Happy Birthday, Jayana!! She celebrated her 17th birthday this week. Dawn of A New Day is a new work of fiction, written by 17-year-old best-selling novelist, entrepreneur, and author Jayana Wood. This book is the first in a series that Jayana will publish entitled “The Exoneration Series.” Jayana released her first novel at the age of 16; a couple of months before her 17th birthday.
Dawn of A New Day is about Dawn Smith is a 20-year-old African American woman who tragically lost both her parents during a home invasion gone wrong. As Dawn embarks on a journey of anger and revenge to discover who killed her parents, she unexpectedly discovers the power of forgiveness, friendship, and inner peace. Join Dawn for this transformational life journey.
Shelly Shell: What was the inspiration for writing a Fiction Novel, on such a deep subject? Jayana Wood: What inspired me to write this novel is that I am actually a very avid reader, in addition to being an avid writer. I have read series like Harry Potter, Narnia, and Percy Jackson, and even standalone books like Five Feet Apart, The Hate U Give, and Me Before You. However, the main issue that I kept encountering in all of these stories is that little to none of the main characters looked like me, and when they did, they were portrayed in a negative light. I wanted to change that narrative and break out of the typical trope that is painted for the black community.
Shelly Shell: What do you want the readers to glean from reading Dawn of a New Day? Jayana Wood: What I want my readers to take away from Dawn of a New Day is that you can be the change you want to see take place in the world. I have been frustrated with the negative portrayals of black people in books and film for so long, and even though we are trying to do better with proper representation, I still wasn’t satisfied with what I was seeing. And so even though I was afraid, I decided to take action and be the change I wanted to see myself. Sometimes, you can’t rely on others to do the work for you, you have to step up and do it yourself.
Shelly Shell: While writing about the tragedy, did you get emotional? Did it seem real? Jayana Wood: When writing about the tragedy of Dawn’s parents, I did find myself becoming emotional at times because I had just suffered the loss of my 20-year-old cousin, Jordan Alexander Cofield, in a fatal motorcycle crash. So, in a way, Dawn and I are going on this journey of overcoming loss and dealing with grief together.
Shelly Shell: When did you know that you wanted to be a writer? Jayana Wood: I have known I wanted to be a writer from a really young age. I would say my passion for writing began growing after I wrote my first book, Opening My Imagination, at the age of 9, then my second book, The Little Book of Youth Tips, at the age of 11. Even though those first two books didn’t require nearly the same amount of time and effort as my novel, I knew when I got those first books in my hands that writing was what I wanted to pursue as a career.
Shelly Shell: Tell me about your writing process? Jayana Wood: My writing process was an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. It has definitely been a journey trying to get my book done; from having to overcome a lengthy period of writer’s block, to completely changing the approach of my book’s plot while in the middle of the process. I have had many highs and many lows. However, I wouldn’t change the experience for the world. It has helped me to learn and grow in so many ways. In fact, I can’t wait to do it all over again for the second book in this series.
Shelly Shell: Who’s your biggest inspiration and why? Jayana Wood: I would have to say that my mom is my biggest inspiration. I admire her so much, not just because she is my best friend, but because she has taught me so many valuable life lessons: how to be a good big sister to my two younger brothers, to always give back to those in need, to never give up in the face of adversity, to always work hard to reach your goals. My mom is the reason that I am where I am today, and I couldn’t do any of the things that I do without her constant love and support.
Shelly Shell: How can they get a copy of Dawn of a New Day? Jayana Wood: You can purchase a signed copy of my novel, Dawn of a New Day, at www.dawnofanewdaybook.com and stay connected with me and this series through Instagram at @thelifeofjayana.
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