Born in Philadelphia raised in New Jersey, Tuanika learned early that discipline and determination are the key elements to success. Raised in a single parent home with no father, she learned from her mother and the streets how to survive and succeed. After losing the father of her unborn child at the age of 18 to a fiery car accident, she too became a single parent. With the weight of the world on her shoulders and a daughter to provide for, she quickly figured out that a minimum wage job wasn't going to be enough and turned to the streets. Coming from a family that ranged from kingpin drug dealers to jazz musicians and famous artists, she was a blend of both worlds. Selling drugs and working supported her, all while using writing as an outlet. In the years that followed, the deaths of family members and many friends fueled her fire to get out of the streets and provide a better life for her and her children. Inspired by the passion and success of her uncle who is well known artist Calvin Massey, she turned her focus to writing and received an Omega Psi Phi award for her literary work. Tuanika then began her journey to become a known author and started working on her first novel. Halfway through, she was involved in a horrific car accident that nearly ended her life. While recovering, she refused to let her setbacks deter her from her dreams of becoming a published author. Through hard work and determination, she turned her dream into a reality and completed her first novella Subliminal.