07/19/2024
Getting to know Aminika Lee
• As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
ANSWER: I wanted to be a singer/song writer, and a professional rodeo star.
• How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
ANSWER: Pure Chaos is my first and only book out, for the moment 😉 I've got a lot up my sleeve!
• Do you ever get inspiration from your dreams?
ANSWER: Great question, and actually, yes. Quite a few of my poems actually were either inspired by part of a dream, or me writing based entirely off of a dream I had. For example, Dear Grandfather. Although it is set up as a letter, it actually came to me because I had this strange dream that I was able to meet him, but there was this strange invisible force barrier type thing between us, we could see each other but he could not hear me and the only way to communicate was to pass letters. So that is where that came from.
• Who is your favorite writer and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
ANSWER: That's tough, I have so many! Bram Stoker, as cliché as that may sound, is forever one of my favorites, I absolutely love Dracula and I re read it yearly around October! I also really enjoy the works of Erin Morgenstern. She's the author of one of my favorite books! I also really love Angie Thomas, she's incredible. Currently, I really love Danielle Jensen and am very eagerly awaiting her second book to her Unfated saga! Totally been fangirling so hard over A Fate Inked In Blood! Annnd I can't NOT mention Mya Angelou and Edgar Allen Poe!
• Who influences you the most?
ANSWER: Oh, Amy Lee, hands down, no questions asked! She has been my biggest inspiration for as long as I can remember! Mya Angelou and EAP or course are honorable mentions!
• Can you share an instance where real-life events inspired your writing?
ANSWER: Much of my writing is based off of real life events, be it my own life, or encounters I've had. Pass On By was based off a conversation I had with a homeless veteran. Many of my poems are based off of my own life, such as I Can't Adult Today, All The Things I Should Have Said In Counseling, and the title poem Pure Chaos.
• How do you handle moments when inspiration seems hard to find?
ANSWER: I take that as a que to step away for a second and take a break. I'll take a self care day and do something I enjoy, get a good night's sleep, and come back refreshed and ready. Some breaks are longer than others. But I always come back!
• How important are book reviews?
ANSWER: Oh, they're of the utmost importance! Without them, a book really won't do well! Reviews and word of mouth is literally make or break with books! If a book is talked about often and has great reviews, people flock to it and want to read it. Whereas if it has very little reviews and very little word of mouth, nobody is going to pay as much attention.
• Do you read often?
ANSWER: I do! In fact, I'm actually making it a priority in my life to read more!
• What are you currently reading?
ANSWER: Right this moment, I'm reading The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern.
• What is your favorite book?
ANSWER: Dracula will always be dear to me and an all time favorite. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. A new fave is A Fate Inked In Blood by Danielle Jenkins as well as Night of The Witch by Sara Raasch. Sparks of Phoenix by Najwa Zebian is an amazing poetry book I really enjoyed and felt heard with, like she was in my head and life, and find myself going back to often when I feel unseen and unheard.
• What is the hardest thing about writing?
ANSWER: Getting out of your own way!
• What is your favorite motivational phrase?
ANSWER: Oh I love this question! I'm very much a quote/motivational phrase lover! The one I live by is "Don't tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon." I'll leave mine on Mars! 😉
• Do you remember the first book you read?
ANSWER: Ever? Green Eggs and Ham LOL! That aside, the earliest book I remember reading was called Captains Command. I remember being a little girl and crying so hard when I finished it!
• Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
ANSWER: Just that no matter how lonely and hard life gets, you're never alone 🤗💜
• Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
ANSWER: I always liked writing in school, but poetry was really sparked by my 5th grade teacher, Miss. Matuwickz! We had a section of our writing lesson aimed specifically at poetry, and at the end, there was a poetry contest, winners were published in A Celebration of Young Poets. I was one of the winners selected with my poem I See You Everywhere. From then, on, I really never stopped.
• How can readers discover more about you and your work?
ANSWER: Follow me on Socials! I'm not the best with keeping up and promoting just yet, I'm completely self published and it's all me and very much a learning experience; but I am on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and will be on TikTok soon (as requested LOL). All socials are under Pure Chaos by Aminika Lee, for now - with the exception of Threads. That is linked to my personal Instagram so it uses that name, with is theheathencowgirl
• Can you share any upcoming projects or plans for future books?
ANSWER: All I will say is I have a lot up my sleeve and have been dabbling in a lot, annnnd I am actively working on a second poetry book.
• How do you hope your work will impact your readers?
ANSWER: I just want people to feel moved, heard, understood, and not alone. If my work, even just a small piece, helps even just one person, I've accomplished all I set out to.
