Interview with Author Shakyra Dunn

Author Shakyra Dunn, tell us about yourself and what inspired you to start writing. 

Hi there! I’m a writer by day (and honestly by blood), stocker by night. As a writer, I made this my dream because I have always wanted to inspire someone else to follow their dreams. As a child, my original goal was medicine, but writing was a talent I had always possessed. As a teenager, I looked back at my old works from around age seven and decided to try again. Plain to say, my mother wasn’t happy when I decided that I wanted to be a writer. But after convincing her, I took the plunge into this messy and amazing field. Through that strive and goal, I feel that no matter what stands before you, you shouldn’t abandon your dreams at any cost. It makes it all worthwhile.

How did you go about getting published?

Well, after completing my novel, I did some research on traditional versus self-publishing. I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to try out the traditional method after seeing the process and how extensive it was, so I chose to self-publish. But now I’d love to also try traditional!

I understand that one! So, What is your writing process? Do you have a time, day or place you like to write?

I begin my process with characters above anything else. They tend to scream at my brain, aching to tell the story that has yet to be shaped. I take great passion in making sure that they are understood as accurately as possible. From those characters, their world shapes, the place where they were created, and where they want to make their journey’s end. And in between all of that comes the plot. Simple, complex, the range matters not, as long as it is something born. Do I have a set schedule on how it all happens? Not exactly, I’m the type to go with the flow more than anything! But it tends to be in the middle of the day when I’m fully awake after work.

Being awake always helps.