Black & Published

On this 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 latest 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. Episode NotesOn this 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 latest 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. ***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 #blackandpublisSupport 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. Episode NotesOn 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 episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with marketing maven Tina Wells and journalist and author of 300 Sandwiches: A Multi-Layered Love Story, Stephanie Smith. Tina and Stephanie have been friends and collaborators for 15 years. Their current project is the middle-grade fiction series The Zee Files published by West Margin Press and available at Target. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with marketing maven Tina Wells and journalist and author of 300 Sandwiches: A Multi-Layered Love Story, Stephanie Smith. Tina and Stephanie have been friends and collaborators for 15 years. Their current project is the middle-grade fiction series The Zee Files published by West Margin Press and available at Target. The Zee Files is a spin-off of Tina's first middle-grade fiction series Mackenzie Blue which was published by Harper Books, an imprint of Harper Collins, starting in 2013. During the interview, Tina and Stephanie explain how Mackenzie Blue has been updated for a new generation in The Zee Files. They also discuss why the series is so important for the representation of young Black girls to see themselves reflected on the page. ***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 Ink and 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 Ink and 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 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 and daughter of O.J. Simpson prosecutor Christopher Darden, 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. Episode NotesOn 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 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 Carla M. Cherry about her latest collection, Stardust & Skin. A Bronx native, an educator and academic, Carla is a graduate of Spelman College, NYU, Lehman College, and is currently an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the City College of New York. She says her goal is to make poetry accessible and help young girls of color give voice to their insecurities and vulnerabilities. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with poet Carla M. Cherry about her latest collection, Stardust & Skin. A Bronx native, an educator, and academic, Carla is a graduate of Spelman College, NYU, Lehman College, and is currently an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the City College of New York. She says her goal is to make poetry accessible and help young girls of color give voice to their insecurities and vulnerabilities. During the conversation, Carla opens up about how famed poet Nikki Giovanni inspired her with her classic piece "Ego Trippin'." She also discusses the challenges of self-publishing from formatting to marketing and what she sees for the future of her poetry career after independently releasing four poetry collections starting in 2008. She also waxes on creating safe spaces for her students, writing truthfully but making sure to leave her loved ones unharmed, and why the biggest investment she makes in her work is her own time. ***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 Show.Follow 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. Episode NotesOn 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

On this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author Candis McDow about her book, Half the Battle: A Memoir. In this deeply personal story, Candis takes the reader through her journey of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a family vacation. A writer from age six, Candis was first published in the anthology series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. She says her goal as a writer is to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and to show others that they can live their dreams too. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author Candis McDow about her book, Half the Battle: A Memoir. In this deeply personal story, Candis takes the reader through her journey of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder after a family vacation. A writer from age six, Candis was first published in the anthology series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. She says her goal as a writer is to break the stigma surrounding mental illness and to show others that they can live their dreams too. During the conversation, Candis shares what happened during a family vacation that led to her being pumped with steroids and later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She also details how her faith in God has helped save her and why even though she initially wanted to be traditionally published, she ultimately decided to go the independent route. ***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 award-winning poet Teri Ellen Cross Davis about her new poetry collection, a more perfect Union. The collection explores the experiential intersection of the lives of Black women in the United States. A Cave Canem fellow with work published in dozens of journals and anthologies, Teri is a member of the Black Ladies Brunch Collective and currently serves as the Poetry Coordinator for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with award-winning poet Teri Ellen Cross Davis about her new poetry collection, a more perfect Union. The collection explores the experiential intersection of the lives of Black women in the United States. A Cave Canem fellow with work published in dozens of journals and anthologies, Teri is a member of the Black Ladies Brunch Collective and currently serves as the Poetry Coordinator for the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. During the conversation, Teri opens up about how writing poetry helps keep her whole, using her own journey from infertility to motherhood to speak up for others, and why through her work she's here to sing the song for Black women who haven't had a chorus. ***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 actress, writer and poet Iman N. Milner about her new poetry collection, on breaking back together. The collection on faith, love, loss, and self-preservation is soul-shattering and brutally honest. The work helps fulfill Iman's mission to heal herself in her own work as well as inspire others to prioritize their own healing. An actress from the age of 8, she sees her work on stage, TV, film, and in print--be it articles she's written or poetry she's penned--as part of the interconnected stories she wants to tell. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with actress, writer and poet Iman N. Milner about her new poetry collection, on breaking back together. The collection on faith, love, loss, and self-preservation is soul-shattering and brutally honest. The work helps fulfill Iman's mission to heal herself in her own work as well as inspire others to prioritize their own healing. An actress from the age of 8, she sees her work on stage, TV, film, and in print--be it articles she's written or poetry she's penned--as part of the interconnected stories she wants to tell. In this conversation, Iman explains why she approaches celebrity interviews as an actress, the reason she gets choked up reading her own work in front of an audience, and how starving taught her to know her value and know her worth. ***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 creative, critical writer, poet, and performer Rosamond S. King about her new poetry collection, All The Rage. The collection was inspired by the lack of indictments handed down in the death of Eric Garner who was killed by police officers in New York in 2014. From that singular incident she crafted a collection set in the fictional world of the abattoir to discuss Black joy and Black pain living in tandem. She sees the collection as an extension of her work as a literary scholar and all around writer be it academic, poetic, or for the love of writing. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with creative, critical writer, poet, and performer Rosamond S. King about her new poetry collection, All The Rage. The collection was inspired by the lack of indictments handed down in the death of Eric Garner who was killed by police officers in New York in 2014. From that singular incident she crafted a collection set in the fictional world of the abattoir to discuss Black joy and Black pain living in tandem. She sees the collection as an extension of her work as a literary scholar and all around writer be it academic, poetic, or for the love of writing. During the discussion, Rosamond revealed how she discovered self-publishing was not for her and the advice she gives all young writers on rejection and making money as a literary artist. She also shares her "A Ha" moment of when she discovered she was a "Writer" and why it is her goal in this life to never repeat herself. ***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. Episode NotesOn 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 InstagSupport 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, TaRessa Stovall, about her memoir, Swirl Girl: Coming of Race in the USA. TaRessa was born a jazz baby in Seattle, Washington and is a self-proclaimed Black Power Flower Child. (All Power to the People). TaRessa identified herself as an author from the age of seven and got her start in the industry by self-publishing her poetry as a young adult. She has gone on to publish independently and traditionally writing a children's book (The Buffalo Soldiers), a novel (The Hot Spot), and several anthologies. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, TaRessa Stovall, about her memoir, Swirl Girl: Coming of Race in the USA. TaRessa was born a jazz baby in Seattle, Washington and is a self-proclaimed Black Power Flower Child. (All Power to the People). TaRessa identified herself as an author from the age of seven and got her start in the industry by self-publishing her poetry as a young adult. She has gone on to publish independently and traditionally writing a children's book (The Buffalo Soldiers), a novel (The Hot Spot), and several anthologies. During the conversation, TaRessa opens up about the legacy of passing in her own family, going from indie to mainstream to indie again, and why she credits a candid comment from President Obama for giving her the inspiration to write her memoir. Oh, she also shares a little story about the one time the LEGENDARY Ruby Dee, called her up on the house phone in the kitchen with an offer that couldn't be refused. ***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 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. Episode NotesOn 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. ***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, Wandeka Gayle, about her short story collection, Motherland and Other Stories. Wandeka is an artist in every since of the word. A Jamaican writer, visual artist, pianist, and Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Spelman College, she has received numerous fellowships including from Kimbilio Fiction, Callaloo, and the Hurston/Wright Foundation. She has a Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing. Her work has appeared in Prairie Schooner and The Rumpus and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Wandeka Gayle, about her short story collection, Motherland and Other Stories. Wandeka is an artist in every since of the word. A Jamaican writer, visual artist, pianist, and Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Spelman College, she has received numerous fellowships including from Kimbilio Fiction, Callaloo, and the Hurston/Wright Foundation. She has a Ph.D. in English/Creative Writing. Her work has appeared in Prairie Schooner and The Rumpus and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize.During the conversation, Wandeka shares her experience of what it's like to be triple marginalized as an immigrant, a woman, and a minority, how her procrastination led to her dissertation, and how she crafted an entire story out of watching a woman ride the bus. Wandeka also talks about the time she was falsely arrested, learning to recognize micro aggressions and the invisibility of racism that makes it so insane. ***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, Monica M. Brown, about her book, Only One: How to Be a Bad Ass Boss in Corporate America. Monica is a deeply-accomplished and results driven senior executive with 20+ years of experience in tech and has worked for several Fortune 500 companies including AT&T, Comcast NBCUniversal, and SiriusXM Pandora. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Monica M. Brown, about her book, Only One: How to Be a Bad Ass Boss in Corporate America. Monica is a deeply-accomplished and results driven senior executive with 20+ years of experience in tech and has worked for several Fortune 500 companies including AT&T, Comcast NBCUniversal, and SiriusXM Pandora. In this conversation, Monica open's up about how she switched from a career in print journalism to tech, code-switching and absorbing micro-aggressions so often that it bled over into her writing, and how she hopes that no matte, she's always remembered as a motivator to help other people go after their dreams. There's also a good keekee about wine, martini's, and red bottoms which helps Monica maintain the balance between her professional persona and her naturally creative character. ***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, Naima Coster, about the release of her second novel, What's Mine and Yours. (SPOILER ALERT) Naima's stories and essays have appeared in the New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Paris Review Daily and more. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree for 2020 and her debut novel, Halsey Street, was a finalist for the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Fiction. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Naima Coster, about the release of her second novel, What's Mine and Yours. (SPOILER ALERT) Naima's stories and essays have appeared in the New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Paris Review Daily and more. She is a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree for 2020 and her debut novel, Halsey Street, was a finalist for the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Fiction. Nikesha and Naima chat about what it means to be a woman outside of the titles of wife and mother, how parents can uphold oppressive, racist systems, and how living your dream and doing what you love can come as an affront to those who struggled for your success. The nuances and complexities of marriage, motherhood, race, writing and more come alive over the course of the conversation as nothing is left off the table. ***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, Enitan Bereola, II, about how he got the words out of his head and onto the page to turn his lifestyle into brand that took him from social media influencer to global storyteller. Enitan is the author of three bestselling books that the Obama's, Oprah, and the Zuckerburgs own including 2009's Bereolaesque: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette Book for the Urban Sophisticate, 2013's Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman, and 2016's The Gray: A Relationship Etiquette Study. Episode NotesOn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Enitan Bereola, II, about how he got the words out of his head and onto the page to turn his lifestyle into brand that took him from social media influencer to global storyteller. Enitan is the author of three bestselling books that the Obama's, Oprah, and the Zuckerburgs own including 2009's Bereolaesque: The Contemporary Gentleman & Etiquette Book for the Urban Sophisticate, 2013's Gentlewoman: Etiquette for a Lady, from a Gentleman, and 2016's The Gray: A Relationship Etiquette Study. During the interview, Enitan opens up about how he tested one of his books on Twitter and Instagram, his experience with depression at the height of his success, and how his faith is currently anchoring his life. He also spills the beans on the next project he's working on, #BlackDad, and what it means to be a husband and father of two. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond BourSupport 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. Episode NotesIn 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

In this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Deesha Philyaw, about her phenomenal journey with her short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, which was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award and the 2020/2021 Story Prize. Episode NotesIn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Deesha Philyaw, about her phenomenal journey with her short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, which was a finalist for the 2020 National Book Award and the 2020/2021 Story Prize. Deesha talks to Nikesha about how the revision process made her love writing more and let go of the need to feel validated, why writing is not indulgent, and how getting free of the things that bind us is a universal need. Deesha also reads "Snowfall" from the collection, and offers some advice on what the saved and the sanctified should stop and start doing. ***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, Roy Glenn, about his long career that started when he self-published his debut novel, Is it a Crime, in 1994 in part as a response to Waiting to Exhale. Glenn, who is a multi-genre author and is known as the master of suspense, has published more than 70 novels both independently and traditionally. Episode NotesIn this episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Roy Glenn, about his long career that started when he self-published his debut novel, Is it a Crime, in 1994 in part as a response to Waiting to Exhale. Glenn, who is a multi-genre author and is known as the master of suspense, has published more than 70 novels both independently and traditionally. Roy talks to Nikesha about how he made the jump into mainstream publishing with Carl Weber in the early 2000s, why distribution is king, how he finessed his books into Barnes & Noble, and why after all these years he prefers the art of independent publishing. Glenn also reads from his novel, Changed Man, which is getting the film treatment thanks to a new deal with Vision Quest Productions. ***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 @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 debut episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Mbinguni, about her debut novel, Looking for Hope. Mbinguni is a natural storyteller with roots in West Africa and the Gullah-Geechee region of Georgia's barrier islands. Her novel, Looking for Hope, follows the life of young Hannah, "Mouse," Maynard in this coming of age tale where Mouse transforms from a shy, quiet, girl into a strong assertive woman. Episode NotesIn this debut episode of Black & Published, Nikesha is speaking with author, Mbinguni, about her debut novel, Looking for Hope. Mbinguni is a natural storyteller with roots in West Africa and the Gullah-Geechee region of Georgia's barrier islands. Her novel, Looking for Hope, follows the life of young Hannah "Mouse" Maynard in this coming of age tale where Mouse transforms from a shy, quiet, girl into a strong assertive woman. Through the course of the conversation, Mbinguni reveals why it took her 14 years to tell the story of Mouse, how she overcame her own insecurities to finally take the leap of her dreams, what made her to decide with an independent publishing company or "vanity press," and why in everything she does she wants to make sure it is done in a spirit of excellence, as she leads with love. ***Follow @Nikesha_Elise on Twitter and Instagram and check out her latest novel Beyond Bourbon Street available everywhere books are sold. If you have thoughts, feedback, or questions about the episode, hit us @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

Black & Published will bring you the untold stories of BIPOC authors, poets, playwrights, and storytellers of all kinds, hosted by two-time Emmy award winning producer and award winning author Nikesha Elise Williams. Conversations will center on what it means to be a writer, the writing process, and how exactly you get published.Black & Published Host: Nikesha Elise Williams (@Nikesha_Elise)Logo Design: Gisette Gomez (@zodiacstudiosco)Theme Music: DJ EnerJi (@iamenerji) Follow Us: Twitter @BLKandpublishedIG: @blkandpublishedSupport the showFollow the Show: IG: @blkandpublished Twitter: @BLKandPublished Follow Me:IG: @nikesha_elise Twitter: @Nikesha_Elise Website: www.newwrites.com