Black & Published

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Lisa Williamson Rosenberg, author of the novel, Embers on the Wind. Becoming a novelist is Lisa's third career. Before writing, she was a professional ballet dancer with the Pennsylvania and Pacific Northwest Ballet Companies. She also has a Masters in Social Work and works as a psychotherapist. Lisa is biracial and Jewish and her writing on identity has been published in Longreads, Narrative.ly, Literary Mama and The Piltdown Review, where she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.In our conversation, Lisa discusses how her career in ballet prepared her for publishing, the seven full novels she wrote before Embers on the Wind, and what she felt she owed to the spirit of an ancestor who inspired her main character. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Mateo Askaripour, author of the novel, Black Buck. The New York Times bestseller takes on racism in corporate America with humor and wit. Askaripour was chosen as one of Entertainment Weekly’s “10 rising stars to make waves,” and Black Buck was a Read With Jenna Today Show book club pick. He lives in Brooklyn. In our conversation, Mateo discusses the fine line between cult and culture in corporate America, the key dates he will always remember along his writing journey, and how he finds the balance between his head and his heart. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Maisy Card, author of the novel, These Ghosts Are Family which won an American Book Award, the 2021 OCM Bocas Prize in fiction and was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel, among others. Maisy's writing has appeared in The Paris Review Daily, The New York Times, and other publications. She was born in Portmore, Jamaica but was raised in Queens, NY. In our conversation, Maisy discusses the difference between the fun and work of writing, telling a family story to say all the things she couldn't say to her own family, and the spooky parallels she noticed between the ghost story she created and her own real life. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this BONUS episode of Black & Published, Nikesha talks about the release of her new book, Mardi Gras Indians, coming out from LSU Press on October 5, 2022. She details the journey since her last bonus episode detailing her own Black & Published story about how the book started with an essay about food, evolved through a global pandemic and pregnancy, and left her with doubts and fears about whether she'd really be able to tell a story older than America. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Katerina Canyon, author of the poetry collection, Surviving Home. Katerina is a 2020 and 2019 Pushcart Prize Nominee. Her stories have been published in New York Times and Huffington Post. She also served as the Poet Laureate of Sunland-Tujunga from 2000 - 2003. She has published multiple chapbooks and an album.In our conversation, Katerina explains why she doesn't believe she has to be happy, how she was tricked into being committed to a psychiatric ward by her own therapist, and how she's learning to take pride in sharing the truth of her trauma. Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of suicidal ideations, domestic and sexual abuse, extreme poverty and homelessness. Please be gentle with yourself when listening. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Dawn Turner, author of the memoir, Three Girls from Bronzeville: A Uniquely American Memoir of Race, Fate, and Sisterhood. An award-winning author and journalist who's reported all over the world, Dawn is a former columnist for the Chicago Tribune where she spent 15 years writing about race, politics and people whose stories are often dismissed and ignored. In 2018, she established the Dawn M. Turner and Kim D. Turner Endowed Scholarship in Media at her alma mater, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In our conversation, Dawn explains how her global dreams started with her parents "pointing her towards the sun." She also divulges the secret she kept in shame until writing her memoir made her relive her vulnerable moments. And she explains why even though her memoir chronicles abortion, addiction, murder, and incarceration she believes this is still a story of redemption. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks Marita Golden, author of the novel, A Woman's Place, which was first published in 1986 and is now being re-released by McSweeney's. Marita is the author of six novels as wells as memoirs and other non-fiction works. She's also the co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Foundation and works with writers all over the world facilitating workshops to help them get their stories out. During our conversation, Marita discusses the ruthlessness she had in writing her memoir based on what she was living through, why we shouldn't look to mainstream (white) publishing as the place where the best of Black thought has been produced, and the charge she has for the next generation of your writers to carry on. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Natasha Marin, curator of the Black Powerful anthology; the latest installment in her Black Imagination artist series. A conceptual artist whose people-centered projects have circled the globe, Natasha's focus is on amplifying, centering, and holding sacred space for a diverse sample of voices including LGBTQIA+ Black youth, incarcerated Black women, Black folks with disabilities, unsheltered Black folks, and Black children. She pays the bills by helping individuals and institutions achieve their antiracism goals through creative consulting (NONWHITEWORKS).During our conversation, Natasha explains why even though she got an MFA, she didn’t think she had gone through enough trauma to call herself a writer. Plus the one subject she tackled with her writing that led to doxing and death threats, and what it means to believe in Black supremacy. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

Black & Published podcast is coming back with fresh episodes for all of your literary needs. We're of course talking writing and publishing, but it's all dipped in the Black experience. Our stories and the lessons we learned from our families, even the crazy ones, and what it means to live a life where your legacy is words. New episodes drop every Tuesday starting September 6. Subscribe to Black & Published in your podcast platform of choice and follow us on Twitter and Instagram @BLKandPublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Georgia Dawkins, about her memoir, Everybody Knows: The Power of Being in Position. Georgia is The Purpose Producer. From ABC’s Good Morning America to Will Packer’s Central Ave, Georgia has worked within a multitude of television genres including local news, network news, talk shows, reality television, and entertainment news. In 2018 she published Everybody Knows while at the same time launching Georgia Dawkins Media to cement herself as a young media tycoon in the making. During the conversation, Georgia and Nikesha discuss how they came to their respective media careers--which is where their paths first crossed some 10 years ago--and why they left. Georgia also shares why she can't help but tell the truth, how she can't help but to seek bigger for herself after years of playing small, and why it's sometimes necessary to burn bridges in your life in the name of self-preservation. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with poet, essayist, and journalist Jeneé Darden about her book, When a Purple Rose Blooms. An Oakland native, Jeneé holds a BA in ethnic studies from UC San Diego and a masters's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California. She has reported for NPR, Time magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Ebony and more. The National Book Foundation awarded Jeneé a summer writing fellowship in 2003 and her award-winning short documentary, Where is East Oakland? was screened at the Oakland International Film Festival. Jeneé is passionate about African-American erotic art and mental health awareness. In this conversation she discusses growing up with insecurities, her struggle to love herself, honoring the power in the feminine, and the trauma she endured during and after the O.J. Simpson trial and how it all fuels her work today. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showSupport the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author and poet Jessica Lynn about her novel, Kissing Frogs: The Thirteenth. A proud graduate of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and an educator for over 10 years, Jessica Lynn used her experiences, the experiences of friends, and others to craft a literary drama that takes readers to the ancestral realm, on thrilling adventures, and sexy exploits to interrogate what it means to love, lose, and love all over again. During the conversation, Jessica discusses how she wrote a happy ending for her characters even though she was experiencing devastating lows in life. She also explains why she grounds the good and bad decisions of her characters in the reality that as people we may know better, but we don't always do better when it comes to matters of the heart, forging friendships, and fixing familial bonds. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

In this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Tamika Newhouse, about how she went from teen mom to CEO by the age of twenty. The author of 17 novels, including her latest romance collection, Suga Hill, Tamika Newhouse opens up about the pros and cons of the publishing industry, her battle with mental illness and depression while fulfilling her dreams, and making sure Black women take agency over their own sexuality by creating characters who aren't afraid to ask, get, or even take exactly what they want. Tamika explains why she believes consistency is the key to making it in publishing after self-publishing her first book in 2009 only to land a major deal through her hard work and tenacity. She also drops gems throughout the episode such as, "Your publisher is not your friend," when talking about the industry and, "I don't believe in monogamy, I believe in loyalty . . . or discipline," when waxing on dating and relationships. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, performer, playwright, and educator Ebony Payne-English, about her journey as a literary artist that has led her to publish a poetry collection (Secrets of Ma'at), a graphic novel (The Random Happenings), and release six studio albums. Her latest offering, Kuongoza, dropped March 28, 2021 and is available on all streaming platforms. With 17 years of professional experience from Black on Black Rhyme to HBO's Brave New Voices, Ebony, is a nationally acclaimed spoken word artist whose performance credits include the renowned Nuyorican Café in New York and ESSENCE Fest. During the conversation, Ebony courageously discusses her devastating diagnosis with an illness that stifled her creativity for three years, how writing helped save her own life, and how Superman Returns inspired her forthcoming play The Goddess Experience. She also dishes on finding God in art and how she stands whole, complete & empowered in her gift as a spoken word artist and emcee. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with multi-genre literary artist Khalisa Rae. An essayist, journalist, budding novelist, and poet, Khalisa is the author of the chapbook Real Girls Have Real Problems. Her debut full-length poetry collection, Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat is out now from Red Hen Press. Khalisa, who is based in Durham, NC is the founder of Think In Inkand the Women Speak Reading series and Writing Center Director at Shaw University. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with multi-genre literary artist Khalisa Rae. An essayist, journalist, budding novelist, and poet, Khalisa is the author of the chapbook Real Girls Have Real Problems. Her debut full-length poetry collection, Ghost in a Black Girl's Throat is out now from Red Hen Press. Khalisa, who is based in Durham, NC is the founder of Think In Inkand the Women Speak Reading series and Writing Center Director at Shaw University. Khalisa, who speaks with fierce rebellion, says being a writer in the South and the only Black woman in many spaces has taught her many lessons along her publishing journey that she learned through trial and error. In this conversation, she opens up about childhood sexual trauma, the intense racism and oppression she experienced upon migrating from the Midwest to the South and how acknowledging her trauma informs her work and helps heal her pen to page. Khalisa also offers this pro-tip for other creatives, "Do 5 creative things that have nothing to do with making a coin," to keep your creative cup full. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showSupport the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with writer, editor, and New York Times Bestselling author Morgan Jerkins. Jerkins, who previously wrote the essay collection, This Will Be My Undoing and the memoir Wandering in Strange Lands, marks her fiction debut with Caul Baby. The Senior Culture Editor for ESPN's The Undefeated and a visiting professor at Columbia University, Jerkins' work has been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, ELLE, Esquire and more. She is currently based in Harlem. During the interview Jerkins' opens up about how her memoir helped inspire parts of her novel and why she chose to examine Black motherhood with such intensity. She also discusses the undercurrent of displacement that drives the motivations of her characters, how women make an enterprise out of their bodies, and why when she's all written out, first and foremost, she wants to be remembered. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this throwback episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author Angela Jackson-Brown. She is the author of the novel, Drinking From a Bitter Cup, and the award-winning poetry collection, House Repairs. Her novel, When Stars Rain Down, was published by Thomas Nelson, an imprint of Harper Collins, on April 13, 2021. Angela teaches Creative Writing and English at Ball State University in Muncie, IN and has an MFA from the Spalding low-residency program in Creative Writing. Over the course of the conversation, Angela discusses first getting a degree in business and marketing before going for her MFA in her 40s. She also gets candid about her publishing process including not wanting an agent right away, the years long process of revision, and why she was more interested in having a rapport with her publisher than a big advance. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of the novel, The Other Black Girl. Zakiya spent nearly three years in editorial at Knopf/Doubleday before leaving to write her debut novel. Prior to working in publishing, Zakiya received her MFA in creative writing from The New School. Her essays and book reviews have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Guernica, and The Rumpus. During the conversation, Zakiya discusses how the main setting of her novel is really a placeholder for any white/male dominated industry. The liberation she found in her big chop and how those feelings of hair tangled themselves in her fiction, and why she believes some of the circumstances of Black life in America are still absolutely horrifying. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

Hey Black and Published family. I’m Checking in with you today to introduce you to a new podcast. The Ursa short fiction podcast hosted by Black & Published season 1 alums Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton. They’re also from Jacksonville, which is where I live so, you know, they get the extra hometown Duval love. Join Deesha (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Dawnie (The Final Revival of Opal & Nev) for author interviews, book club discussions, and immersive short stories — all celebrating fiction from some of today's most thrilling writers, with an emphasis on spotlighting underrepresented voices. Support their show by becoming a premium member! https://link.chtbl.com/kX4SGHQiSupport the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Carlos Allende, author of the novel, Coffee, Shopping, Murder, Love. Carlos is is a media psychology scholar and a writer of fiction. He has written two previous novels: Cuadrillas y Contradanzas, a historical melodrama set during the War of Reform, in Mexico, and Love, or the Witches of Windward Circle, a horror farce set in Venice, California. He teaches in the Writers’ Program at UCLA Extension and lives in Santa Monica with his husband.During the conversation, Carlos opens up about the childhood nightmare that inspired Coffee, Shopping, Murder, Love. Plus he discusses how he overcame more than 100 rejections to finally get this book in the world, his two biggest regrets in his writing career, and how he uses empathy to get people to reflect on the bad behavior of his characters and themselves. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Asantewaa Boykin, author of the poetry collection, Love, Lyric & Liberation. Asantewaa Boykin is a proud San Diego native who found her voice in Oakland, CA. Her poetry and art combines her love of words, storytelling, and resistance. Exploring topics like; space-travel, black-femme militancy, & motherhood. During the conversation, Asantewaa discusses how she discovered her passion for writing in the pages of her nursing notebook, her tenuous relationship with organized religion, and why her poems are the one thing in the world she can absolutely trust. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Brian Broome, author of the award winning memoir, Punch Me Up to the Gods. Brian is a poet and screenwriter. He has been a finalist in The Moth storytelling competition and won the grand prize in Carnegie Mellon University’s Martin Luther King Writing Awards. He also won a VANN Award from the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation for journalism in 2019. He is currently a columnist for The Washington Post. Over the course of the conversation, Brian opens up about growing up a young Black gay boy in Ohio, being addicted to drugs and alcohol, and how saying yes to getting clean led him to saying yes to writing. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Chicago area sisters Chyrel Jackson and Lyris Wallace, who wrote the poetry collections Different Sides of the Same Coin and Mirrored Images. The sisters said they came to their love of writing from their love of reading authors and poets like Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Terri McMillan and more. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Chicago area sisters Chyrel Jackson and Lyris Wallace, who wrote the poetry collections Different Sides of the Same Coin and Mirrored Images. The sisters said they came to their love of writing from their love of reading authors and poets like Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Terri McMillan and more. During the discussion, the sisters open up about the pushback they received from publishers that forced them to go indie, the importance of not being white-washed and owning their own narrative, and the healing in hearing Black language whether it's spoken or sung. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Kristen R. Lee author of the YA novel, Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman. A novel she began as a way to process her undergraduate experience at MTSU. The novel focuses on systemic racism and Black culture. As a Memphis native, Kristen writes stories that reflect her upbringing. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Kristen R. Lee author of the YA novel, Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman. A novel she began as a way to process her undergraduate experience at MTSU. The novel focuses on systemic racism and Black culture. As a Memphis native, Kristen writes stories that reflect her upbringing. During the conversation, Kristen discusses coming from South Memphis and why she and her family felt college was her only chance. How she stumbled into a life of her dreams that allowed her to put her pursuit of her Masters in Social Work on hold. Kristen also discusses the impact of student debt, race, and class and how that's influencing her fiction. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Marc Curtis Little, author of the award-winning novel, The Bootlegger's Mistress. Among being a popular independent writer, Marc Curtis Little also worked as a radio broadcaster for fifteen years in a career that was highlighted with seven Billboard Magazine awards for on-air performance and programming. Little also owned and managed a public relations and advertising agency for twenty years. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Marc Curtis Little, author of the award-winning novel, The Bootlegger's Mistress. Among being a popular independent writer, Marc Curtis Little also worked as a radio broadcaster for fifteen years in a career that was highlighted with seven Billboard Magazine awards for on-air performance and programming. Little also owned and managed a public relations and advertising agency for twenty years. During the conversation, Marc discusses how his entrepreneurship helped him as an independent author, the encounter with God that initiated his literary career, and why he wants to always spin stories out of the Great Migration. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Preston Clark, author of the novel Vinnie: A Love Letter. Preston is a screenwriter and poet who also works full time as a high school Humanities teacher at Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in Chicago. He was a 2021 Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Voices of Color Fellow and his first novel, Vinnie: a love letter, placed in the 28th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards in 2020. Born and raised in San Diego and a graduate of Hampton University, Clark fights for safe spaces for Black men - young and old - to improve their emotional and mental health. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Preston Clark, author of the novel Vinnie: A Love Letter. Preston is a screenwriter and poet who also works full time as a high school Humanities teacher at Urban Prep Charter Academy for Young Men in Chicago. He was a 2021 Martha’s Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Voices of Color Fellow and his first novel, Vinnie: a love letter, placed in the 28th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards in 2020. Born and raised in San Diego and a graduate of Hampton University, Clark fights for safe spaces for Black men - young and old - to improve their emotional and mental health. During the conversation, Preston explains why he says the man he is now is a miracle, the two personal tragedies that led him to finish his book, and why he describes his debut novel as an emotional free write. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Adiba Nelson, author of the motherhood memoir, Ain't That a Mother: Postpartum, palsy, and Everything in Between. Adiba Nelson is an author, screenwriter, retired burlesque performer, disability rights advocate, and most recently, the subject of the Emmy winning documentary, The Full Nelson. She wrote and self-published her first children’s book, Meet ClaraBelle in 2013 and has penned several articles for Huffington Post, The Washington Post, The Lily, Parents magazine and others. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Adiba Nelson, author of the motherhood memoir, Ain't That a Mother: Postpartum, palsy, and Everything in Between. Adiba Nelson is an author, screenwriter, retired burlesque performer, disability rights advocate, and most recently, the subject of the Emmy winning documentary, The Full Nelson. She wrote and self-published her first children’s book, Meet ClaraBelle in 2013 and has penned several articles for Huffington Post, The Washington Post, The Lily, Parents magazine and others. During the conversation, Adiba opens up about how she uses humor as her coping mechanism, how she manifested her book deal, and how running from emotional pain caught up with her in the writing of her memoir. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Lola Akinmade Åkerström, author of the novel, In Every Mirror She's Black. Lola has lived on three different continents — Africa, North America, and now Europe — for extended periods of time. As a Nigerian-American author who is now based in Sweden Lọlá is the author of the 2018 Lowell Thomas Award winner for best travel book, Due North and the bestselling, LAGOM: Swedish Secret of Living Well. She is drawn to the complexities and nuances of culture and how they manifest themselves within relationships. She has written two prior books and contributed to several others. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Lola Akinmade Åkerström, author of the novel, In Every Mirror She's Black. Lola has lived on three different continents — Africa, North America, and now Europe — for extended periods of time. As a Nigerian-American author who is now based in Sweden Lọlá is the author of the 2018 Lowell Thomas Award winner for best travel book, Due North and the bestselling, LAGOM: Swedish Secret of Living Well. She is drawn to the complexities and nuances of culture and how they manifest themselves within relationships. She has written two prior books and contributed to several others. During the conversation, Lọlá discusses how she kept going even though her manuscript was rejected 70 times. She also explains why she wanted to explore the many facets of Black womanhood to illustrate that Black women are not a monolith. Plus, in tackling class, career, and culture Lọlá shares why the main takeaway she wants her readers to get from her work is to hold empathy for other people and their differences and experiences. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Lawrence Jackson, author of the memoir, Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore. Jackson is a biographer and critic whose work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, n+1, and Best American Essays. He teaches English and history at Johns Hopkins and founded the Billie Holiday Project for Liberation Arts.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Lawrence Jackson, author of the memoir, Shelter: A Black Tale of Homeland, Baltimore. Jackson is a biographer and critic whose work has appeared in Harper’s Magazine, n+1, and Best American Essays. He teaches English and history at Johns Hopkins and founded the Billie Holiday Project for Liberation Arts.During the conversation, Lawrence discusses how he turned to writing as a way to work out his feelings on race and rage, and the importance of acknowledging where you came from when you move up in the world. Finally, in the speed round breaks down why James Baldwin's classic book, The Fire Next Time, is overrated. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha continues National Poetry Month highlighting Ashanti Anderson, whose debut chapbook Black Under was the winner of the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition hosted by Black Lawrence Press. Ashanti is a Black Queer Disabled poet. Her poems have appeared in World Literature Today, POETRY magazine, and elsewhere in print and on the web. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha continues National Poetry Month highlighting Ashanti Anderson, whose debut chapbook Black Under was the winner of the Spring 2020 Black River Chapbook Competition hosted by Black Lawrence Press. Ashanti is a Black Queer Disabled poet. Her poems have appeared in World Literature Today, POETRY magazine, and elsewhere in print and on the web. During the conversation, Ashanti discusses why she spent two years feeling sorry for herself after receiving her MFA before moving forward with trying to put her poems in print. She also explains why she was looking for a press that centered artistic integrity and autonomy and why she centers the fullness of the Black experience in her work without the white gaze. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha kicks off National Poetry month with Andres "Andy" Rojas, author of the poetry collection, Third Winter in our Second Country. Andy was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. at age 13. He holds an MFA from the University of Florida and currently edits for Poetry Is Currency. By day he's a lawyer who works for the IRS.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha kicks off National Poetry month with Andres "Andy" Rojas, author of the poetry collection, Third Winter in our Second Country. Andy was born in Cuba and came to the U.S. at age 13. He holds an MFA from the University of Florida and currently edits for Poetry Is Currency. By day he's a lawyer who works for the IRS.During the conversation, Andy explains why he took a 10 year break from writing poetry. What brought him back to his first love and how writing is a way to give himself a sense of safety and home. He also discusses how he experiences otherness as white-presenting Cuban immigrant. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Nana Nkweti, author of the short story collection, Walking on Cowrie Shells. Nana is a Caine Prize finalist and alumna of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her work has garnered fellowships from MacDowell, Kimbilio, Ucross, and the Wurlitzer Foundation, among others. She is a professor of English at the University of Alabama.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Nana Nkweti, author of the short story collection, Walking on Cowrie Shells. Nana is a Caine Prize finalist and alumna of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her work has garnered fellowships from MacDowell, Kimbilio, Ucross, and the Wurlitzer Foundation, among others. She is a professor of English at the University of Alabama.During the conversation, Nana breaks down the financial difference when it comes to selling a short story collection versus selling a novel and why she wants to be remembered for writing the stories of the weird and quirky, complicating the narrative, and telling the stories of the domestic interior. She also explains her writing process and balancing those instinctual thunderclap moments with the craft of discipline that comes in revision. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Rahman Johnson, author of the poetry collection, Living, Loving, Letting Go. Rahman is a Jacksonville native. A trained journalist and news anchor, Rahman is also an actor. Currently, he's a professor at Edward Waters University. His poetry collection earned the 2021 Poetry eBook Literary Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Rahman Johnson, author of the poetry collection, Living, Loving, Letting Go. Rahman is a Jacksonville native. A trained journalist and news anchor, Rahman is also an actor. Currently, he's a professor at Edward Waters University. His poetry collection earned the 2021 Poetry eBook Literary Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.During the conversation, Rahman discusses how losing his mother gave him the freedom to release his poems to the world. He also reminisces on the advice he received from his A.P. English teacher that's carried him throughout his career. Rahman also wants you to know that he's not just a Black man or a Black writer but so much more. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin, author of the book, Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature. Dr. Griffin is the William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. She is also the author of five books, the most recent being one that intermixes critical literary analysis with personal narrative. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin, author of the book, Read Until You Understand: The Profound Wisdom of Black Life and Literature. Dr. Griffin is the William B. Ransford Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. She is also the author of five books, the most recent being one that intermixes critical literary analysis with personal narrative. During the conversation, Dr. Griffin opens up about how she's been writing versions of Read Until You Understand since she was a child. She also discusses how she's worked to distinguish her literary voice outside of the academy, centering Black literature in the quest for Black liberation, and her chance encounters in Philadelphia with Patti LaBelle and Toni Cade Bambara. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Vanessa Miller, author of the Christian fiction novel, Something Good. Vanessa is a best-selling author of 51 books, an entrepreneur, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has centered themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Vanessa Miller, author of the Christian fiction novel, Something Good. Vanessa is a best-selling author of 51 books, an entrepreneur, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has centered themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.During the conversation, Vanessa explains how a casual comment from her daughter convicted her to get back to writing after she nearly gave up,. She also discuss the message of hope she wants to spread to the world, and what she has to say when it comes to choosing God and going to therapy. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of the short story collection, The Ones Who Don't Say They Love You. Maurice, is a New Orleans Native, an attorney by trade turned writer who holds an MFA and is a professor of Creative Writing at Louisiana State University. His 2019 debut novel, We Cast a Shadow was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the PEN America Open Book Prize. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Maurice Carlos Ruffin, author of the short story collection, The Ones Who Don't Say They Love You. Maurice, is a New Orleans Native, an attorney by trade turned writer who holds an MFA and is a professor of Creative Writing at Louisiana State University. His 2019 debut novel, We Cast a Shadow was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the PEN America Open Book Prize. During the conversation, Maurice discusses his love for his city despite the gentrification that's been happening for the last 15 - 20 years. He also explains how he applied his technical nature to his writing, training himself on flash fiction, and being energized to follow his dreams after working a full time day job as a lawyer. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Jayne Allen, author of the Tabitha Walker novel series, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted and Black Girls Must be Magic. Originally from Detroit, Jayne writes fiction from her life experiences. Her desire is to bring both multiculturalism and multidimensionality to contemporary women’s fiction with dynamic female protagonists who also happen to be black.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Jayne Allen, author of the Tabitha Walker novel series, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted and Black Girls Must be Magic. Originally from Detroit, Jayne writes fiction from her life experiences. Her desire is to bring both multiculturalism and multidimensionality to contemporary women’s fiction with dynamic female protagonists who also happen to be black.During the conversation, Jayne details the advice she wished she would've gotten in her late 20s and early 30s about motherhood and fertility. The "problems" gatekeepers initially had with her novel when she first tried to publish traditionally and the answers she received about worth and validation as a writer she received in community with her readers. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Danté Stewart, author of the memoir, Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle . Danté is a speaker and writer whose work in the areas of race, religion, and politics has been featured on CNN and in The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Sojourners, The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, Comment, and elsewhere. He received his BA in sociology from Clemson University and is currently studying at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Danté Stewart, author of the memoir, Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle . Danté is a speaker and writer whose work in the areas of race, religion, and politics has been featured on CNN and in The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Sojourners, The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, Comment, and elsewhere. He received his BA in sociology from Clemson University and is currently studying at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.During the conversation, Danté explores what it means to grow up Black & Christian in the rural South, how he became deluded by white supremacy, and the four words that led to his reckoning and reawakening. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Honorée Fannone Jeffers, author of the epic novel,The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois. Honorée is also the author of five critically acclaimed books of poetry, including the award-winning collection, The Age of Phillis, based on the life and times of Phillis Wheatley Peters. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Honorée Fannone Jeffers, author of the epic novel,The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois. Honorée is also the author of five critically acclaimed books of poetry, including the award-winning collection, The Age of Phillis, based on the life and times of Phillis Wheatley Peters. During the conversation, Honorée discusses why she never wanted to world to see her fiction, building her confidence in the craft, and recognizing the profound brilliance she carries as a Black woman no matter how she shows up in the world. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

We're sharing a special preview of the new podcast, Well-Read Black Girl from Pushkin Industries. Well-Read Black Girl is the literary kickback you never knew you needed. Glory Edim, author and founder of the Well-Read Black Girl community, sits in deep, honest and close conversation with authors like Tarana Burke, Min Jin Lee, Anita Hill, Gabrielle Union, Elizabeth Acevedo and more. You’ll also meet book club members, literacy advocates, and Black booksellers to hear what they’re reading and what it means to be well-read. Join Glory through this current cultural moment – where art, justice and literature collide – and pay homage to the literary legacies of the women who paved the way. You’ll laugh, cry, connect and build space for kinship in a shared love of literature. Tune in, turn the page, and join the celebration. You can listen to Well-Read Black Girl at https://link.chtbl.com/blackandpublishedwrbg.Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts, author of the essay collection, Black Joy. Tracey, holds both an MBA and an MFA. She's come up through the indie author ranks, has served as a celebrity ghostwriter, and is the author of 15 other titles. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts, author of the essay collection, Black Joy. Tracey, holds both an MBA and an MFA. She's come up through the indie author ranks, has served as a celebrity ghostwriter, and is the author of 15 other titles. During the Conversation, Tracey opens up about the happenstance opportunity that propelled her from relative anonymity to major book deal visibility, how joy feels in her body, and the ways she's creating legacy for her daughter. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with author Chris Stuck, author of the short story collection, Give My Love to the Savages. Chris, holds an MFA from George Mason University and was also a fiction fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center. In his work, Chris was intentional about exploring race, sexuality, masculinity and the intersections therein. Episode Notes _________________________On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with author Chris Stuck, author of the short story collection, Give My Love to the Savages. Chris, holds an MFA from George Mason University and was also a fiction fellow at the Fine Arts Work Center. In his work, Chris was intentional about exploring race, sexuality, masculinity and the intersections therein. During the Conversation, Chris opens up about the real life events that inspired a few of the stories in his collection as well as the anxiety he's had navigating the publishing industry and its litany of closed doors.Keep Up with Us___________________________Follow Nikesha on Twitter and Instagram Follow Black & Published on Twitter and Instagram (Bonus Clip from the episode posted on Instagram NOW!)Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with poet Kelly Harris-DeBerry, author of the collection, Freedom Knows My Name. Kelly, originally from Cleveland but now living in New Orleans, said she wanted her collection to be one for her folks and her people. The Cave Canem fellow works as the New Orleans Literary Coordinator for Poets & Writers. She also freelances and owns a small communications boutique that serves nonprofits and artists. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with poet Kelly Harris-DeBerry, author of the collection, Freedom Knows My Name. Kelly, originally from Cleveland but now living in New Orleans, said she wanted her collection to be one for her folks and her people. The Cave Canem fellow works as the New Orleans Literary Coordinator for Poets & Writers. She also freelances and owns a small communications boutique that serves nonprofits and artists. Kelly's collection is described as an electric collection that mixes brilliant poetics with the political. During our chat, Kelly discussed why she prefers to forego the polished for the real and why she says she was pushed into poetry by friends and the ancestors. Keep Up with Us----------------------Follow Nikesha on Twitter and Instagram Follow Black & Published on Twitter and Instagram (Bonus Clip from the episode posted on Instagram NOW!)Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

Welcome back to Black & Published. The weekly interview format podcast bringing you the journeys of BIPOC writers, poets, playwrights, and storytellers of all kinds. Hosted by two-time Emmy Award-winning producer and award-winning author Nikesha Elise Williams. Full Episodes return January 18, 2022. ***Keep Up with UsFollow NikeshaTwitter: @Nikesha_Elise Instagram: @nikesha_eliseFollow Black & PublishedTwitter: @BLKandPublishedInstagram: @blkandpublishedSupport the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

In this bonus episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is sharing her story about becoming a writer and finding her way in the publishing industry. From exploring and utilizing both traditional and independent avenues, Nikesha discusses when she knew she was a writer, the 7-year-long journey of publishing her debut novel, Four Women, founding her company, NEW Reads Publications, and how she has kept going despite lots of rejection to publish four more novels, a poetry collection, and four other authors in addition to doing all the things in life, love, career, and the pursuit of dreams. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagramusing the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with journalist and author, Dawnie Walton about her debut novel, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Dawnie is a Jacksonville native. She worked as an executive-level editor for magazine and multimedia brands including Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Getty Images, and LIFE before she decided to take a leap of faith and pursue her passion for fiction. A MacDowell Colony fellow (2015) and Tin House Scholar (2017), Dawnie earned her MFA from the Iowa Writers's Workshop in 2018. She has been hailed as a "bold new voice in contemporary fiction" with her novel's fictional oral history of a Black punk rocker in 1970s New York. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with journalist and author, Dawnie Walton about her debut novel, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev. Dawnie is a Jacksonville native. She worked as an executive-level editor for magazine and multimedia brands including Essence, Entertainment Weekly, Getty Images, and LIFE before she decided to take a leap of faith and pursue her passion for fiction. A MacDowell Colony fellow (2015) and Tin House Scholar (2017), Dawnie earned her MFA from the Iowa Writers's Workshop in 2018. She has been hailed as a "bold new voice in contemporary fiction" with her novel's fictional oral history of a Black punk rocker in 1970s New York. During the interview, Dawnie discusses the role music has played over the course of her life, not seeing herself reflected in her favorite genre, and making the switch from journalism to fiction writing in her 40s. She also talks about the discipline required as a writer, especially when you don't have a publishing deal and you're making your own deadlines. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagramusing the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with M Shelly Conner about her debut novel, everyman. M Shelly is a Chicago native who spent her summers bouncing between her grandmother in Memphis and relatives in Los Angeles, reveling in the sprawl of the Great Migration. That sprawl informs the work in everyman which M Shelly began working on first in 2005 and seriously during her PhD program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. An excerpt of everyman appears in Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora. M Shelly is an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas and lives in Arkansas with her wife and their dog Whiskey. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with M Shelly Conner about her debut novel, everyman. M Shelly is a Chicago native who spent her summers bouncing between her grandmother in Memphis and relatives in Los Angeles, reveling in the sprawl of the Great Migration. That sprawl informs the work in everyman which M Shelly began working on first in 2005 and seriously during her PhD program at the University of Illinois at Chicago. An excerpt of everyman appears in Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora. M Shelly is an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas and lives in Arkansas with her wife and their dog Whiskey. Over the course of the conversation M Shelly discusses the novel that made her want to get better at writing, crafting an epic generational story, and unpacking the so-called "phases" of life our parents' and grandparents' generation had knowledge of but never talked about. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagramusing the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with Dantiel W. Moniz about her debut short story collection, Milk Blood Heat. Dantiel is a Jacksonville native who attended FSU for undergrad and received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her work has appeared in the Paris Review, Harper’s Bazaar, Tin House, The Yale Review, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and elsewhere. Described as wise and subversive, spiritual and seductive Milk Blood Heat has been hailed a "must-read" by TIME, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, Elle, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with Dantiel W. Moniz about her debut short story collection, Milk Blood Heat. Dantiel is a Jacksonville native who attended FSU for undergrad and received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her work has appeared in Paris Review, Harper’s Bazaar, Tin House, The Yale Review, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and elsewhere. Described as wise and subversive, spiritual and seductive Milk Blood Heat has been hailed a "must-read" by TIME, Entertainment Weekly, Buzzfeed, Elle, and O, The Oprah Magazine. Considered a bright new literary star, Dantiel opens up about the psychological separation between loving writing and knowing you want to be a published writer, learning that "our world prepares us to work for other people, but not ourselves" and why writers should go after every opportunity they come across and never count themselves out. She also discusses her intention for Milk Blood Heat to make people feel her stories in their body. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagramusing the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with Dr. Kim Mack about her book, Fictional Blues: Narrative Self-Invention from Bessie Smith to Jack White. Dr. Mack is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo where she specializes in African American literature and culture, twentieth- and twenty-first-century ethnic American literature, autobiographical narratives, and American popular music. Her academic career comes after a journey that includes screen- and playwriting and music criticism. A self-professed rock fan, it was her love of what seemed to be a "white" music genre that led to her discovery, research, and now book about the blues. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with Dr. Kim Mack about her book, Fictional Blues: Narrative Self-Invention from Bessie Smith to Jack White. Dr. Mack is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toledo where she specializes in African American literature and culture, twentieth- and twenty-first-century ethnic American literature, autobiographical narratives, and American popular music. Her academic career comes after a journey that includes screen- and playwriting and music criticism. A self-professed rock fan, it was her love of what seemed to be a "white" music genre that led to her discovery, research, and now book about the blues. During the interview, Kim discusses why she resisted the title of journalist and even becoming one for so long as well as her winding journey that took her from New York to L.A. and from screenwriting to the hallowed halls of academy. She also says that at the end of the day, no matter what she's writing, she's just a storyteller. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagramusing the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author Robert Jones, Jr. His debut novel, The Prophets, was published in January by G.P. Putnam Sons, an imprint of Penguin RandomHouse. The Prophets has been hailed for its spellbinding mix of lyricism, rawness, and authenticity, that is immediately reminiscent of the late, great Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. Robert is from New York City and has a BFA in creative writing and a MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Essence, and The Paris Review. He is also the creator of the social-justice, social-media community Son of Baldwin. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author Robert Jones, Jr. His debut novel, The Prophets, was published in January by G.P. Putnam Sons, an imprint of Penguin RandomHouse. The Prophets has been hailed for its spellbinding mix of lyricism, rawness, and authenticity, that is immediately reminiscent of the late, great Toni Morrison and James Baldwin. Robert is from New York City and has a BFA in creative writing and a MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Essence, and The Paris Review. He is also the creator of the social-justice, social-media community Son of Baldwin. During the interview, Robert talks about the first time he ever walked into a Black bookstore, bought a book by a Black author, and saw himself on the page. He also gets candid about the consequences of revolution, the so-called dangers of being a Black writer, and a recent health diagnosis that has him writing against a clock. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. Don't forget to subscribe to Black & Published on your podcast platform of choice as well as rate and review. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us up at @blkandpublished on Twitter and Instagramusing the hashtag #blackandpublished. Support the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com