Interview with Jamila T. Davis, author of She's All Caught Up
Author: Jamila T. Davis
Publisher: Voices International Publication
Pages: 338
Genre: Memoir/Young Adult
Format: Paperback/Kindle
She's All Caught Up is a cautionary tale based on the life of Jamila T. Davis, a federal prisoner serving a 12 1/2 year sentence. Jamila grew up in a loving middle class home, raised to become her parent's ideal star child. All was copacetic until high school years. Jamila rebels and chooses to live life in the fast lane. When this good girl goes bad, it seems there is no turning back!
For More Information
She's All Caught Up! is available at Amazon.Pick up your copy at Barnes & Noble.
Discuss this book at PUYB Virtual Book Club at Goodreads.
1) Welcome to the Writer's Life, Jamila. Can you tell us a
little bit about yourself and how long you've been writing?
Hello my name is
Jamila T. Davis. I am an author, prison reform activist and the co-founder of
WomenOverIncarcerated, a nonprofit organization that provides resources to
women in prison and female ex-offenders. I've been a published author since
2011.
I write books
to inspire, empower and uplift the down trodden. My books are primarily written
as cautionary tales to enlighten my readers to the severe consequences of
making poor choices and not loving ourselves enough. I share my mistakes, and
those of many others who also attempted to live life in the fast lane. My
writing is geared to expose the serious repercussions of this lifestyle.
2) Can you please tell us about your book and why you wrote
it?
My recent
release "She's All Caught Up" is a memoir about my early life experiences.
I grew up in Jamaica-Queens, New York. I was raised by my mother, who was a
school teacher, and my father, who was a NYC Transit Supervisor. My parents
grew up dirt poor with limited opportunities. Their hardships growing up caused
them to be determined to provide my brother and I with the opportunities they
themselves never had. My mother became a stage mom. She had me trained in the
arts at an early age. By the time I turned 10 years old, I became a cast member
in an off-Broadway play and toured the country performing. I also danced
professionally in dance recitals at Lincoln Center, all while maintaining
straight A's in school.
When I became a
teenager, I was accepted to the acclaimed High School of Performing Arts in New
York City, also known as the "Fame" School. Back then, I was my
parents ideal star child and voted "most likely to succeed" by my
peers. Then, it happened! All of a sudden my values changed. I was swept off of
my feet by a 16 year old drug dealer from the Southside Housing Projects of
South Jamaica-Queens. He became what I perceived to be the love of my life. My
life went down hill from there. I made one poor choice after another, and I
never seemed to fully recover.
I wrote my book
because I am not alone in making poor choices or putting love over the best
interest of self. Although times have changed, teens today are still rebelling
against their parents and making the same drastic mistakes which have the
potential to ruin their lives. In my book I honestly expose my flaws and the
root problems that led me on a high speed chase to find inner fulfillment. I
decided to share my intimate experiences with my readers in hope that they will
avoid my tragic mistakes.
3) What are some of the biggest challenges you faced writing
it?
While writing, I
took note of the many details of my life experiences that I overlooked at the
time they occurred. I found myself wanting to stop Young Jamila from crashing.
The signs of danger were so visible, but at the time I could not see them.
Recounting my many mistakes that caused me severe hardships was extremely
painful. My continued destructive patterns ultimately led to a 12 1/2 year
federal prison sentence, which I am currently serving. On the top bunk in a 5
1/2 x 9 cubicle at the Danbury Federal Prison Camp, the same facility where
Piper Kerman of "Orange Is The New Black" was housed, I wrote my
book. Dealing with the reality of my circumstances and the events that led up
to my current fate didn't make my writing easy. I often found myself having to
take breaks to cry and process, as I pinpointed the areas in my life where I
went wrong. Although my writing process was painful at times, ultimately it was
rewarding. It helped me to acknowledge my mistakes, learn from my past and heal.
4) Do you have a press kit and what do you include in it?
Does this press kit appear online and, if so, can you provide a link where we
can see it?
Yes, I have a
press kit. My press kit includes my bio, my author's photo, past press release
and articles written about me and my books, and a selection of articles and
poetry I wrote. My press kit appears in the media room of Voices International
Publications at
www.
http://voicesbooks.com/?page_id=90
5) Have you either spoken to groups of people about your
book or appeared on radio or TV? What are your upcoming plans for doing so?
As I mentioned
earlier in this interview, I am an author who is writing from behind bars. This
has limited my access to media. Yet, I am apart of a prison community outreach
program created to deter at-risk youth from crime. We go out into the community
and share our stories. This experience is actually what led me to write
"She's All Caught Up." After I was able to witness first-hand the
reception I got from teens, who vowed not to make the poor choices I made after
hearing my story, I knew my story had the power to change lives. Teens are one
of the hardest audiences to reach because they think they know it all. Once I
captivated their attention, I realized by being a real person who is currently
paying a high price for my actions, it gives me an advantage. Dressed in my
prison khakis, serving a decade plus sentence, my audience has no choice put to
take heed to my message, because it is REAL!
6) Do you have an agent and, if so, would you mind sharing
who he/she is? If not, have you ever had an agent or do you even feel it is
necessary to have one?
I never dreamed
I would become an author. It wasn't until I was incarcerated that I discovered
my ability to write books. Although I strayed far away from the path my parents
had established for me, they did not abandon me. Earlier in this interview, I
explained my mother became a stage mom when I
was growing up. In my adult life, she reassumed her position, but
transcended it to cater to my writing. My mother started her own publication
company, Voices International Publications, as a means to publish my first book
series, "The Voices Of Consequences Enrichment Series." It is a three
book, self-help series for incarcerated women. Since then, she has become more
experienced in the publishing business and has signed several authors under her
company. It is her goal to collaborate with a major publishing company to
distribute her current catalogue. Knowing her track record of excellence, I
believe this is something she will get done. Therefore, my mother serves in the
role as my agent. She is doing an amazing job at championing me to the top!
7) Did your agent, or publisher, prepare a media blitz
before the book came out and would you like to tell us about it?
My mother is a
woman who is all about purpose. Her objective is to utilize my story at an
educational tool to help children avoid my past mistakes, and to create
awareness about the epidemic of women in prison and over-incarceration. It is
her hope to humanize those of us service lengthy sentences for non-violent
crimes, so a real solution will be provided to end this destructive epidemic.
Her marketing and publicity plans are all surrounded around these objectives.
My mother is
currently working on a documentary about my life, my case and my efforts behind
bars. Recently, after Teresa Giudice, cast member of "The Real Housewives
of New Jersey" was imprisoned at the same facility where I am housed, and
the premiere of Dianne Sawyer's new series about women In prison, there has
been a great interest about incarcerated women and the circumstances that led
to our incarceration. My mother is currently fielding calls from media outlets
who want to tell my story.
8) Do you plan subsequent books?
I plan on writing
a sequel to my book "She's All Caught Up," which is entitled
"The Trade Off." I have also created "The High Price I Had To
Pay" Book Series to give incarcerated women a platform to share their
stories. These books are written as cautionary tales, featuring the lives of
incarcerated women serving decade plus sentences for non-violent crimes. My
experience has taught me that God has a plan for my life that is bigger than
just me. I am merely a vessel that He is using to send a message to His
children. I write for the purpose to help others avoid my tragic mistakes, and
to inspire the down trodden to push ahead and overcome. It is important to know
that our past mistakes don't have to dictate our future. We can change our
course at any time. I did!
9) Thank you for your interview, Jamila. Would you like to
tell my reader's where they can find you on the web and how everyone can buy
your book?
Yes, thank you.
Please visit www.jamiladavis.com or www.womenoverincarcerated.org to support my
prison reform movement. My books are available on www.voicesbooks.com, and on
Amazon.com and BN.com. You can also reach me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/authorjamilatdavis,
or Twitter/Instagram: @jamilatdavis. I have tons of informative information
that I think you will all enjoy on the web. Please take a minute to check it
out! Thanks again for your support.
Jamila T. Davis (@JamilaTDavis), author of "She's All Caught Up!," is a self-help expert, motivational speaker and a women's prison reform activist. Through her inspirational books and cautionary tales, based on her unique real-life experiences, she is helping to transform the lives of both the young and the old. For more information about Jamila T. Davis visit http://jamiladavis.com or http://www.facebook.com/authorjamilatdavis.
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