Black & Published

This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Dwight Thompson, author of the novel, My Own Dear People. It’s a story about a young man reflecting on the harm he and his friends caused a young teacher while they were in high school and why even as a spectator the protagonist was still a perpetrator. 

In our conversation, Dwight explains how his own reflection of his boyhood informed the creation of his character. Plus, how telling the truth got his first novel labeled as "too lewd." And, the measurement Dwight uses when writing that lets him know he’s on the right track. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Denne Michele Norris author of the novel, When the Harvest Comes. The story is one Denne has been working on for 14 years but couldn’t unlock until she freed herself first. 

In our conversation, Denne discusses how she worked through her issues of gender, race, and sexuality using her characters and craft. Plus, the reason she believes it’s her duty to walk readers through trauma hand in hand. And as a classically trained violist, why Denne ultimately chose the page over an orchestra stage for her artistic expression. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with W.J. Lofton, author of the poetry collection, boy, maybe. The collection explores William’s difficult and at times traumatic childhood, how he survived, and how he’s living now as young, Black queer man in America. 

In our conversation, Williams explains the reason he says that even though he crosses many identity intersections it’s not his life that is fractured. Plus, how writing boy, maybe was a gentle escape, despite the subject matter, when he was supposed to be writing an entirely different book. And, how he feels about being on the front lines facing attacks from the current administration. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with, Arriel Vinson, author of the YA romance novel, Under the Neon Lights. It’s a story that sets the budding love between Jaelyn and Trey against a backdrop of their shifting community landscape and Jaelyn’s fight to maintain her safe place.

In our conversation, Arriel explains the reason she grounded this book in her own good memories as a way to explore the harm of encroaching whiteness. Plus, how she believes the oral storytelling tradition can save us in this time of book bans and attacks on libraries, archives, universities, and museums. And, the reason she says she wasn’t really a big fan of poetry even though she wrote her debut novel in verse. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Cher Terais, author of the wanderlust romance novel, Tempest in Tulum. In crafting her novels, Cher says while her settings may be exotic and lush for love, what the characters go through will always be grounded in reality. 

In our conversation she explains why she was never a fan of Prince Charming, the reason it took her twenty years to return to the page after she first tried to pen a novel, and how she makes her work as polished as possible as an indie author.

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Hana Baba the storyteller on the new podcast Folk Tales from Sudan. The first season will feature 10 stories Hana grew up hearing from her uncle,  but was uncertain if she should or could step into his role behind the mic. 

A radio journalist by trade, Hana fell in love with voice, how it could emote, and its expressiveness at an early age though she grapples with what it means to take ownership of oral traditions. Why she’s resisting the urge to profit from her heritage.  Plus, the reason she believes her stories are a gift to the next generation of Sudanese children on the continent and across the diaspora. And how the current national and geopolitical climate influenced her decision to curate, produce, and distribute these stories, but now also endanger their future existence and proliferation. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Dolen Perkins-Valdez, about her new historical fiction novel, Happy Land. The books is based on the true story of how a group of Black people founded their own Kingdom on more than 200 acres of mountain land that straddled North and South Carolina. 

In writing Happy Land, Dolen is correcting the historical record about the origins of the Happy Land settlers that has stood as the final word 75 years. How she learned about this intentional Black settlement and the research she says is still required. Plus, the reason Dolen believes land ownership represents the possibility of Black imagination. And, how the kingdom of the happy land may provide a Blueprint for Black people today living in this time of crisis. Mahogany Books

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Myah Ariel, author of the novel, No Ordinary Love. Myah, who is a journalist, film enthusiast, and lover of all things pop culture said she decided to try her hand at writing after spending the pandemic reconnecting with her love of reading romance novels. 

In our conversation she discusses how she managed to write, sell and publish two books in the four years from when she first approached the page. What intimidated her the most about novels after spending years reading screenplays and art criticism. And why she keeps coming back to the toxicity of the entertainment industry as a setting for her stories about love, hope, and reclaiming your name and life in the midst of fame. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Esme Addison, author of the novel An Intrigue of Witches. The historical mystery novel takes the reader on a treasure hunt with the main character to discover the hidden history of unruly women. 

In our conversation, Esme discusses who prophesied her writing and publishing career over her life. Plus, the difficulty she faced in securing an agent and publisher willing to take a chance on her books that don’t fit snugly into one genre. And as a self-proclaimed conspiracy theorist, why she says everybody, but especially Black people should be a little more skeptical when it comes to technology and our favorite apps. 

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This week on Black & Published, Nikesha speaks with Jacqueline Crooks, author of the novel, Fire Rush. It's a book that took her 16 years to bring into the world after getting a late start in writing even though it was something she knew she always wanted to do. 

In our conversation, Jacqueline explains why she considers her upbringing as an outsider because of her identity as a Caribbean immigrant in the UK a privilege on the page. Plus, how she brought to life the two battles women are always fighting against-- racial oppression and for gender equality--in her story about an underground subculture. And in taking control of a male dominated world, why Jacqueline says women, just like her character, need to beware of the charismatic man. 

Jacqueline's Dub Reggae Spotify playlist

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