Interview with Yazmine Hawkins

Author of As I See It (Life A Glow)

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I was born in Venezuela. I reside in Ypsilanti, Michigan

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

It was 1982.I had came to visit my older brother and sister-in-law, who was studying to be an engineer at UofM, in my way to Montreal, Canada; I had been living there for about three years. I was planning to apply at McGill University (I had study photography there during my time in Montreal). I loved what I saw of this beautiful State so I decided to apply at EMU to study Film & Communication. I was accepted. Two years later I meet my future husband and we had been happily married for the last 34 yrs. Short but sweet story. We had one son and 4 wonderful grandsons.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I come from a family that reads and write a lot. I grow up surrounded  by my father’s books and stories of his world travels. He was a lawyer, a military judge and served his country for 30 yrs as a navy officer. It wasn’t hard for me to start dabbling in writing and mostly adventuring with a camera my mother provided to me. I think it was just a natural progression of what I saw around me growing up.My father always joked about the three things everybody should do before die: plant a tree,had a kid and write a book. I would have to add “travel abroad” to that list.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

There are poems. Poems come from your soul trying to conform with reality. My photo book shows what my eyes can see and sometimes, as poems do, shows what your soul feels. I never really thought of writing poems, they just find my pen. I always thought in making photography books all alone. They surprised me too.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

I couldn’t really say. Maybe young people yearning for mature relationship, or adults yearning for feelings long lost. I was an introvert loner who felt deeply about love and people, and still feel like that.

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

Self-discovering. Nothing bring more focus into your life that laying your feelings over a blank paper. Also, my long and lone adventures into forests, cities, and meeting so many different people with my camera on tow has gave me another angle, another view on Life otherwise I couldn’t have gotten any other way.

If you could, what advice would you give to past self yourself before embarking on this journey?

Travel, travel far, travel frequently. Meet more people, listen to them, you’ll be surprised. Learn more languages, communication its key for understanding people who doesn’t look like you. Be more open minded. Life its a wonderful and painful miracle. Don’t waste time because Life is really short. Absorb everything you see and hear. Remember every sound, every smell. Try local foods.Enjoy everything, criticizes nothing. Just be acceptable of what you find.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

Well, I don’t think my poems are for everybody. I will be happy if even one person reads them. My photography its different. I would love for as many as possible to see my work.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

As I already stated I am a bit of a loner which translate as shyness. So been like that has hold me back in showing my photos in exhibits which is what I really would like to do. I am not a fan of rejection. That’s my true frustration.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

That all of that I did it myself! We’re living in this era of do it yourself publishing and marketing,so I did it.

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Approval and correction of my work.

When do you think you will you write your next book?

I am actually working in two books of photography. Its a bit ambitious project but its coming long. Hopefully I will have them ready for the second trimester of 2020.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I am self published.