Meet Aylia (a.m.) Colwell | Author, Actor, Filmmaker, & Web Comic Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aylia (a.m.) Colwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aylia (A.M.), why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
There’s a sense of inevitability that I think most artists feels as they’re drawn to a life of creativity. It’s not something we necessarily choose, but a compulsion. Being an artist is rarely easy, so we sign ourselves up for a certain level of struggle in order to pursue a life in the arts. At least for myself, I can’t imagine doing anything else and being happy. Pursuing a creative career is the equivalent of pursuing a happy and fulfilled life.
I am a compulsive consumer of stories, and at a very young age, I discovered a burning desire to start telling stories of my own. This has culminated in careers in film and television as an actor and screenwriter, a career as a web comic writer and illustrator, and a career as an author writing novels.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I started writing because it’s one of the few ways to tell a story that allows you to work alone. You don’t have to wait for the interest or the availability of others. Of course, working with a dedicated team is one of the most inspiring things, but it does require finding said team. When that’s not possible, there’s something incredibly liberating about sitting down by yourself and imagining a whole world. People with full, rich lives. Relationships that start and end. Hidden worlds and new places.
No need to worry about if anyone else is interested or what their schedule is. The only thing standing in the way is you.
For the most part, I write the kind of stories I want to read, which is primarily science fiction, fantasy, and romance. I have published the first two books of a New Adult Contemporary Fantasy series, “The White Mask Society” and its sequel, “The Guardians.” When I started to write the third and final book in the trilogy, I decided I wanted to step away from the world for a little while, and take a break with a new story. I’m currently wrapping up the first draft of a very different novel. It’s an adult standalone sci-fi book, currently untitled. The tone and content are both very different from “The White Mask Society,” so I’m excited to reach a new audience with such a dramatically different book.
Being an indie author is far from easy. You wear so many hats when you’re working independently. You’re not just the writer, but also the publisher and the marketing team. I am constantly learning how to be better in these various roles, and I am far from an expert. The most important thing is to stay determined, and know that small actions add up over time.
I’ve also been fortunate enough to let my career as a writer branch further out than novels. In 2024, I wrote a short film which I shot with a small yet dedicated team. “The Bunker” is currently in post-production. I also wrote the inaugural show for a brand new theater company, CockTale Hour. “An Evening With Witches” ran in October of 2024 and was a wild success, with audiences raving about the experience. I’m currently working on writing several more shows for different seasons.
Perhaps the most valuable lesson I ever learned was from my father when I was a child with braces, refusing to floss because it took too much effort. He said, “If you floss one tooth a day, it’ll be more than you’re flossing now.” He doesn’t even remember saying this to me, but it stuck. Even though he was talking about flossing, I find it’s applicable to every aspect of life. If something feels too hard, too insurmountable, know that doing one thing a day is more than doing nothing. Climbing a mountain is impossible if you try to do it all at once. All we can do is one step at a time.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have fallen in love with the scenery here in Georgia. It’s not hard to feel like you’re completely lost in the woods, while in reality being very close to “civilization.” I regularly go for runs along the Michelle Obama Trail (aka South River Trail) near the Decatur campus of GSU. It’s also a nice place to take my dogs for a long walk. I frequently see a lot of wildlife, including deer, turtles, geese, opossums, frogs and hawks.
It’s always worth a visit to the Fabulous Fox Theatre, whether for a tour or a show. The theatre is rich with Atlanta history, and it’s beautiful to boot. Before going to a show at the Fox, we can grab dinner at Herban Fix a few blocks away. It’s my favorite restaurant in the city.
Also close to the Fox is the Shakespeare Tavern, and my local Dekalb library offers free passes to see shows there. I hope my visiting friend likes live theatre!
The eastside beltline is a wonderful way to visit a lot of iconic locations, including Piedmont Park and Ponce City Market. If we stop at Ponce City Market, I know we’re going to Bar Vegan for brunch.
Other restaurants to visit are Planta near Krog Street. I’d be sure to go on a Monday to take advantage of their Maki Monday, when the sushi is all discounted.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Nothing I have accomplished in my life would have been possible without the support of friends and family. My husband, Dan, who is relentlessly supportive in his desire to see me successful and happy. My parents, who sacrificed so much to give me a wonderful childhood and a top notch education. My grandmother who passed away on Christmas Day last year was always eager to lend a hand. And of course so many friends along the way who have shown enthusiasm for my pursuits and have shown up to help in whatever way they could. I am very fortunate in that there are too many to name.

Website: https://www.ayliacolwell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amcolwellwrites/

Image Credits
Sean Kara Photography