Where are you from?

M. Tamanika (Nika) C. Beamon is an African-American female, who was born and raised in Riverdale, New York. She now resides in Scarsdale, New York.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began my writing career as an award-winning newspaper editor at Graphic Communications Arts High School in New York, she began her career in journalism in 1986. In 1989, she continued her education at Boston College in Massachusetts, where she pursued a BA in Communications and a BA in Sociology.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I first considered myself a writer when I completed writing her first novel, Dark Recesses. In 2001, I will complete my second novel, A Lighter Shade of Gray, a mystery novel.

What are you reading now?

Currently, I am reading the LA Times best-selling novel, Brown Sugar, edited by Carol Taylor.

How do you feel overall about self-publishing?

I truly believe that for African-Americans self-publishing is still a very important option. With the increasing ease of self-publishing b/c of e-books, on-demand options, more African-Americans will embrace their gift, control their destiny and tell their story. Self-publishing is rooted in the tradition of African American writing and allows us to provide a variety of voices and writing styles with complete control over design, distribution, and profits.

How does your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

My friends, family and co-workers have been ultimately the most important factors in my successful pursuit of a writing career. Besides providing word of mouth marketing, they provided dialogue coaching, character names and editorial advice. Without having a support system, the rejects might have affected my drive to continue, so my family and friends have helped fuel my dreams.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I would like to think that each reader can take and develop their own message from my works, but for me, the overall message is to recognize our connectedness and the impact of that relationship. Everything one does make have consequences for generations to come, so it important to trust your judgment, be honest and most importantly be fearless.

How much of the novel is realistic?

Dark Recesses is the poignant tale of David Jackson, a promising, young attorney who travels to rural Virginia for a family reunion and is entangled in a web of betrayal that had been hidden in his family tree. While dividing his time between a high profile appellate court case and his family, he unravels a saga of love, murder and cover-up from generations past, that threatens to shake the family to its foundation. With roots in Suffolk, Virginia, the setting for this novel, I draw on the recollections of her own ancestors to craft this fictional tale. However, the actual events have not happened to my family members. In addition, all of the characters are named after close friends or family, but the characters are not a direct depiction of any of them.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

The events in the novel were inspired by ex-boyfriend, who after attending a family gathering with me in Suffolk, VA made me wonder what if someone who believed they knew their entire family was mistaken and instead didn't know much about the family roots at all. Being adopted we were aware that he did not know his "true" family roots, but since I was not adopted I assume I did. But, I thought, what if I was wrong.