Wizu member stories: Salomey Doku launches a new book

Salomey Doku is a Wizu Member at our Leeming Building in Leeds and has recently written and illustrated a book, Brielle and Bear: Once Upon a Time, whilst using our coworking space! We sat down with Salomey and spoke to her about her process, her time with Wizu and advice to other creatives.

How did you start your journey of writing & illustrating? Is it something you’ve always wanted to do?

· Writing and art are activities I’ve always enjoyed, but they remained hobbies until 2020 (an infamous year for us all!) During the first lockdown I decided to write and illustrate a short story as part of an online Webtoon competition and this was really the lightbulb moment for me. I came to the realisation that this was something I wanted to pursue full-time – and four years later, here we are!

What’s your favourite and least favourite part of the publishing process?

· I think my favourite part is when I’m in the process of actually writing and creating stories – I love that I get to do this for a living! My least favourite part is probably the amount of effort needed to put into promoting these stories – it takes a lot out of you, mentally and physically.

Were there any scenes or illustrations that were especially difficult or rewarding to create?

· Establishing the environment or place where the scenes I’m going to ‘zoom in’ on take place is usually the most difficult and time consuming part of illustrating a graphic novel. But bringing the script to life and illustrating the characters living out the scripted action is really exciting, especially when it turns out exactly as I imagined! In Chapter 5 of Brielle and Bear, the scenes where Bear is playing his cello, was one of these magic moments for me.

Are there any authors or illustrators you look up to or who have influenced your work?

· There was a graphic novelist called Dina Norlund, who has sadly passed, that inspired me a lot by sharing her process of creating books on her YouTube channel. I love collecting art books, and one of my favourites is ‘The Art of Tangled’. Artists like Loish, and Glen Keane, a prominent Disney artist, stands out as a key influence, as do several animation visual development artists, and character designers, such as Gabby Zermeño, and Steve Thompson – I could never name them all!

What’s something about this project that you found unique or surprising?

· I think the most surprising part of creating Brielle and Bear has been realising just how much I’ve been subconsciously influenced by the media I’ve absorbed over the years. A good example is the shock I got recently when I realised that the colours and personalities I’ve used for my main characters almost directly correlate with the main characters in the classic animated movie ‘The Lion King’! (It’s really bizarre, especially as I haven’t seen the movie for years!) It makes you wonder how much of who you are is influenced by where you’ve ‘been’.

How did you find Wizu & more specifically Leeming?

· After I quit my job as an architectural assistant in July 2021, I was looking for a local co-working office that I could easily get to, so I could work in a productive environment a few times a month, and Wizu was not only the closest but also offered really competitive packages. I did a tester day and that was it! I’m super glad to have found Wizu as I love working here.

We’ve seen you’ve worked closely with Lenny Henry recently, how was that?

· Hectic, and intense – but really good! Lenny has a way of brightening a room and cheering on the people around him, even when he’s going through hard times himself, which makes events that would otherwise be difficult very enjoyable. He’s an inspiring person to work with.

What advice do you have for budding creatives?

· Don’t be afraid of taking a chance on a crazy idea. If one route doesn’t seem to be working, try another. Experiment! A lot! Draw, paint, illustrate – a lot! Use different media, and take the time to develop your skills. Don’t get discouraged if your progress seems slow. You’ll eventually hit on something that you love, and if you’re passionate about it, even if it’s hard work bringing your idea to life, you’ll not only enjoy every moment of planting a seed and helping it grow, you’ll see the effect it has on others, and that is really rewarding.

Salomey will be hosting her very own book publishing event in the Leeming Building, Leeds on the 27th November 2024 and her book is now available to purchase on Amazon.