Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamiya Taylor.
Hi Jamiya, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I first became drawn to writing in the 6th grade during my Language Arts class. We had read “Tears of a Tiger” by Sharon M. Draper and the assignment to go with it was to write an alternate ending to the story. I don’t even know what happened to the ending I wrote, but I ended up getting the highest grade on it. I was only about 10-11 years old so I didn’t think it was more than just a hobby until my teacher at the time pulled me aside and encouraged me to keep writing. She told me I could go far. My maternal grandmother is also someone that influenced me and pushed me to write stories as I was growing up. Once I got my first notebook to actually write stories, it was like the gift crafted itself. Before then, I was a bookworm and was into video games, but I definitely found my calling in class that day. All throughout middle school, my story notebooks used to get passed around the classes and my friends because everyone wanted to read what I was writing. And here I am now, years later, writing and sharing my stories publicly, thoughts, truths, and worlds being passed around just like all those years ago.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been pretty smooth for the most part. That’s not to say there hasn’t been any struggles along the way, but my journey as been enjoyable. I believe my passion and my true love for the craft of writing is what makes it smooth. Starting out on my self publishing journey, I went in head first at the age of 17, publishing my first novel “Born to Die” through CreateSpace (which is now AmazonKDP). I didn’t have any guidance, no one who had done anything like this, so YouTube was a bit of a teacher for me. I used a lot of online guides, so I guess you can say that’s where part of the struggle comes in. I was in high school as I figured out how to publish that book and there were plenty nights when my mom would come find me awake in my room when I should’ve been asleep for school the next morning. As the years went by, the path remained relatively smooth. My love for the craft grew. My skill within it flourished and grew, shifting and changing just as I did with age. The biggest struggle I faced was always the building, feeling, and keeping the confidence to do this. Putting yourself out there into the world isn’t easy, by far, and it can be even more difficult without a bit of guidance. But just like all things in the world, it got better with time. The more I did it, the easier it got, and now, there’s nothing anyone can tell me about my craft.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I deem myself as a multi-hyphenated creative writer from the South that has something to say. Really just writing my way through every whirlwind and every obstacle, evolving with creativity, and doing it with nothing but passion and authenticity. So, I specialize in words, language, and literature. Poetry, creative essays, think pieces, haikus, and fiction novels are my playground. I’ve also been in the early stages of learning how to write screenplays and scripts. It’s a dream of mine to write the movie adaptation of one of my books one day. However, I’m most known for my Black romance fiction novels on top of my Substack publication, “A Million for My Thoughts”, two sides of the coin that is me.
With my fiction novels, I focus on Black stories at the center. Black characters, Black experiences, with plots of true representation where our voices are heard. Where we don’t have to shy away from our complex natures. Where we can show the world that Black people are not a monolith, even if it is within the pages of a book. Through my Substack, I take my thoughts, my experiences as a Black woman on the edge of her 30s and show others like myself that they’re not alone. My mom used to tell me that things come back around and there was never nothing new under the sun. That’s what my Substack is. A collection of essays that speak on a wide range of topics, whether it be relationships, grief, anger, healing your inner child, or spirituality, you can find what you need there. I think that’s what I’m most proud of – running my own publication and sharing my truth, helping people find theirs as well. And because of that, my authenticity within my work is what sets me apart. What you see is what you get with me. I’ve been through enough life and hard days to hide myself anymore. That reflects in my writing.
But, what I’m most proud of at the moment is I was selected as one of the authors of the 2027 Black Romance Book Festival. Anyone who has their ear to the bookish streets know how big BRBF is and they’re still fairly new amongst the book event world. I’m most proud because I’ve been at this for a while, through hell and high water, and to see the fruit of my labor payoff on a large scale is noteworthy for me. I trusted myself when I dedicated myself to this craft and I’m not letting up.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The people can find me anywhere because I’m good everywhere! If you’re looking to support any of my fiction novels, you can search my name, Jamiya Taylor, on Amazon and you can find my books there. Poetry and fiction. I’m on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok @jamiyathewriter. My DMs are always open if anyone wants to drop in and spark some conversation. If anyone ever wants to work with me or share opportunities, my DMs are the place to go or you can always shoot me and email at jamiyathewriter@gmail.com. Also, check out my publication “A Million For My Thoughts” on Substack. I got some good, good things on there! I pray you find what you need, whether you realize you need it or not.
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