Author Interview: Get to Know Aminah Iman, If You Dare!

Welcome to Untamed Publishing's Author Interviews! As a company that caters to the self-published and independent author, we want to highlight and support indie authors. There is a vast array of talent amongst us, and here's the opportunity to connect the readers to their next favorite author!

This interview features, Author Aminah Iman. Let's get to know this sixteen time published author and CEO...if you dare!

Welcome to UP author interviews, Aminah Iman! Before we begin, please tell us a little about yourself.

I have no idea why this question is so hard for me. Let’s see… I’ve written and published sixteen books. I am an avid reader, and have been for as long as I can remember. I love to cook and spend time with my family. My favorite past time is curling up with a good book or watching a great horror/thriller.

No worries, that is one of the hardest questions for me to answer too. I relate it somewhat to writing a synopsis. Like how do you narrow so much into a small morsel, lol? With sixteen books under your belt, this question may seem eons ago, but please tell us the reason you decided to become a published author.

Honestly the decision was sort of made for me. I had written a book and I wanted the masses to read it but I could not find an agent. So, I decided to publish it myself.

One time for us indie authors, yesss! Congratulations on taking those steps to become a published author! Now let's get into a little about you as author. What genres do you write or wish to write?

I currently write historical fiction and horror but my last book was more of a thriller. So, um I am kind of open to just about any genre.

I've never written horror or a true thriller, but man do I love to read them. With writing horror in particular, I have to know are you a morning person or a night owl?

I am a night owl! Um…I don’t know if it’s because I write horror or if it’s when my characters speak to me but I do my best writing at night.

What is a unique writing habit that you have.

Gosh...uh...Oh I have a playlist for every book that I have ever written made by Omega.

I love that! I normally have an inspiring song or as I call it "theme" song that motivates me, so I'm ecstatic to hear that you have an entire playlist! With all that you shared thus far, this makes this next question very interesting. If you were to write a book about yourself what would you name it? Why?

I would name it… “It’s never too late,” because I started writing um…in my 30’s and was kind of unsure if I had waited too late but…thank goodness I hadn’t so it’s never too late.

What are some of your other aspirations for your writing career?

Ahem…running Red Ink Pub. Omega and I started it in 2014, with 4 authors under our belt. Aside from being the author, I am also a CEO and co-founder. So, it keeps me busy.

*Raises hand* Don't I understand it! So let's discuss your works. Tell us about your current book project?

I am currently working on a book with my fellow Red Ink authors. It is an 8-series- cross over book that we decided to write together. It takes our best heroes, and our worst villains and we are clashing them together.

What is your upcoming project about? When will it be released?

It is called ‘Order from Chaos’ and it is written by Omega, Jaqueline Stone, Nefertiti and myself. It is rooted from two series I had previously written, in the midst of those two books there was a sort of rivalry created that the other series joined into to make it just amazing and a really big ensemble of characters working together to put order back into the world full of chaos, created by a large mixture of all of Red Ink Pub.’s greatest villains. It will be released on October 31st 2017.

Wow! So this interview has perfect timing. You write horror, you have a release coming on Halloween and your interview is featured in October! Well since you've told us that you are already collaborating with other authors, I'm going to switch up my next question a bit. Since collaborating with other authors, how did that experience go for you?

I find it extremely amusing. It is so many different personalities and styles of writing and opinions but we make it work so I don’t mind it at all.

What makes your writing stand apart from other authors?

I’m not sure if this makes my writing stand out. But I do write horror and mix it with a touch of historical fiction. I will write about a historical figure that I admire in some way and I will twist it so they are immortal or supernatural.

I'm not sure if it's unique, but it definitely stands out to me. On the other side of that, as readers, other authors can inspire us and simply make us fall in love with reading. Please name your top 5 favorite books by indie authors. Why are they your faves?

Oh my god..haha ‘Hit List’ by Omega. And the reason I pick this book is because it is so action packed. It has the who done it factor, and you once you find out who done it you will be so surprised and you question if you would have done it if you were in the same situation. Robin Lyons ‘MAC’, and I love her as an author and I love the book because it is a thriller. He is an amazing character who is flawed while trying to do the right thing. Jaqueline Stones ‘Hades’ is another fave. I am such a fan of this book because it took Greek mythology and meshed it with present day problems. Hades has to deal with having diminished powers, the cultural now which he is not accustomed to and gaining his godhood back. I also love Neferiti’s writing, especially her book ‘Shattered.’ Shattered deals with a young woman having split personalities and you have to figure out through the book if one of the personalities is this killer that’s running amuck and it makes for an interesting story. Lastly, is Angela Gascoigne and her book ‘Branded’. I enjoyed this book immensely. It had a love story, it had mystery and it had intrigue. It kept you guessing till the last page.

I hope these authors will read this interview because you have sold me on those books! Looks like I have some new reads to check out along with your upcoming release! Let's talk about Aminah Iman, the person. Outside of writing, what are your favorite past times?

Oh cooking! I love cooking, and I’m actually pretty good at it. My favorites are holiday meals. My favorite thing to do is to get up in the morning and just cook all day.

Was that an open invitation for Untamed? I think it was. I'd love to come and eat, girl. LOL (I'm joking. You all please do not contact her looking for dinner now, lol.) Just one more personal question. Tell us one thing about you that is a little-known fact.

I am afraid of zombies. Which is weird, being a horror author. Zombies really scare me.

I'm not judging you. I love horror movies, but I'm not even playing with those dolls and clowns. So I completely understand your fear of Zombies. We are nearing the end of the interview so I want to delve into your expertise about the literary industry. What is one myth about being a published author that you learned and would like to share?

I learned that it doesn’t stop when the book is finished. It is really just beginning. You have to promote it, you have to get it to your fans. You have to show it to the masses so even when you write ‘The End’ it is really not the end.

Aminah Iman, it has truly been a pleasure to interview you, and we look forward to your future works. Please connect with the author and pick up your copy of her book In Between: The Chronicles of Sari and her upcoming release with other Red Ink authors, Order from Chaos this Halloween!