What's your novel about? 

Hmm. It's still a work and progress, so I'm reluctant to say much (I don't want to give the whole plot away before it even gets published), but I will say that it is of the urban/paranormal fantasy genre, and features a large cast of diverse characters (diversity is important to me in novels-not everyone has to be Caucasian). The plot borrows a bit from Greek mythology, especially where Circe is concerned, but mainly focuses on magic and morality.

• How do you pronounce your name?

Believe it or not, this is a very controversial topic. My name, Jamila, is Arabic/Swahili and is technically pronounced, Jah-mee-lah. But that's really hard for some people, who can never seem to get it right (seriously, my mother is the only one who calls me that). Everyone else, family included, calls me Jah-mill-ah, or if they know me well, just plain ol' Jam. So take your pick. I really don't care.

• Is that a picture of you on your 'About Me' page? 

Sorry to disappoint, but it's not. I've got this complex about taking pictures of myself and posting them online, so I'd prefer it if my appearance remained unknown. Adds a bit of mystery, don't you think? Anyway, the picture on that page is of the main character in my novel. No, it doesn't look exactly like her (the hair and nose are off) but my friend drew it, so I love it anyway.

• Why did you write your bio in third person? Isn't that weird?

Nope! I thought it would  be kind of fun to talk about myself like I was someone else. If any of you have heard of Tamar Braxton, you'll know what I'm talking about; that's how she rolls.