Dainnese L Jackson – Author Spotlight

Today’s author spotlight is Dainnese L. Jackson. I am so excited to tell you more about her and her work!
Dainnese Jackson was born May 14, 1982 to Linda and Jimmy Ray Jackson and was raised in San Diego, California, in a Black community known as “Southeast.”
It was a tough neighborhood, marked by poverty. Dainnese says, “When I say I have a story, believe me, I have a story. While my older sibling and brother have been fortunate, my path was different. From the age of 5 to 26, I battled epilepsy. I suffered from complex partial seizures that originated from the left side of my brain. On top of that, I got involved with the wrong crowd while growing up and was kicked out of every high school I attended. Despite it all, I still managed to graduate in 2002. The fake, grimy friends I surrounded myself with could have led me down a dangerous path—I could have ended up like Shanquella Robinson. I was constantly bullied and picked on, with many girls jealous and envious of Lil Dainnese. At the age 14 I got molested by my first sibling first baby father. Sadly, no one believed me and it got thrown under the rug.”
Dainnese goes on to explain that she never had much of a relationship with her sister, and while she and her brother do not always see eye to eye, they’ve not seen fit to sever the relationship completely.
She explains more of her background: “While I was battling seizures, my mother took great care of me. It was difficult for her to let me go and live my own life, but in 2013, our relationship took a major turn, and things have never been the same. Before that, I attended community college from 2003 until the end of 2009, working to build a future despite the challenges I faced. I majored in criminal justice and English, with the Department of Rehabilitation covering my college expenses. However, in 2010, I had to stop attending college as I was undergoing tests to determine if I was a candidate for brain surgery. Initially, I was terrified of the idea of brain surgery—the thought of having my head cut open was overwhelming. But I had no choice, as I began to experience cluster seizures, one after another. On January 24th, 2011, I underwent the surgery, and by the grace of God, I have been seizure-free for 13 and a half years.”
In 2010, around the same time she was considering surgery, a man from her past re-entered her life, inspiring her to begin writing again. And this is when she wrote her book. “Killa & Heaven: He’s in Love with the Coco“, which was published in 2017.
In 2018, Dainnese published a short poetry book called “Still Standing” which tells her story and the struggles she’s faced and continue to face today. In 2019, she released the second part, “So Poetic“.
In 2021 she returned working on “The Maserati Chicks“, which was then published in December of 2023. Currently, she is working on her third poetry book. “Pain to Power”, which is laying many old things to rest and closing old chapters.
She says, “My name has been badly tarnished, but now it’s time for me to speak my truth, break free from the prison l’ve been in for years, and start a new, better chapter in my life. I’m finally ready to tell my story.”

I also had the opportunity to ask Dainnese a few questions about her writing.
Q. What do you love most about writing?
A. I love most about writing is expressing how I feel. It’s like therapy to me. Writing to me is so fun. It’s not just a hobby but a creative art.
Q. What do you think readers will love about your books?
A. I think reader would love my books because a lot probably experience it or lived it or both
Q. Are you currently working on any new books or writing projects?
A. Yes I am working on my third book called “Pain to Power”
Q. Where can people follow you online to learn more?
IG: Official_Author_Dainnese
FB: Author Dainnese Jackson
Twitter: DainneseJackson
Q. Do you have a favorite book or author?
A. Yes I have a couple of favorite book authors: Kiki Swinson, Nikki Turner Wahida Clark, K’wan, Danielle Santiago, Nisa Santiago, Ashley & JaQuavis