From hand-written horror stories at 16 to 170 published titles, 40+ awards, and exhibitions across the world, Tamikio L. Dooley’s journey is one of reinvention. She is author, publisher, artist, humanitarian, and peace ambassador — and proof that creativity can grow from the most personal places into global impact. In this encounter with Michael Adeboboye, Editor-in-Chief of CAJ International Magazine, she unveils the roots behind the renaissance: the family lessons that never came, the self-taught discipline that carried her, and the decision to turn pain into purpose. Dooley opens up about writing her memoir Unsilenced and reliving trauma to show strength, about building her own magazines and platforms when she saw gaps in global publishing, and about using words as tools for peace in a divided world. She speaks on art, education, heritage, and the responsibility of creators to lead with dignity rather than chase money first. Now honored as CAJ International Magazine’s cover interview in this edition, Dooley shares what it means to represent resilience to African readers and young creators everywhere. Her message is simple: start with creativity, learn from those ahead of you, carry your cross with knowledge, and never go back to what broke you. From roots to renaissance — this is a life built on 170 books and counting. Excerpts:
Can you take us back to your childhood and family? Who were the people and values that first shaped your love for books, art, and storytelling?
The person who helped shaped my love for books, art, and storytelling was me. I started writing at 16-years-old. I used to compose ghost and horror ghost short stories written by hand over 100 pages each story. I began writing for public audience in January 2015. Like every newborn writer, or for most, social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Linkdln helped shaped the major points in my writing journey. Then later storytelling came along. Just three years earlier I joined the artist community. Artists inspired my love for art, my inspiration for books and storytelling came naturally.
What role did education play in your home growing up? Was there a teacher, parent, or mentor who told you “you will be a writer”?
Growing up there wasn’t much inspiration or crossing my mind to be a writer. Although I wish I had thought to pursue my writing journey in my teens a teacher inspired me to learn how to type and become a Data Entry Specialist after graduating high school. I would say the learning experience granted me a wonderful opportunity to pursue my writing years later.
What was your earliest memory of writing or creating art? Do you still have that first poem, story, or painting?
My earliest memory of writing was at 16. No, I don’t remember my first poem. My first book was titled Ghost and the Supernatural, which experienced harsh, but “easygoing” criticism. I had submitted the story to a website for a book review. As a first time writer of just hopping into the story, I was illiterate to literature world. My paintings or sketches rather, were of a woman’s face in May 2023. Again another first newborn creator but an artist. What I discovered about art during my learning process was that I have to focus on certain forms of art to find my passion in the artist community. In other words my passion was not in sketching, although I started off as a good sketcher with guidance. Just earlier this year, I found my artist passion. Cubism Art. That is where my creative artist passion rests and I’m still guiding that passion.
As someone who now mentors in education, what lesson from your own schooling do you carry into the programs you run today?
None. I learned everything from natural talent. As I continued journeying through my learning experience, I collaborated with educators and mentors via social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and Linkdln.
Across 170 titles and 40+ awards, what has been the hardest period of your life? What lesson from that season still guides you today?
I can’t recall a time when I underwent a hard period in my life regarding writing literature. I cherish and carry the lessons today to learn from those who have reached hire positions than me. Every day is learned lessons. Everyday teaches us use new things and we should learn from our failures that when we fall we have to get up like nothing happen brush ourselves off and keep on moving.
Is there a specific “memory day” — a rejection, loss, breakthrough, or award — that changed the direction of your career?
One day, of another one of my books winning an award on the cover. I believe rejection and loss derives from the way some of the world looks us as writers. That is “the color or gender” of a writer. It’s sad that most readers and writers look at other writers through color and gender to determine how they should look at their books, and not base their views on the actual plotted story. In other words, some stories don’t stand a chance or proper recognition to a closed minded world, where only some people focus on skin color and gender.
You write across crime, health, history, romance, and children’s books. Which book was the most personally painful or healing to write, and why?
My memoir titled Unsilenced the Words I Wasn’t Allowed to Say. What hurt most about writing the book was that I had to relive the past personal trauma in private. I had to recollect everything that happened to me in the past, the pain of reliving those horrible moments all over again, but in a book. Reliving those moments was like being there, like going through the pain and assaults all over again. But that was moment I could take the bull by the horns and become strong. I wrote my true story not for pity or sympathy. I wrote my story to show how strong I am today. How I overcame my personal struggles, and where I am today. The most rewarding thing about recollection is I’m never going back.
As a humanitarian and peace ambassador, what life lesson taught you that words can stop conflict and start healing?
Just that. Words. It’s how we chose to use our words. Words are the most dangerous weapon in humanity. They depend on how we say them, how we us them, are we using our words as a weapon, to cause emotional or mental wars, or are we using our words demonstrate peace, harmony, and encouragement? I have run into an uncompassionate, disrespectable, and unmerciful person, although there are many people out there with those ugly qualities. This person lack compassion, respect, and mercy so bad they are incapable of feeling other people’s pain. But this person has compassion, respect, and mercy for certain people. People who set boundaries. People they can’t control. They use their words to hurt people, people who they think is weak, who are actually the strongest people in the world. They are incompetent. A waste of time is what we don’t have dealing with people like this. Again, it’s all about words.
How do you balance being an author, publisher, artist, president, and advisor without losing yourself? What have you learned about rest and resilience?
Patience along with divided time and calmness, for example, one day or time within a day I would work on a chapter in an upcoming book, if it’s divided time in one day, I would spend the next two hours publishing fellow writes, artists, and business people. I’m always a president within my organization without stress. I’m the advisor, vice chair, ambassador of several organizations, foundations, and associates. I can keep up. But some days become overwhelming for me. I need a break for self-care and to pamper my mind.
With 125 published books, walk us through your writing and publishing process. How do you manage multiple magazines like CreatiVIngenuitiy, InSight, and The Pinnacle News Review?
Again, through time management and management division.
What gap in global publishing did you see that made you found your own platforms?
Being self-oriented is where I run into many enemies. Ideas are always on the verge of my mind. Watching my fellow writers, artists, and business friends encourages me to start my own platforms. Plus, I want to be in charge of my own space. I’m proud to say I have an extraordinary author website, blog, online newspaper, and three magazines.
As Chief Coordinator USA and North/South America Advisor, what are the biggest challenge facing writers and readers in North America right now?
None. I’m prepared for challenges. As written in my memoir my life was always about challenges. I was to be strong. I can’t think of a time in my life where I was sweating bullets, where carrying my own cross weighted me down, but I carried with blood and sweat on my skin, tears, bruises, and cuts that never seemed to stop bleeding. But as of today those tears, bruises, and cuts are healing. There is still some blood at the end each wound but I look at them as a reminder of what I’m not going back to. Going back only reopens those wounds.
Your art — “Autumn”, “Birds of the Seas”, “Water in Abstract” — has been exhibited internationally. What family memory or life lesson inspired your move into visual art?
Artists have always been my biggest inspiration. Looking at artists’ works encourage me to try something new. I was born with many talents and creativity is one of them. I can take a piece of crumbled paper, open it, and make it out of a manuscript. I can draw a square and make it out a colorful artistic masterpiece. It’s all about creating something out of nothing.
As Art Cultural Advisor and Vice Chair for Cultural Affairs in the USA, how do you see art and literature preserving heritage for the next generation?
More than our generation. I believe art derives from history. History is so great it incorporates the modern times. I love history. Never get tired of it. There are great examples of historical artists such as The Renaissance: Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo, Impressionism & Post-Impressionism: Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh, and Modern & Abstract: Pablo Picasso, and Salvado Dali to name a few. Leonardo da Vinci and Vincent van Gogh I see are more popular historical artists.
Winning the Panorama International Special Jury Award 2025: what did that recognition mean to you and your family?
I was overwhelmed with shock and joy when the foundation announced it. It made me feel good that they recognized me in that category. I’m still within the foundation, the Writers Capital Foundation. The foundation is extraordinary. They publish and support writers and artist with massive opportunities. I’m proud to be part of the foundation for as long they will have me.
You’ve received the World Peace Letters Prize, Gold Peace Medal, and African Peace Ambassador Award. What personal story made you dedicate your work to peace and human dignity?
It all refers back to Words. Peace, humanity, and inspiration. Imagine if everyone in the world possessed those qualities the world would be a better place. It’s the unsympathetic and uncompassionate people who poison this world. With their mentality they make it hard for those of us to express kindness and compassion. I don’t understand how some people can be that way toward humanity because I’m nothing like them. I will never know what goes on inside their heads encouraging war and chaos with their world.
Your research areas are education, health, and history. Can you share one project where your writing or program directly changed a life?
Unfortunately, no, my works in those genres are only to educate readers. Those are my nonfiction publications to share with readers to make their lives better. With features and awards across Russia, Bangladesh, Arab nations, Africa, and the Americas, what has the world taught you about culture, family, and unity?
The diverse nationalities of these countries and more have taught me culture and traditions. Collaborating and networking with these people, they love beyond a shadow of a doubt, to share the traditional differences in their countries verses American. For examples, I’m more interactive and friends with Bangladesh people. I also work with them, too. They share their traditional foods, clothing, rituals and religions (fasting and prayers). They also share how they interact with alternative communities learning their culture and traditions. I love my diverse friends’ from different countries. I would love to travel and meet them all in person. Some of them invited me to come and maybe one day God will make that happen.
This is your first interview with CAJ International Magazine. What does it mean to you to be on our cover, for this edition and what message do you have for African readers and young creators?
I was thrilled! It makes me feel good when leaders invite me to be a part of the works and traditions. Seeing writers, artists, and high-level people on covers signifies respect, recognition, and exciting opportunities. Covers give the world not of visual senses, but behind the cover, behind our faces, people can see beyond that and get to know about us. The message I have for young African, as well other nations, is to start off slow and focus on creativity, not money. Sure money is a huge factor of why we do things some times. Money is also an extravagant reward for our hard works. To honor rewards completing creativity and perfect craftsmanship in their eyes should be the first priority.
Looking back at your life, family, education, and career — if you could write one final lesson to your younger self, what would it be?
The final lesson written to my younger self would be to surround myself with educated and intelligent people. That’s how I learn, speaking for myself. Envy is ugly. It’s self-demolishing greed. Instead of seeing someone else as intimidating, learn from them to become better without arrogance. Unfortunately, envious people will never prosper in life. I’m not one of those people. This is how I’ve accomplished so much. When I look at people accomplishing higher positions than me it’s like looking in the mirror. One day I will get there, too.
In the next 5 years, what legacy do you want to leave through your books, magazines, art, and organizations?
The legacy I want to leave behind through my books is education and learning, creativity and rewards, failure and winning. I want readers to pick up that cross, strap it to their backs, and carry it with dignity and knowledge.
What is one memory, story, or lesson from your family or childhood that you have never told publicly before, but that you would share with CAJ readers today?
Too many, I can’t recall a special story, as I’ve read many in my lifetime, that taught me valuable lessons. I’m always the start of my own teacher. It’s a matter of who is willing teach me
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