My Interview with D.A. ANDREWS!

I always appreciate authors and readers taking time out of their lives to meet with me.  Life is hectic – more so when you’re working on an MBA.  Thank you for allowing me to introduce you to my readers!

• I always kick off my interviews with the same question.  Therefore, please tell us how you’d describe yourself?
  • My name is Davia, and I am a 28-year-old Jamaican who now resides in Georgia! I am a writer through and through and a huge coffee fanatic!
• In my experience, writers are first and foremost readers.  Knowing which book(s) and author(s) influenced their passion for literature helps one to understand how they’ve developed as an artist.  Therefore, I’d like to start by discussing your muses.
  • Where do you feel your love for literature began?  Was it encouraged through bedtime stories, family traditions of oral tales, trips to the library – what, or who, brought your awareness of books?
    • My mom always encouraged us to read. She would give us little reading assignments during summer holidays, and I really think that that is where it all started.
  • I remember Dr. Suess’ Green Eggs and Ham being one of the first books I could “read” (I put that in parentheses because I memorized and recited it before I could read).  Which book(s) and/or author(s) left a lasting impression on you?
    • I used to go crazy over Enid Blyton and Goosebumps books. I had a whole collection growing up haha
  • Having been raised in Jamaica, where there’s a rich culture of folklore, do you feel this inspired your love of storytelling and books?
    • Though Jamaica does have a rich culture of folklore (and I loved all of the stories about Anansi etc), I like to more specifically attribute my love of storytelling and books to two very important women in Jamaica, my high school English teacher, Mrs Thorpe, and my college poetry mentor, Tanya Shirley.
      • With their emphasis on spirits, ghosts, and mysticism, did you feel more drawn to certain types of genres, or non-fiction?
        • I am a huge fantasy supporter. More specifically, YA fantasy. It is a genre I love dearly and have loved since I was younger.
        • Do you feel the artistry of the traditional oral storytelling and its performance elements (both vocal and physical) encouraged your interest in poetry, or what lead you to discover this genre, specifically?
          • What is funny is that I was more into fiction before I got into poetry. I loved listening to all the dub poets in my culture, but I never thought that I was good enough. It wasn’t until I met Tanya Shirley, that I truly started to dive into poetry and believe that I had what it took. Ms Shirley sparked a huge fire within me for poetry, and I have not looked back since.
  • How did reading turn into writing?
    • I think the first time I truly remember wanting to write was when I entered a story contest when I was in the 5th grade. I remember thinking that I wanted other people to feel something the way I did when I read. That’s when things really took a turn. I started writing a lot more after that.
• I think this is a natural place to discuss your journey as a writer.
  • Do you feel the traditions of Jamaican storytelling and folklore helped to shape you as a poet?  Why, or why not – and how?
    • Because my love for writing poetry came a lot later in my life, a lot of my influences came from poets and poems outside of Jamaica. However, I realized that I wanted to use more of what I knew and more of my culture in my writing and that is why my upcoming book, Embracing the Tempest, has a lot of Jamaican influences in it. I wanted to use those experiences and folklore that I grew up with to develop me more as a poet.
  • Are there any poets or poems that really move you – which ones, and why?  What about them speaks to you?
    • Tanya Shirley, Warsan Shire, Pavana Reddy. My go to poets when I am stuck. The way they stitch together words is unbelievably beautiful, and I just get so moved each and every time I read their work.
  • Is there anyone you try to emulate?  Why, or why not?
    • When I just started writing poetry, I tried to emulate Tanya Shirley and Warsan Shire a lot. But, I have since found my voice, and I like to think that I emulate my inner child a lot more now.
  • I read mental health is important to you, and having been diagnosed with pure-OCD, writing has always been a way for you to cope (read interview here).  I know you journaled.  Did expressing yourself through poetry aid with this form of coping?  What about writing fiction?
    • Poetry got me through the darkest period of my life. Poetry gives me the ability to be authentically myself. The amount of catharsis it offers is unbelievably amazing. Writing poetry helped me to really dive deeply into whatever problems I was dealing with and provided me with some great coping skills.
    • I write fiction, as well, but it is more of a means of having fun. Poetry is there for me when I need to deal with life.
      • Through my own issues with OCD, depression, and anxiety, I have utilized writing to cope.  I’ve found that writing poetry and fiction allows me to experience things I otherwise wouldn’t, giving me a way to deal with situations safely.  Where journaling is purely personal, poetry and fiction can give an unlimited capacity to explore and grow.  What are your thoughts on this?  Do you find different coping abilities from the different writing techniques – why, or why not?
        • I mostly find my coping abilities through writing poetry. I have used fiction before as a means of escapism, but I have since learned to face things head on haha Poetry just really allows me to be brutally honest, and I love it.
  • What drew you to be a poet above all other forms of writing?
    • I think it had a lot to do with Ms. Shirley and the fact that I was going through a dark period of my life. Writing poetry had a way of making me process a lot of my emotions and thoughts, and I just never looked back. However, I love YA fiction as well, and I want to eventually publish something in that genre.
  • I read you are a “panster,” who can go weeks at a time without writing, but when you do, it flows out once you’ve had coffee.  When that happens, considering you have OCD, do you follow a certain pattern or routine?  What’s your writing process like? 
    • My form of OCD is mostly mental, including my compulsions. I like to think that it affects all areas of my life and that writing is sort of my glasses through it all haha
    • When writing, I don’t really follow a routine or process. Whenever the elusive creative fairy comes by, and my motivation is sky high, all I need is a cup of coffee and everything else sort of just flows.
• You have an extensive background, and recently graduated with a double major in psychology and marine biology.  I know you are working toward pursuing your MBA.  This creates a whole new level for my questions.
  • As an academic, how has your reading been affected by school assigned book lists?  Do you feel it has expanded your interest, or does it feel more like a chore?
    • Oh it has definitely expanded my interests. Two of my favorite books were assigned through my high school English literature class- The Chrysalids and To Kill a Mockingbird. If anything, I think that school assigned book lists made me love reading even more.
    • Are you drawn to non-fiction – why, or why not?  And if so, is there a particular discipline you radiate toward, such as psychology or biology, and why?
      • I am mostly drawn to self-help books and anything to do with psychology. You should see my bookcase! haha I strive to understand humans, their emotions, and generational trauma so I think that that is why I gravitate towards it more.
    • The higher degree you pursue, the more writing is required.  Do you feel your writing style has been altered in any way from academic responsibilities – if so, how – or has it helped to develop your personal voice?
      • I think that it has altered my writing style in that I think it made it better. I feel like my degrees have helped me to assess situations more and the concise writing styles I have adopted in school has contributed to me developing my own voice.
• Everyone has their own reasons for publishing as well as their own journey to how their books were printed.  I find this to be a fascinating part of a writer’s life because there’s so much involved – it can be frustrating, daunting, and many give up.  Of course, positive feedback from a delighted reader is also the most amazing gift a writer can receive and worth it all!  So, with that in mind, I’d like to hear your story.
  • Our work is so personal, especially poetry.  What motivated you to become vulnerable enough to lay your soul bare to the world and publish your book of poems, To Fight Fire with Sun?
    • I had just gone back to Jamaica to be with my best friend CC, after our mutual friend (Alex) had passed and after I had just been broken up with. I sat in bed across from CC and just knew that I wanted to write this book. I needed it to be out there. I needed to create something for Alex, that was tangible, that would help me process all this grief in me.
  • What made you decide to self-publish, and what was involved to accomplish that?
    • I just had a feeling that that is what I wanted. It’s funny. I had always wanted to be traditionally published but after I finished To Fight Fire with Sun, I just knew that self-publishing was the way for me. I created a KDP account and the rest is history.  I had everything done within two months.
      • Did you have to research self-publishing?
        • At that point, I didn’t do much research. 
        • What was the most surprising thing you learned?
          • N/A
        • If you could do anything different, what would it be, and why?
          • I think I would have created a whole marketing campaign and done it that way. I didn’t market my first book much.
      • How did you handle formatting, selecting the publishing platform(s), and whether to purchase your ISBN for original imprint or to use the free offered by the various vendors?
        • I edited and formatted it myself. I read and reread and reread. I asked CC to read it through, and I just kept going. I had heard about KDP from Tiktok and just went with it. Not much research. As for the ISBN portion, I wanted to own my book fully, so I decided to purchase an ISBN for myself.
        • Did you use professionals for editing, cover design, blurbs, and formatting?  Why, or why not?
          • I only used a professional for the cover design. I wanted to use a Jamaican artist and I reached out to one I had been following on Twitter for quite some time (Roux). As for the rest, money was a major issue for me so I did it all myself.
        • What about beta readers – did you use them; why, or why not?
          • My beta readers were my friends and I am so grateful that they did that for.
      • How did you approach marketing and advertising?
        • I mostly just tweeted about it. I didn’t really market my book much and I am currently in the process of learning about marketing and advertising. So fingers crossed!
  • If you could offer a budding author advice, what would it be?
    • You don’t need to write every day to be a writer. I know how brutal imposter syndrome can be, especially when dealing with mental illnesses. You are enough. Your writing is enough. You can do this.
• Is there anything you wish readers to know about you or your work?
  • I want my readers to feel seen when they read my work. I want them to feel okay feeling their emotions and expressing them and I hope that my work can help them do that.
• What can we expect to see from you over the coming year?
  • My 2^nd book Embracing the Tempest is out June 26^th, 2022! I can’t wait!
• What is your current WIP?
  • I am in my marketing phase for Embracing the Tempest, but I have another WIP swimming around in my head. Think strong female heroine *wink*
  • What’s the best way for readers to connect with you and your book(s)?
    • Readers can connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok @daandrews_ I am looking forward to chatting with you all <3

It’s been great chatting today.  Thank you again for taking the time to meet with me.  I wish you the best in all you do!